EMD Standard Cab - NS SD70

In recent months NS had a lot of their standard cab EMD road power in storage. This included the SD60's and SD70's. With a upturn in rail traffic a lot of these units are being released back into service. A lot of these locomotives are in pretty rough looking shape and in need of servicing and paint.

On the traffic sparse K&O line from Knoxville to Harriman we catch NS 65D, an empty ethanol train, heading south to connect to the CNO&TP at Harriman Junction to reach points further north. NS SD70 #2538 leads the train today still sporting the older style NS logo without the shadow of the horse head or white face. A ratty sounding K-5LA horn is sported atop the unit.

I began my chase in Powell, Tennessee a little after lunch. I found that chasing this train was a little more difficult than I thought. I had planned for a shot at Heiskell, TN. and wound up not being able to get ahead of the train enough to make it there. I barely made the shot at Clinton and Marlow. By the time I got to where the microwave tower was I had basically decided that my aggravation with trying to keep up with the train overcame my will chase it. The light had no longer favored any further shots.

Chasing can be easy for heavy trains on this route, but empty trains such as these tend to make better time with the terrain especially north bound. A lot of the roads that pace the track wind up crossing at grade several times. This makes not being up to get ahead of the train nearly impossible when you have to wait for the whole train to go by to cross the tracks.

Anyways, I thought the shot at Laurel was probably was the best and hope to chase some more train with good power down the road.

Enjoy!