Ashland VA 07.23.23: A Small Part Of The Heritage

Let's start off by talking about the railfanning elephant in the room - No Virginia (and dear viewers elsewhere), I did not capture the CSX Seaboard System and Conrail heritage units that ran up the RF&P Sub on Sunday morning. Every now and then, 'We Ride At Dawn!' takes a back seat to 'Let's Sleep Without Setting An Alarm!'. That being said, going trackside in Ashland on the 23rd knowing I was already down two prime targets only diminished the mood a tiny, tiny bit. The weather was good, the banter was witty, and - wonder of wonders - the train count was healthy. The final tally of 15 trains in 5 hours recalled some of the better pre-PSR afternoons I have experienced.
0:00 - Amtrak Northeast Regional 153
I missed an empty coal train while unpacking the gear, but I was plenty ready a little while later for the passage of Northeast Regional 153, led by P42 194.
2:33 - CSX I031
Is CSX finally tiring of trying to DPU all the things? Intermodals I031 and I032 have been running for so long with the power arranged 1x1, I was surprised to see ES40DCs 5270 and 5395 bring I031 through town with both units up front.
5:12 - CSX W083
A little something unexpected where freights are concerned is always appreciated. ET44AH 3324 and ES44AH 3216 led an empty ballast train south just 10 minutes after I031.
7:57 - Amtrak 80, Carolinian
The dispatcher kept up the pace as P42 54 led Amtrak's northbound Carolinian through the station 5 minutes later.
9:00 - CSX M300
The Tropicana juice loads have moved back to traveling on the intermodals - mostly it would seem, as ES40DCs 5496 and 5498 carried a short block of them on the head end of M300.
11:52 - Amtrak Northeast Regional 158
A good-sized crowd waited on the platform as Northeast Regional 158 arrived behind P42 19.
14:22 - CSX E315
ET44AH 3303 and SD70MACe 4573 on the head end were assisted by ES44AH 3060 in the middle as the trio took empty coal train E315 back north for another load.
16:56 - Amtrak 90, Palmetto
A fellow platform visitor waved to the ‪@VirtualRailfan‬ webcam a few minutes before the northbound Palmetto cruised through town, led by P42 48. The consist was missing its baggage car, which led to more than a little confusion among those waiting for the next regional.
18:18 - Amtrak 91, Silver Star
Quick draw - caught off guard, I shot from where I stood as the southbound Silver Star rolled by behind P42s 190 and 154.
18:53 - Amtrak Northeast Regional 124
No confusion this time, as Northeast Regional 124 finally arrived behind P42 115.
20:41 - Amtrak Northeast Regional 195
Amtrak kept its streak going with the arrival of Northeast Regional 195, led by P42 10.
23:00 - Amtrak 53, Auto Train
My fellow onlookers gathered to give a proper greeting as the southbound Auto Train rolled through behind P40s 837 and 832.
24:35 - Amtrak Northeast Regional 157
A small consolation prize for missing the CSX heritage units in the morning, Northeast Regional 157 was led by Phase IV heritage P42 164.
27:21 - CSX M301/Amtrak Northeast Regional 99
For a short while after 157 passed, it looked like the evening would be rained out. The camera's rain cover was out, ready to go over the tripod at a moment's notice, but the clouds broke overhead after a sputtering attempt to wet the ground. We were left with sunlight around the station and dark sky to the east, with enough moisture in between to form a faint rainbow. Unfortunately, its appearance did not sync up with the arrival and departure of Northeast Regional 99, which was mostly obscured by the passage of M301 behind ES44AH 3288 and AC4400CW 238. My decision to leave afterwards was a wise one. There wasn't another train for 3 hours, and those dark clouds made good on their threat not long after I arrived home.
#train #trainspotting #railfanning #railroad #ashland #virginia #travel #trains #virtualrailfan

[@brianfalzon6739]

Awesome catches, well done!

[@RandomRailfan828]

Great catches there man!

[@FastFlyingVirginian]

Thanks! I enjoyed the storm light almost as much as the trains themselves.