Waycross, Ga; February 2004.
I made another run to Waycross this weekend. Once again, I started
early from home, so I could get to Waycross before sunrise. On the way,
I stop in Valdosta to see I-75 flying through town with 3204 in the lead
an SD40-2 with a high nose and a good sounding horn.
In Waycross, the sun rises into a perfect blue sky. Q687 is first
in line: it comes down past the depot but then heads toward Folkston to
eventually back up into the yard. I had seen the northbounds do that in
front of the depot but never the southbounds. While 687 slips by, 602 comes
up and does a straight-in approach: go figure!!!!Meanwhile 604, 608 and
a NB autorack fill in the sidings between waycross and folkston. While
Waiting, I head for Progress Rail.
Link to Progress
Rail Photos
Back on the mainline, next in line is SB Q 245 with a BNSF in the
lead. The SB autorack passes by the depot then heads toward Folkston. I
decide to chase that one to Folkston so that I can get a shot of a train
on the new track 1. I get stuck at several lights out of town. Track speed
has to be close to 60, so I play catch up all the way down until the dispatcher
tells him that the light on the north end of Hague is stuck on red. Permission
to pass stop indication…
That gives me enough time to set up the camcorder from the bridge.
245 slowly comes back up to speed in the downhill to the signal. I shoot
a panoramic shot then check the camcorder, then come back to the camera
to take a second shot and find it has shutdown. By the time it reboots,
it is too late to take another shot and then the zoom on the camcorder
still running has not been adjusted as the train approached the signal.
Then, it has taken so long for 245 to come down that I run out of tape
in the middle of the train. I am not making this up. Good thing it is just
a hobby!!!
I head back to Waycross. A772 is the last SB before the NBs can
get moving again. I see A772 going by Racepond. When I get back to Waycross,
604 has just started its straight in approach into the yard with a brand
new SD70M with flares in the lead.
Before leaving, I shoot GRMS-2 still in the same place in front
of the depot. I had to wait all morning as it sat for most of the early
morning in the shadow of the water tower being cleaned up.
On the way home, in Valdosta, I get stopped by a SB NS rock train
then a NB rock train comes up from the Navair district.
On a previous trip, I had caught 602 coming up from Folkston with
a HLCX still in BC paint job.
