22-09-03 PHOTOS: Roanoke Train 66

Since 1997, Amtrak has operated Northeast Corridor overnight trains 66 and 67 between Newport News and Boston as those two termini could reasonably be considered to constitute the entire NEC. However in July of 2022, Amtrak split the termini of the Train 66/67 pair as part of its push to expand Regional service to Roanoke and Norfolk. While 67 would continue to run to Newport News, 66 would begin in Roanoke, using the equipment from southbound Regional Train 151. Over Labour Day weekend 2022, I decided to give the Train 151/66 combination a try and you can see my previous two posts covering southbound Train 151 and the rear facing videos I managed to take on both legs. In this post I will cover what I did while laying over in Roanoke proper and the subsequent return on Train 66. The full set of photos covering both parts can be found here ( mirror ).

As with the previous Regional terminal at Lynchburg, a new storage facility was constructed with the trainsets backing out of the station, past the former Norfolk and Western HQ and around the corner to the wye track connection to the W-line where it would then pull forward about a mile to a point near the old Virginian Railway diamond.

The downtown Roanoke rail corridor could be described as the Altoona of the South with N&W position light signals, pneumatic point machines, lots of heavy coal traffic and occasional appearances by famous steam locomotives (most frequently N&W J-class #611).

Roanoke is called the Star City and to that end they have erected a giant illuminated star on the 1600' Mill Mountain, south of downtown.

From Mill Mountain you can see the currently underused NS Roanoke shoppe complex and Roanoke Yard complete with its famous deadline. The locomotive heavy overhaul shoppe was recently closed with the work shifted to the former PRR/Conrail shoppes in Altoona.

The Virginian was Roanoke's second railroad, built new in the early 20th century to compete with the N&W on the lucrative West Virginia to Norfolk export coal route. Merged into the N&W in 1959, its low grade route is still preferred for loaded eastbound trains. The former Virginian passenger station in Roanoke is now an event space.

Sitting out behind the Virginian station was a trio of coal trains led by rebuilt 1990's generation GE road units. The odd duck is UP C44ACM #6531, rebuilt from a AC4400. The two NS AC44C6M's, #4449 and #4599, were rebuilt from C44-9W's. At this point in 2022, #4599 would have been practically brand new.

Behind #4449 was SD70ACe #1014 which had recently gotten new trucks.

The Virginian station is located immediately to the west of JK interlocking where the former Virginian Main Line crossed the N&W W-Line heading south from the shoppe complex.

Immediately to the north of the diamonds is the new single track Amtrak Roanoke train storage facility. Here trainsets from both round trips are serviced with the 151/66 set appearing in the afternoon and the 152/147 set overnight. You can see the short 5 car consist used on the 151/66 run.

Walking back downtown, an Approach signal was displayed at CAMPBELL AVE interlocking for Train 66's upcoming reverse move to the passenger station.

Upon reaching the station I had to scramble to get photos of Ac44C6M #4497 and SD70ACe #1133 in the middle of the long PSR special intermodal train.

After the intermodal train cleared up it revealed NS ES44AC #8121 making some lite switching moves.

P42DC #139 had also managed to beat me to the station platform and was waiting in front of a Slow Approach signal to depart westward.

Upon departure my new Train 66 passes #8121 again on the main line waiting for a westbound signal at 8.5TH ST interlocking.

Because NS was still storing a PSR special on the main line we had to perform a pull-in at WEBSTER interlocking, entering an occupied block to allow a westbound coal train to pass, then reverse out and continue on via the clear track. The westbound train of empty hoppers was being hauled by AC44C6M #4029 and C44-9W #9898, seen here taking the Diverging Clear signal at WEBSTER.

This movement was observed by a railfan driving a red pickup truck.

The train blocking our path on track #1 was an eastbound intermodal being led by N&W heritage unit #8103! Unfortunately I was caught unawares and was not in a position to get a quality photo :-(

Changing over from N&W to Southern territory at Montview, the NS dispatcher was quick to display a signal for the evening Roanoke train at IRWIN interlocking.

Red pickup truck guy would make second appearance at RIVERMONT interlocking. I respect his commitment to the chase.

Since I was on the literal overnight NEC train, arrival at Washington Union was suitably after dark. I found ACS-86 electrics #608 and #619 waiting on the lower level ready line for their next call to service.

P42DC #139 was then swapped for ACS-86 #615. You can check out the video of the process here.

All in all this was a fantastic day excursion. My trip tracker registered about 470 miles in a bit over 9 travel hours and the 2+1 Business Class seating made it all the better. I can wait to try the same thing to Norfolk.