Not many MOPAC units got DBs--the SD40-2C (coal service units) are one notable exception. Nice catch!
CP 7022 as a MidDPU on train 260 near Ainsworth, IA. January 15, 2023 Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
From 09/21/1997 at Kings Mountain, KY on NS's Rathole. This route saw large scale line improvements between 1961 and 1963, one of which was the elimination of 3,992 FT Tunnel No. 2 here. You can't see the old portal in this photo, but it's just to the left of the silver relay case. It was replaced by this massive cut.
Another shot from the Rathole, this at Tateville, KY in April 2005. Note the wide cut with plenty of room for MofW access on both sides.
Great stuff Hardcoaler! There wasn't a lot of coverage if this line upgrade like there was for some other places that were a bit more famous unfortunately. You do have to give the Southern Railway credit for doing this one right. They didn't just daylight a bunch of tunnels, they also planned ahead and made room for future capacity, made room for MoW as noted and also did some line realignments to ease grades and reduce congestion as well. A true first class upgrade by a first class organization.
I second this. Southern had it planned right. I miss the SOUTHERN days. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
That's a perfect summary @BNSF FAN . Perhaps the remoteness of extensive segments of the line kept fans and the media away. They added clearance enough for catenary, and while that never came to pass, it paid a dividend with stack trains. From 03/14/1990 at Nemo, TN is this photo of abandoned Tunnel 24 which we drove our li'l mini-van through. The desk clerk mentioned it at the motel and after a lot of wrong turns in this pre-GPS era, we found it. Some local teens were there and we followed them through in their 4x4 with a light bar. It's a long tunnel with an uneven floor, so we crept along. Thankfully we didn't meet anyone coming in the other direction!
Smart engineering on this upgrade. As the image clearly shows, that extra bit of breathing room for MOW also keeps falling rocks at bay and off the tracks. That's a luxury my fav railroad (D&RGW) didn't have available, as their ROW was literally blasted out of the side of a mountain in most places!
N&W hack 555093, Class C32P at Hagerstown, MD, July 1982. The 'P' in its Class meant it was suitable for pool service anywhere on the N&W system.
Interesting that a pool-capable caboose does not have a readily-identifiable, exterior marking, such as the "P" marking on UP or BN (and likely others) cabooses. http://www.trainpix.com/bn/CABOOSE/EXVISION/10062.HTM https://classic.txtransportationmuseum.org/collection-caboose-25275.php
I'd never thought of that. Interesting. I think the only hint of B&O pool cabooses was their blue color. Taken same day in Hagerstown, July 1982.
