Cassandra PA 08.14.13: The Big Dance Number
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- Опубликовано: 30 сен 2024
- We were just about ready to give up on catching the high-and-wide move in favor of heading east. So what made us decide to turn our plans on a dime and jump over to Cassandra instead?
The drama unfolded thus - coal drag 568 was headed east through Portage on track 1 when one of its rear helpers suffered a ground relay fault, shutting it down. The loss of power was enough to stall the train between Portage and Cassandra, and the crew immediately set about trying to restart the unit. Our much-anticipated dimensional move, 052, was stuck just behind it, parked nose-to-tail. Its only hope to run around would have been a backup move to the nearest crossover, but there was traffic coming up track 2 as well, and the dispatcher wasn't inclined to let a slow-moving dimensional train out in front of it. The crew of 052 settled in to wait.
While the crew of 568's helper spoke with a troubleshooter on the radio about their ailing unit, Scott and I hurriedly packed up and headed for Cassandra, hoping the problem wasn't sorted out before we got there. We got our wish - as we got back out on Route 53, the troubleshooter and the helper crew conceded defeat, and the dispatcher announced that he would be sending another helper down from Cresson to couple on the head end for a rescue.
From the footbridge at Cassandra, we could see the 568 sitting in the distance with the 052 tucked in behind. The dispatcher had issued no orders to the rescue helper yet, leaving us with plenty of time to get in position. Needless to say, track 2 saw action first as stack train 26T thundered upgrade at 12:33, led by C40-9W 9554, ES40DC 7655, and C40-9W 9920. As the containers paraded past, the dispatcher chimed in to set up the move that was to come. It seemed he was hedging his bets, as the first track authority issued was to the 052 to work between MO (Cresson) and W (near South Fork) on track 1 - we could only assume this was in case there was any more trouble getting the 568 moving again and they needed to back up to cross over to track 2. As the tail of 26T disappeared around the curve, the dispatcher next issued track authority to the crew in SD40E 6309 to bring their helper set down from Cresson on track 1 to rescue the 568. And so, we waited.
Less than 5 minutes off of 26T's marker, SD40Es 6325, 6302, 6329, and 6323 kept their distance as they followed the stacks east at 12:44. It wasn't until just after 1 that we finally saw the headlight of 568's rescuers in the distance, as SD40Es 6309 and 6308 crept down track 1 towards their target. A pastoral quiet returned to the park while the helpers were coupled up and the orders sorted out. A few minutes shy of 1:30, everything was in place, the dispatcher gave his blessing, and the crew on the 6308 said what everyone was waiting to hear:
"Alright, here we go...'
Somewhere in the midst of all the commotion, the voice of the detector at Portage tried to chime in but was cut off in the process:
"NS detector, milepost two five eight point nine, track two..."
As if to warn nearby residents of what was about to unfold, a nearby emergency siren broke into a wail as the distant drumming exhaust built in a slow crescendo. Surprise! The source of the noise was not the long-awaited 568 but crude oil drag 64R, stomping upgrade on track 2 behind ES44AC 8061 and its more-celebrated sister unit, Monongahela heritage unit 8025. With my attention focused on the 8025 marching away towards Lilly, I almost didn't notice the exhaust noise building, not fading away. In a spectacular, deafening piece of choreography, the newly beefed-up head end of 568 appeared on track 1 just 8 car lengths back from the head end of 64R. The rescue set of SD40Es 6308 and 6309 now lent their muscle to 568's road power, C40-9W 9971 and SD60E 6944, the latter completed in the Juniata shops just days before. The two trains roared away around the curve, neither one giving nor gaining any distance over the other. As the two giants continued their dance, SD40Es 6316, 6303, 6301, and 6300 cruised by on track 3, giving us a brief look at all three tracks in use simultaneously. The margin between the head ends of the two trains was nearly the same at the rear. 64R's DPU, SD70ACe 1038, was first to pass, followed 7 cars later by SD40E 6306 and the wounded 6311 - just one car length's difference.
It wasn't over yet.
568's lead was up to 10 minutes as the 052 resumed its eastward journey. SD70 2569 and C40-9W 9823 charged upgrade with bulldozers, farm tractors, telephone poles, prefab track panels, and front-end loaders following behind. Incredibly, the 052 was joined by its own dance partner - 12 car lengths behind on track 2 were ES44AC 8030 and SD70ACe 1094, crawling upgrade with crude oil drag 64X. The pairing was much more uneven this time; 052 was well on its way by the time the tail end of 64X appeared, topped off by SD40Es 6313 and 6307.
#trains #train #railfanning #railroad #pennsylvania
Wow. Just plain wow. You caught one of the most impressive displays of mountain railroading I've ever seen. Nothing like catching stalled trains, a high-wide movement, two overtakes, a three train meet, screaming diesels, and a heritage unit all together in a span of a little over an hour and a half. You can't ask for much more than that!
I think this video perfectly describes how busy the NS Pittsburgh line can be at times.
Is this spot anywhere near Bennington curve? Would like to visit this spot. Thank you!
Cassandra's about 9-10 miles west of Benny; it's an easy drive on Route 53.
@@FastFlyingVirginianThanks. By the way, my son and I are finally going to Benny in October. Thanks to you and the directions you gave me last year. Plan on 2 days in the general area. Thanks again!!
Cool, be safe back there. For Cassandra, follow Route 53 through Lilly, and you'll come to a spot where there's a very hard right at the bottom of a hill - you should see a sign on the left there for the Cassandra Social Hall. Follow that road up into Cassandra, then once you pass the Cassandra Motel on the right (a good inexpensive place to stay FYI), hang a right and follow the road all the way back to the overlook parking at one end of the footbridge that leads into the park.
All the more reason why I love the stretch of the Pittsburgh Division between Altoona and Johnstown; there aren't many places in this country where you can see trains pacing one another, dragging themselves uphill.
You can see that in Cajon Pass after 2008
That was just awesome! That is one big reason why I love Cassandra is you'll always get these awesome train meets. Every time I visit the Pittsburgh Line this spot is definitely a "must-go" for me.
I had thoughts about horseshoe curve but decided ultimately to go to point of rocks and harpers ferry, i am just shocked in surprise that you were already there too and missed a chance to see you again. We'll there was also tons of drama on the harrisburg line too, A NS 598, 64R, O98, 64X, and to top it off A Heritage engine on a ballast train. I realize there was drama on the hill and i'm just disappointed that i missed it
:(
Nice video but I don't understand all the titles you give your videos haha but awesome catch on the M unit
I have gone there numerous times and have never had the pleasure of witnessing such a great catch. Fantastic video...and I am jealous. Hahaha.
I am from Georgia You should see the Norfolk Southern rail yard in Valdosta at work. great shots.
Estou contando os vagões ve se filma sim corte
I can go back and look at the unedited footage to see. It's difficult to count when the cars all look alike, I blink and I lose my place. 😂
My head thinks of a funny cartooney car sputter sound when i see the 6311
do you color correct your videos?
Great video... Awesome spot
Thanks...✌👍🇺🇸
Definitely the place to be. Great title. Great action. Excellent video Dave.
I love monster trains over two hundred cars long!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is such a cool catch! You guys had a great catch.
Don't have too many trains along the gulf coast.l one day I going to find a place where I can just set and watch the trains go by. thanks for a very good video.
Anywhere along Norfolk Southern's mainline between the Valdosta GA yard and Geenville/Spartanburg SC is a higher traffic area because of Autoracks going south from BMW and Intermodal going North to the inland port at Greer.
Awesome video. Like a train parade.
The trains are very slow.
Good Lord that is a lot of traffic.
fastflyingvirginian, did you try shooting at the Gallitzen Tunnel? I would love to see video of there. I enjoy your train videos. I rail fanned Johnstown already, and caught 5 train, but I didn't record as I didn't have a camera.
+agentM1991 I have not shot at Gallitzin recently but I have many times in the past, going back to my trip in August 1994 when the original tunnel was still in operation. Search my collection for 'Gallitzin' and you should come up with plenty of clips to keep you busy. :)
Do you have any future plans to shot there?
+agentM1991 Maybe. I don't know if it will be before August though.
What are sirens for???
The towns use them to summon volunteer first responders. It could also be a test of the same system.
7:02 That is one thing I never want to hear in Pennsylvania railfanning at all ever.
I hope you mean the siren test, because the sound of a coal drag climbing upgrade is definitely something to hear in Pennsylvania railfanning. :)
Yes on the siren that one thing I never want to hear at all ever in Pennsylvania. Because with huge mountains and the tall trees when there is bad weather you'll never know what's coming.
Actually, I don't think they use it as a weather warning in PA. It's primarily a means to summon volunteer first responders when there's an emergency. I have heard it before in Cresson when there were wrecks nearby on the highway.
But if they did use that for a weather warning that would scary to here
What an epic video.. it's nearly haunting when everything comes together like this. Great catches!
For all of the fossil fuels in transit, perhaps the title could have been "Al Gore's Nightmare on the West Slope".