Through the Rathole Cab Ride - PART 3

Ride at the head of Norfolk Southern's unique new trailer train, the Triple Crown #252, as it travels the rugged and scenic line called The Rathole. You'll be in the cab of GP60 #7149 to experience the 138-mile line from the crew's perspective. As the train makes its way north from Emory Gap, Tennessee to Danville, Kentucky, you'll see such famous locations as the tunnels at Nemo, the high bridges across the New and Cumberland Rivers, and the deep cuts that gave the Rathole its name.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Norfolk
• Southern
• Railway
• cab
• ride
• train
• diesel
• locomotive
• Pentrex
• fair
• use
• trains

[TheQwaz]

(Figured there would be more than three parts. ??) As they are passing 117 you can just hear him as if he had been filming earlier, which he said he hadn't been. The crew told me when the train was up around 60 there was to much vibration and the guy couldn't film. During one of those times they had a very near miss with a loaded (i think) logging truck! He was telling the cameraman that would've made a great Operation Lifesaver commercial. And a heart attack inducer imo. ;-)

[CarNutandTrainNut2]

@TheQwaz

Something else I just remembered. At the time this video was made the TC's were limited to 70 or so trailers for just 1 engine, I caught the NS 264 a couple of days ago and they had 138 trailers.

[CarNutandTrainNut2]

@TheQwaz

I also did a stint with PTI from 2003 to 2005 out of Chattanooga. They used Chevy Astro's: decent gas mileage, but hauling 2 or more 2 man crews they sucked.

[TheQwaz]

@CarNutandTrainNut2 I hear you about the vans, they were the first company i drove for. One time i had to drive the "backup van". Horrible, everytime i stopped for a light, etc. it stalled and i would have to quickly restart it and work the gas to keep it running. Not long after that i got a "new" van (easy to spot to, was tan while all others were blue) with a newer style radio and ran good. Made sure i kept it that way all the way to the change over to McLine with their Aerostars. :-(

[CarNutandTrainNut2]

@TheQwaz

When I worked for Cimarron Coach I only went to Danville once, thank god. The vans we used were total pieces of shit.

One of my last train rides was on a Chattanooga to Oneida trip with the 611 and 23 or 24 coaches, I remember we stalled on a S curve just south of Oneida but the J was able to restart the train and continue on into Oneida.

[TheQwaz]

@CarNutandTrainNut2 No biggie, its been so long ago i thought the video was longer is all. As i said in one of the other parts it brings back a lot of memories. Rode the TVRM trip to Onieda more than once and the last year they had it i started chasing it and after a few "well since i chased it this far" i ended up in Onieda itself. That was a fun but long day. Was lucky when i drove NS crews that i was well rested the few Danville trips i did make. Other trips, not so much.

[RailfanTube]

Nice! I grew up during the transition from 4-axle to 6-axle engines on roadrailers as well as the transition to wide cabs.

[TheQwaz]

@CarNutandTrainNut2 Yeah, big difference from the GP60's back then and the massive 6 axle monsters everyone runs now.

[CarNutandTrainNut2]

@TheQwaz

Unfortunately no more than 3 parts.

[TheQwaz]

@TheQwaz ...hear him "ask" if he...