Train Photos

Just a quick snapshot from yesterday of the Piedmont Train 74 making its evening stop in Durham. The consist was particularly long to accommodate holiday traffic.

Mid-morning is particularly interesting time for train watching in Greensboro, as within roughly a one-hour span the Piedmont Train 73 from Raleigh and the Carolinian Train 80 from Charlotte pass through the NCRR/NS mainline junction. Often, several NS freight trains will be waiting out the passenger trains or clearing out of the yard.

Within moments of arriving trackside, NS nos. 9329 and 6650 appeared leading a mixed consist north on the mainline. Two trains were idling, one an intermodal with some Union Pacific power southbound on the mainline, the other a mixed freight on the NCRR passing track pointed east. Just after getting around the front the second train, Piedmont Train 73 arrived, roughly on time. Today’s Piedmont was a short two-car train, led by the NC DOT GP40H-2 no. 1792.

The waiting Norfolk Southern train then proceeded past, led by ES-40DC no. 7644. However, once another train led by ES-40DC no. 7505 headed north up the mainline, 7644 proceeded to back up a couple of miles to the edge of the yard and continued to idle.

About 15 minutes later, the Carolinian Train 80 arrived on time from Charlotte. P42DC no. 13 led a standard 7-car baggage and Amfleet consist. After the Amtrak cleared out, 7644 proceeded north on the mainline.