Sometimes it doesn't take alot of trains to make for a successful day of railfanning. Sometimes it's just about reconnecting with old friends and take the trains as they come. Sept26, 2014 was just such a day. As it turned out, the first train of the day and the last were to me the most interesting. While traffic was somewhat sparse in between (yes due to NS's continuing congestion further west), alot of good conversation filled the time.
First up was NS 60X-23 with 2740 leading CSX 5272 and 970. A most interesting train (and symbol) consisting of 100 loads of frac sand from US Silica in Sparta, WI via the CP at Bensenville, IL (Chicago) destined for interchange to the POHC at McKees Rocks, PA (for distribution to drillers in Southwest PA). After waiting for a recrew (as a lot of trains on NS do these days), he continues his journey seen here just south of CP-Wood.
The last train would prove almost as interesting and I would learn what a "banner test" is on CSX. Here, CSX K057-24 starts to pull at Edinburg, PA following coming to a complete stop to report "an obstruction" on the tracks. It was the first time I witnessed such a safety test. Of course it just so happens just as I need to get home. K057 is one of a fleet of empty crude oil trains returning from the huge Philadelphia Energy Solutions refinery (originally Gulf Oil and ARCO plants combined by Sunoco) heading west to reload in the Bakken shale oil fields of North Dakota. A very practical routing decision by CSX as the loaded trains follow the ex-NYC "Water Level Route" via Erie, PA and the empties can avoid fighting the loads on the single track River Line south of Albany, NY by taking the less utilized ex B&O west via Pittsburgh. Today two fairly clean CP units lead instead of the more common BNSF power.
All in all a good (or should I say banner) day!
