Historic 12,000' DPU Train On The Central of Georgia

Here is a historic, once in a life time video showing the first ever (and probably last) 12,000'+ DPU train on the NS P-Line (Central of Georgia) through Alexander City, AL. This was a test to see if it would even work at all, expecially through the two tunnels in Shelby County. It's at night, the video is not great, but IT IS on video. Y'all enjoy! (Be sure to count all the cars!)

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• NS
• Norfolk+Southern
• CofGa
• CofG
• Central+0f+Georgia
• Alexander+City
• Alabama
• AL
• Train
• Railroad

[csx1016]

Did you know this train was coming, or did you just get lucky?

[stagmie]

Yes, I knew it was coming for a few weeks. I have friends that keep me up-to-date on stuff like this.

[bubba2781]

Good video. was this recently? Do you know if they will continue running trains like this? This kind of stuff will kill your camera battery but its worth it!

[stagmie]

Train, 11/08/2005. Nope, that was it. Although there were some DPU mty coal trains returning West, but no where near this length.

[17br549]

Great video !! Now THAT is a train.

[emersonkid8850]

what is a dpu train

[csxketh1]

I have seen a CSX coal train with a DPU in Monroe, NC. Nice vid!

[LocalRailfan]

CN Rail has to be the worst railway in North America. Canadian Pacific is the railway for me

[patmix]

watta clip

[auburn2008db]

Now that's a train! Nice video!

[Moltixar]

No disrespect by the "this is nothing" part, just mean it was EVERY train thing there. NS even ran them like that all the way into the mid 90's

[Moltixar]

This is nothing, you should have lived/railfanned in the piedmont of NC in the early 80's. The SOU used radio comm. cars and mid-train helpers on 90% of all the trains that rolled through Gastonia. Was nothing to see 5 units on the lead, and 2-4 about 70ish cars back

[o00o00ozy]

NICE!

There is an auto train by the name of "the all day 11J" on my line which will occasionally strech up to 13,000' or somewhere around 140 empty racks. Trains like 33A and 14G can reach up to 11,000' on 2 engines. Sometimes they lose contact with the EOT. There have been cases where trains went into emergency, and it is not pretty, especially since main crossings are blocked for HOURS. Trains at that length generally travel between 43-50 MPH. The Harrisburg Line never uses DPU's, no need.

[Cornelius198918]

We have a coal train that runs the Henderson SUB (CSX) 4 times a week...its 2 Union Pacific engines in the frone and 1 Southern Pacific engine 52 cars behind the lead...it usually works out on the detector to be between 11000-11500 foot long...its kinda hard to catch though or i would have a video of it...by the way i like this vid.