Three Notch Rail: 03-01-1999 CSX, UP, Guilford/HATX, NS Motive Power + Rolling Stock

As late as March, it is still possible to railfan CSX's Gentilly Yard. It runs east-northeast (railroad north) to west-soutwest (railroad south), so the sun is still low enough at mid-day to shoot. I was able to catch this power in the yard before the sun's height made the shadows too prominent.

CSX #8143 SD40-2 idling at north end of CSX Gentilly Yard in New Orleans La 03-01-1999

UP #445 C30-7 side view idling at north end of CSX Gentilly Yard in New Orleans La 03-01-1999

UP #445 C30-7 idling at north end of CSX Gentilly Yard in New Orleans La 03-01-1999

HLCX #5059 X-Guilford/MEC nee-Detroit Edison SD40 idling at east end of CSX Gentilly Yard New Orleans 03-01-1999

HLCX #5059 X-Guilford-MEC nee-Detroit Edison SD40 rear view idling at east end of CSX Gentilly Yard New Orleans 03-01-1999

At the west end of CSX Gentilly yard I caught these cylindrical hoppers being moved as a UP train was being set up to be run over the Huey P. Long bridge to UP's Avondale Yard.

CSXT #225327 ACF 3-bay cylindrical hopper at the west end of CSX Gentilly Yard New Orleans La 03-01-1999

CSXT #226045 ACF 3-bay cylindrical hopper at the west end of CSX Gentilly Yard New Orleans La 03-01-1999

I moved just west of CSX Gentilly Yard and caught the train heading west to UP's Avondale yard. Much to my surprise, it stopped and sat on the main immediately east of the Louisa Street crossing. While it was very common to see eastbound trains pausing west of the crossing to get clearance to proceed into Gentilly, it was VERY unusual for a westbound to stop short of Louisa Street. This move blocked several streets including westbound Almonaster Avenue, which handles a lot of 18-wheeler traffic.

UP #3190 SD40-2 idling just east of the Louisa Street crossing parallel to Almonaster Avenue on CSX with a westbound train heading for UP's Avondale Yard New Orleans La 03-01-1999

UP #509 C30-7 idling just east of the Louisa Street crossing parallel to Almonaster Avenue on CSX with a westbound train heading for UP's Avondale Yard New Orleans La 03-01-1999

SSW #9641 GP60 idling just east of the Louisa Street crossing parallel to Almonaster Avenue on CSX with a westbound train heading for UP's Avondale Yard New Orleans La 03-01-1999

LMS #733 C40-8W idling just east of the Louisa Street crossing parallel to Almonaster Avenue on CSX with a westbound train heading for UP's Avondale Yard New Orleans La 03-01-1999

CSXT #25672 3-bay cylindrical hopper on CSX along Almonaster Ave in New Orleans 03-01-1999

AEX #4183 covered gondolas in glass service on CSX along Almonaster Ave in New Orleans 03-01-1999

AEX #4183 side view covered gondola in glass service on CSX along Almonaster Ave in New Orleans 03-01-1999

TILX #610018 Trinity 4-bay centerflow on CSX along Almonaster Ave in New Orleans 03-01-1999

After waiting for the UP train to move on (which it did now while I was there) I moved on down Almonaster Avenue to Florida Avenue where I found the engine and cars below sitting on the RIP track on the north end of the yard along the west fringe, just north of the car shop. I don't know if the engine had trouble or had pushed the cars there and then been shut down.