Like the Blues Brothers said, the trains came so frequently that eventually I just stopped noticing them and although I would still keep an ear out for an approaching movement, I became a must more passive watcher (especially after my local B&O CPL was removed in 2012). However as I neared my data of departure I started a push to once again "fan my local" and that is pretty much what this photo set contains. The content was captured at the cut between North Charles and St Paul Sts, right at the westbound dwarf signal for the HUNTINGDON AVE interlocking.
You can find the full set of photos here and I'll be placing all of the video clips at the bottom of the post without regard to the order they were taken in relation to the still photos.
First I want to share a little something about the Charles Cut. It has been suffering chronic drainage problems that multiple scoop and cleans and even the complete rebuild after the 2014 collapse have failed to resolve. At this point CSX seems to have given up. Track speed is only 35mph and few trains even move that fast.
First off we see CSX ES44AC #809 and AC4400 #214 exiting and entering the tunnels with a train of autoracks.
Next up we have a westbound train descending the grade with AC4400's #203 and #468 on point. Behind them is a remote control set with SD40-3 #6537 and GP38-2 #2531 that may have been helping or was just in tow.
In the consist were some of the most pristine RailBox (TBOX) box cars I have ever seen.
At some point I caught a rail train hauled by a pair of elderly C40-8W's, including #7731. The silent passing of GE -8W's has caught me by surprise. On one hand I should probably be out more to document any sort of historic engine. On the other hand I've always hated GE's and they pretty much look like the newer ones. At least #7731 here was still in it's older school CSX paint scheme.
The two old -8's were pulling a welded rail train that clearly didn't need hotshot power.
Now we're getting into some proper history. FRA regulations specify a maximum age of 40 years for freight cars, with waivers extending that a bit in some cases. However MoW stock is exempt, so while the Chessie cat has vanished from the main lines via repaints and attrition, it survives on the engineering trains.
Some more detail shots of the rail laying equipment.
CSX cabin car #904094 which is a former Chessie System class C27A caboose.
Brand new ET44AC #3421 leaving a high tractive effort AC4400WH #5114.
CSX ES44AH #942 and #3197 battling the grade with an eastbound manifest train.
CSX C40-10W #5225 leading ES44AH #904 with another eastbound manifest train.
Freshly painted C40-8W #7766 in the 2 slot ahead of a 90's look AC4400 #381.
CSX ES44AH #941 coupled behind C44-10W #5431. If this is starting to look monotonous you can learn how to tell all the GE models apart by their radiator arrangements. It's sort of like those Avant-garde films from the 60's where nothing happens. Your eye will begin to focus in on the small details like a bird flying past a window at 86 minute mark.
ES44AH #941 coupled to a pre-fabricated "panel" switch on a special carrier car.
A single digit roster number can be a pretty rare thing to spot, but I know I've encountered a few in the past so AC4400 #8 might not be the lowest CSX unit I've spotted. #3195, running ahead, is just another ES4400AH.
A pair of road units, including ES44AH #788, power up the grade on the Baltimore Belt Line with a short cut of cars. CSX has been trying to consolidate some of the Baltimore area yards and transfer runs such as these have become more common.
Here we see CSX SD40-2 #8048 leads a merchandise train down the Baltimore Belt Line with a pair of GE road units running reverse elephant style and a GP30 road slug pair following behind. It's great that CSX found a use for these automotive style Geeps!
CSX C40-8W #7674 and SD40-2 #8048 creep down the stiff grade on the Baltimore Belt Line with a merchandise train on a rainy May night. Either the train was very long (I didn't have time to stay for the whole thing) or perhaps it had been running under unfavorable signals, but normally trains descend the grade at a lively clip of ~35mph.
Short Clip of CSX ES44AH #904 working hard up the Baltimore Belt Line grade.
A trio of Big CSX DC power (C40-10W #5234, C40-8W #7851 and C40-8W #7741) crawl down the Baltimore Belt Line's stiff grade with a heavy merchandise train.
A pair of 90's wonders both in their original paint scheme, AC4400 #371 and C40-8W #7731, roll on past the Slow Approach signal at the east end of Huntington Ave interlocking on the Baltimore Belt Line. Like NORAC, the Seaboard color light signal aspect system lacks a pure Approach indication for dwarf signals. Conrail would sometimes just display Medium Approach, even for straight routes, but here CSX has gone with the simpler option.
Finally we watch CSX ES44AH's #3117 and #3082 with SD40-3 #4090 claw their way up the Baltimore Belt Line with a unit oil train. Note the diesel smoke pouring out of the top of the Charles Tunnel after the train passes. It also sounds like someone has a failing turbo :-\
Well that's all she wrote as I close out over a decade on the Belt Line. Today my attention is split between the Old Main Line at Ilchester and the Capitol Sub at St Dennis. Of course neither of those are in walking distance :-(
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