14-04-28 PHOTOS: Southern Midland

You all should know the deal by now. When I post up some A-Line photos the next set will be Southern Railway photos, often from the trip back up north. This post will be no different, but due to a lack of material caused by Amtrak leaving baggage cars on the rear I'll also be including some photos taken upon my arrival in Gainesville, GA. You can find all the photos in this set here

We begin with my train, Amtrak's Train 19, the Crescent, departing Gainesville, GA for points south. The train waits a few seconds for a more favorable signal indication at MIDLAND interlocking as local light engine move caused the dispatcher to wait and see how late Train 19 would be before setting a route. Upon completing its station work the NS dispatcher lined the route here and at the next interlocking causing the signal at MIDLAND to change from Approach to Approach Diverging.



Hanging out outside the Gainesville station at 7am in the morning was C40-8W #8384 and C40-9W #90233.

A pair of dragging equipment detectors were waiting on the public delivery platform at the station, waiting to be installed.

A trip of NS SD40-2s #3428 and #3526 with SD40E #6345 run light through MIDLAND interlocking just south of the Gainesville, GA Amtrak station. I think 3428 has a bit of a sick horn.


MIDLAND interlocking is on tap to be re-signaled along with its southern era cantilever mast.

MIDLAND interlocking used to involve a diamond crossing with some local short line. The diamonds have long been removed, but the power derail and ancient GRS model 5 switch machine remain in place. Weird.

Do to a re-signaling effort on the Abbeville Sub my favourite (aka most accessible) signaling location has been removed completely due to CSX's desire to eliminate a signaling block after they spliced in a new interlocking about 5 years ago. The new location is about a half mile to the south. 

CSX AC4400 #117 and ES44AC #3095 passing the removed MP 510 automatic signal location in Bogart, GA with a doublestack imtermodal train.


Night shot of NS SD70M-2 #2760 at Gainesville.

NS SD40-2 #3526 with some friends sitting on main track #1 at Gainesville.

 #3526 and friends making some noise as they hang out at Gainesville, GA.


NS SD40-2 #3532 blocking a crossing next to the Gainesville, Amtrak Station.

NS SD40E (former SD50) sitting on main track #1 at the Gainesville Amtrak Station.

One additional NS SD40-2 #3369 hanging out on a proper engine storage track at Gainesville, GA.

Amtrak Train 20, the Northbound Crescent, arriving at Gainesville, GA with P42DC's #72 and #118.


MARC HHP-8 #4913 with new Amtrak ACS-86 #601 and an unitentified AEM-7 all side-by-side on the lower level of Washington, DC's Union Station.

P42DC #72 about to be pulled off Train 20 and swapped with an electric.

MARC MP36PH-3C #14 at DC Union Station.

Amtrak SW1000 #792 drifting by in the background as the #215 signal is displayed for P42 #72.

Here we have another video montage of the power change operations at DC union station. The northbound Crescent, Train 20, exchanges its diesel P42s #72 and #118 for electric AEM-7 #904 on the lower level of DC's Union Station with MARC MP36PH-3C #16 coupling onto a trainset behind K-Tower.


MARC MP36PH-3C #15 hanging out waaaay down on track 22 at DC Union Station.

AEM-7 #904 getting ready to pull Train 20 north to New York.

Close up of MARC HHP-8 #4913 on track 25.

That's it for today. Next time tune in for some National Train Day action!