As I head south I hear Ft. Wayne line dispatcher informing 66A to hold up at CP-Lum for a 24Z to cross over ahead of him that is "scooping a 34N Alliance to Lum". It's interesting that I missed a good shot of 66A a few weeks before when he caused a fiasco on the FWL by stalling around E. Palestine, OH on the day the NKP unit was leading a 65R behind him. I still remember the white gypsum cloud that day. So here was my chance to get a good overhead shot since the gypsum is hard to see from track level. Only one dilemna, as I come into town, one of Leetonia's finest has someone pulled over getting a citation. Do I chance the overhead Rt 344 shot? I notice I have a clear view of the cop from the bridge half a mile away. Before long, 66A is by the mp61 detector and within a minute I see his headlight. NS 66A-05 is York Haven, PA to Gypsum (Sandusky), OH 8401-9596 w/77x0 gypsum. True to form I am soon enveloped in a white cloud.
After he passes, I hear CSX talking to a westbound ready to depart New Castle. Do I rush over to Center St. in Youngstown to try and get the K059? Why not! As I head north, it turns out the the BNSF unit is on a Q640…false alarm. As I decide to head back to Leetonia for the 576, I miss 19A at the at the crossing east of town. NS 19A-09 is Conway to Chicago-Clearing, IL 9692-7636 w/0x119 freight (mix of Bensenville-CP and Chicago-Clearing yard BRC blocks).
Not long after the freight, 576 roars through town leaving a black cloud…obscuring the helpers in it! NS 576-05 with the C7E-09 helper is Cresson, PA to Lamberts Point, VA 9267-7569-BNSF 7384 w/105x0 coal (loaded on RJCP at Clymer #1). That was cool, hence why I am writing this blog post. As I head back to Boardman, I notice a Q76 called out of Conway but not on the move yet. Maybe I can get him later. Anytime I can catch multiple sections of a train on the same day, it's a good day for a symbol nerd like me.
Before I head north on Rt 11, 11V announces himself going through E. Palestine…hum, is it worth a shot…why not. After a quick grab shot, I am surprised to see the new frac sand distribution facility just north of the main at the former Kaiser Refractories plant. Looks like Utica Shale drilling is really taking off in Ohio. NS 11V-09 is Enola to Bellevue 9553-9626 w/3x56 freight (59 Bellevue, Fairlane Multi-Levels).
What could spoil such a great day? After I get back to Boardman I see that Q76 is out of town, really? Before long he is through Leetonia. If I had stayed put, I would have been able to get him and still pick up Anjuli on time…oh well. NS Q76-06 with the C7G-09 helper was Shire Oaks to Hyco, NC 9509-8113-7681 w/110x0 PGNX coal (loaded at Consol-Bailey). Wait?…what was that? In my haste, I failed to realize that Q76 was not a second section of 576 but one of 776. A Y76 would have been the second section to Lambert's Point. Ah yes, the things a symbol freak deals with.
Oh and as for that Q640 with the BNSF unit, the next day I noticed that K059's train was missing it's power…I guess that was the BNSF-CSX-CP set that must have been swapped onto the Q640. Still glad I didn't go after it…since there would not have been a "white cloud-black cloud" to remember.
