Dragging this old thread out of the gutter. Old enough that the old pics are gone so here are a few new/old ones Howell Interlocking - Atlanta GA 2003
We have infrequent visits from NS units. Always in consist, never leading when I am around... About ten years ago, Whitefish, Montana:
NS 265 (Charlotte => Memphis) usually has all BNSF power on it every day. One of these days when I make a day trip to the main line near Charlotte, I hope to catch it. It works Austell, GA (west of Atlanta) too.
Trivia: One of the Southern's worst wrecks happened at Rockmart, GA in December 1926 when the Royal Palm collided head on with the Ponce de Leon, killing 18. The Ponce was to take the siding, but a freight was partially occupying it and there was confusion. The Ponce continued northbound and hit the Royal Palm which had stopped on the main at the other end of the siding.
Sounds as though there was at least one, if not two errors made BEFORE the Ponce de Leon arrived at the place to take siding. At least one by a dispatcher. Perhaps another by the freight train. (The Ponce de Leon should have stopped there, not proceeded.) Have you ever seen the accident investigation report for a cause? I am curious.
I've not seen one, but I'll bet it would be very interesting. I had a late friend who was a knowledgeable SOU fan and I learned of the wreck through him. Rockmart must have been a mighty busy place back in the day, as it was on the SAL's Birmingham <=> Atlanta mainline too. Much (but not all) of that SAL line is gone today.
That info is all super interesting. Rockmart is maybe 30 miles from the house but I almost never go there. It's always been a small town yet still served by 2 class 1 rr's. NS & CSX.
Years ago, while back home visiting family, this little NS local was working near Youngstown, OH: And closer to home, this NS heritage unit (one of two I have caught) in Minot: