Railfanning in Elliston, VA 5-19-18

I got an opportunity to go to Elliston, which I did in May 2016. I was joined by Daniel, another railfan from the area. He showed us some cool spots, so instead of hanging at Mike's place like last time, we got around. We got 17 trains between 11 and 7. Enjoy!

Train #1: Around 11:00, a westbound NS coal train rolls through Elliston with an ex-Conrail/LMS leader. It also has an AC44C6M trailing! Take that, C6M! I don't like those engines because they ruined the Tophats, but it was funny to see one trail.
1. NS C40-8W #8464
2. NS AC44C6M #4073

Train #2: Shortly after the coal train slowed up the grade and vanished, NS 202 snuck up on me with a P5 Dash 9 leading an SD70 and a UP SD70M. If only one of the trailing engines led.
1. NS C44-9W #9959
2. NS SD70 #2560
3. UP SD70M #5030

Next, we have a clip of a cat near the tracks.

Train #3: After meeting Daniel, we relocated near the bridge for a view of 194 with a rare SD60M leader with the old paint (and a tiny Sunoco logo) and Chuck from ROHV trailing. This may look like trespassing, but it seems we were actually fine.
1. SD60M #6804
2. C44-9W #9678
3. SD40-2 #3220
4. ES44DC #7533
5. ES44DC #7594

Train #4: After 194, 22A comes by with an NS SD70ACU leading a PRLX SD70ACe, and worse, an NS SD60! Come on, that SD60 should be in the lead! I don't care for SD70ACUs, but I need to get an NS SD60 leading before it's too late. This is my first time to catch a CSX SD70ACe since they were banished from CSX. This was also the only CSX SD70ACe to be repainted into YN3B. I was surprised 22A ran on the close track since the other track's signal was green, but I heard those are intermediate signals not controlled by NS dispatchers. They were purchased from SOU long ago and show green if nothing's on the block.
1. NS SD70ACU #7297
2. PRLX SD70ACe #4849
3. NS SD60 #6692

Train #5: I got to check out a line I hadn't. Daniel took us to the Whitethorne District nearby for this eastbound coal train. The Whitethorne is former Virginian, which runs to Narrows.
1. ES44DC #7648
2. SD70M #2629

Train #6: While waiting on the coal train, a westbound grain train was imminent on the other line, so Dad paced it and caught it at Mike's house. It has an SD70ACe leader with a fouled K5LLA.
1. SD70ACe #1009
2. SD60M #6806

Train #7: We paced NS 201 on 460 and caught it at Montgomery, a tunnel O. Winston Link made famous. We had time to spare since westbounds slow down when climbing the grade. I just love this location.
1. SD60E #7018
2. ES44DC #7615
3. C44-9W #9549

Train #8: We headed to the Shawsville Curve in time for 29G snaking by. As a bonus, this train has a new "One" container, which is pink for breast cancer awareness.
1. C40-8W #8396
2. C40-8W #8324
3. ES44DC #7635

Train #9: After ordering lunch at Subway, Daniel said a train was due on the Whitethorne, so I set off. He wasn't kidding about it being close. I arrived when this eastbound coal train did, so it was a close shave. I recorded again to faintly hear its horn and to show the wires above, which date back to the Virginian's use of electric power.
1. NS ES44AC #8087
2. NS ES44AC #8018

Train #10: Daniel rejoined us for an eastbound grainer on the Whitethorne District. I love the sound of those locomotives working hard and not being like Mordecai and Rigby! We decided to meet up with Dad, who was getting 16T for us..
1. ES44DC #7622
2. SD60E #6989

Train #11: While we were filming the grain train, Dad caught 16T on the Christiansburg District with a UP engine, another old logo SD60M, and an SD80MAC (Ely from Tales of NS in fact) trailing.
1. NS C44-9W #9969
2. UP AC4400CW #6746
3. NS SD60M #6791
4. NS SD80MAC #7216

Train #12: Daniel and I rejoined Dad for the passing of 189.
1. NS ET44AC #3615
2. UP SD70ACe #8923
3. NS C44-9W #9000

Train #13: We went to Wabun for a hill shot of 15T with a boring AC44C6M leader (yawn). It irks me because if it were unrebuilt a little longer, I'd have gotten my fourth Tophat leader. I hope Sir Topham Hatt and his engines go on a mission to cancel the AC44C6Ms for good. When I heard the P5, I hoped for a standard cab.
1. AC44C6M #4021
2. C44-9W #9352
3. SD70ACe #1100

Train #14: A westbound coal train passes by with another SD70ACe ripoff leading.
1. NS SD70ACU #7243
2. NS ES44DC #7546

Train #15: NS 217 goes through Wabun with a mixed feelings lashup. Aside from preferring one of the SD70s to lead, especially with NS rebuilding them into SD70M ripoffs, the P3 fooled me again. It's annoying getting fooled into thinking something cool is leading, then it's an impostor engine.
1. C44-9W #9663
2. SD70 #2552
3. SD70 #2564

Train #16: Another 194 was due at the same time. After 217, Daniel said the trains passed each other. 194 has a (somewhat) special C6M leading and a UP SD60M bonus (wish it led). This was the last train for this exciting trip.
1. NS AC44C6M #4003
2. UP SD60M #2416
3. NS ES44DC #7620

Lastly, I took a shot of some clouds before driving to I-81 to head back to Richmond.