Ruther Glen VA 01.28.12: Howling At The Sun

I am often of two minds when it comes to crack-of-dawn railfanning on the weekend. One voice says 'It's the end of another week - you're tired, sleep in!' The other says 'It's going to be 60 and sunny, you've got blank tapes burning a hole in your gear bag - get up and get out there!' The question is which voice will drown out the other...

On the morning of Saturday the 28th, the internal argument raged anew as I watched the sun break over the trees at Ruther Glen. There was frost on the crossties, fog on the pond, and the breeze could be politely described as 'brisk'. My mere presence there meant the latter voice was winning out, but the former persisted in offering a counterpoint - right up until the scanner's crackling and chirping turned into something I could understand. Mostly.

'(hiss)(crackle) 415, clear, Coleman's Mill, engine 5283 out.'

Wait, did he say S415 or L415? And if he's at Coleman's Mill and has a GEVO leading, what on the frost-covered earth is making that howling noise? GEs chug, they don't howl!

The source of all the commotion finally revealed itself as S415 emerged from behind the pine trees at 7:46. Tucked in behind ES40DC 5283 and C40-8W 7864 was the 8467, a Morrison-Knudsen SD40-2 rebuild that started life as Missouri Pacific SD40 743. Even after the 82-car-long blast of freezing cold air that followed in the trio's wake, I couldn't hear that first voice anymore.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• CSX
• freight
• train
• railroad
• Q415
• L415
• S415
• loud
• howl
• wail
• SD40
• SD40-2
• GEVO
• ES40DC
• C40-8W
• frost
• cold
• sunrise
• morning
• Richmond
• Fredericksburg
• Potomac
• RF&P
• Subdivision
• curve
• Ruther
• Glen
• Virginia
• HD
• hi
• def
• high
• definition

[RailfanJunction]

The SD40 has a SP light package mounting on it. Do you know if it was ever an SP unit?

[FastFlyingVirginian]

@RailfanJunction According to RR Picture Archives, it is a former MoPac unit. No info on whether the MP inherited it from SP or not.

[pennsouprod]

how can someone dislike this video?

[FastFlyingVirginian]

@pennsouprod Easy - they just press the Dislike button, and voila. :)

[iusetano]

I think many a railfan thinks those same thoughts especially in the colder months. I know I do. Great howl on that SD40. Excellent video.

[FastFlyingVirginian]

@iusetano Thanks. As it will be revealed in future clips, any regrets I had about getting up early were quickly done away with. :)

[Rocketboy1950]

@GenesisSanctuary How about taking a listen to my latest upload with a 645 and a 567 singing their song under power........did I mention there was an ALCO in there as well.

[trainkid16]

That was an EMD howl. For some reason, that doesn't register with me as a 645 prime mover, though.

[revman383]

I love hearing an EMD howl. It just sends chills down my spine.

[FGLK1702]

That SD40 is almost louder than the horn on the GEVO!

[pennsouprod]

i know that i mean why would they this video is great quailty