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.

NS #8514 X-NW C36-7 sitting dead on the RIP track on the west side of NS Oliver Yard in New Orleans La 03-01-1999

NS #8514 X-NW C36-7 sitting on the RIP track on the west side of NS Oliver Yard in New Orleans LA 03-01-1999

NS #8514 X-NW C36-7 rear view sitting dead on the RIP track on the west side of NS Oliver Yard in New Orleans La 03-01-1999

 MSDR #1101 50' sliding door interior-post box car stretched from 40' box car on the RIP track in NS Oliver Yard New Orleans LA 03-01-1999

HTTX #93850 60' flat car with large CAT load  on the RIP track in NS Oliver Yard New Orleans LA 03-01-1999 

CNW #182118 PS 4750cf PS2-CD on the RIP track on the west side of NS Oliver Yard in New Orleans La 03-01-1999

CSX Valdosta Yard 04-15-2013

When passing by Valdosta northbound on I-75, Mrs. HOI and I noticed a small yard on the east side of the interstate. We took the exit and were delighted to find a small CSX yard. Even better, a public street (W. Savannah Avenue) parallels its entire length on the south side. Unfortunately the loco storage tracks leave the line toward the northwest. To photograph the engines would require trespassing, something the HOI family does not do.

A Google Earth view of the yard:

ADMX #52374 3-bay centerflow hopper in CSX pocket yard on south side of Valdosta GA 04-15-2013

AEX #7808 4-bay centerflow hopper in CSX pocket yard on south side of Valdosta GA 04-15-2013 

CEFX #10632 3-bay Thrall centerflow hopper in CSX pocket yard on south side of Valdosta GA 04-15-2013 

CEFX #10647 3-bay Thrall centerflow hopper in CSX pocket yard on south side of Valdosta GA 04-15-2013

AEX #8179 4-bay centerflow hopper in CSX pocket yard on south side of Valdosta GA 04-15-2013

ADMX #52374 3-bay centerflow hopper in CSX pocket yard on south side of Valdosta GA 04-15-2013

UELX #6201 X-CR B-65A insulated box car  in CSX pocket yard on south side of Valdosta GA 04-15-2013

SIRX #100168 X-AM 60' ACF  box car  in CSX pocket yard on south side of Valdosta GA 04-15-2013 

AEX #8120 4-bay centerflow hopper in CSX pocket yard on south side of Valdosta GA 04-15-2013

CEFX #13087 3-bay Thrall centerflow hopper in CSX pocket yard on south side of Valdosta GA 04-15-2013

SIRX #100177 60' X-AM nee-SP B-100-39 1.5  door box car in CSX pocket yard in Valdosta GA 02-15-2013

SIRX #100177 60' X-AM nee-SP B-100-39 1.5  door box car in CSX pocket yard in Valdosta GA 02-15-2013

TILX #291292 tank car in CSX pocket yard in Valdosta GA 04-15-2013

NRLX #5942 3-bay Trinity centerflow hopper in CSX pocket yard on south side of Valdosta GA 04-15-2013

NRLX #5971 3-bay Trinity centerflow hopper in CSX pocket yard on south side of Valdosta GA 04-15-2013

ADMX #52341 3-bay centerflow hopper in CSX pocket yard on south side of Valdosta GA 04-15-2013

NS #407294 BS-169 50' PS waffle SDR box car in CSX pocket yard in Valdosta GA 04-15-2013

NS #407136 BS-169 50' PS waffle SDR box car in CSX pocket yard in Valdosta GA 04-15-2013

TBOX #666799 XHN60 60' double plug-door box car in CSX pocket yard in Valdosta GA 02-15-2013

TILX #150041 heavily-patched tank car in CSX pocket yard in Valdosta GA 04-15-2013

NS #111209 FB-42B in CSX pocket yard in Valdosta GA 04-15-2013

TBOX #662231 XGH61 60' double plug-door box car in CSX pocket yard in Valdosta GA 02-15-2013

 EQUX #632135 4-bay covered hopper in CSX pocket yard in Valdosta GA 04-15-2013

In addition to the CSX yard, we found a modified GP40 of unknown provenance. It is "Cater Parrott Railnet" #7000. Cater Parrott has taken over the former OmniTrax GFRR (Georgia Florida Railnet) 43-mile line. The STB has this document showing the Georgia DOT and GFRR have subleased the line to CPR.

Unfortunately it was in such a position that we could not get a sun-side shot of the engine. A business owner next door was kind enough to let me get these through-the-fence shots.

AKZO/NOBEL, Filtrol, FCC Covered Hoppers

Englehard (now part of BASF) regularly shipped Filtrol and related petroleum catalyst products into and through New Orleans via NS; I seldom saw them on CSX. AKZO NOBEL cars often traveled with the Englehard and Filtrol cars. One NS train had these cars all traveling in a group.

NAHX #550383 FCC Catalysts-AKZO-NOBEL  pressure differential covered hopper B-end on the NS at Oliver Junction New Orleans 05-14-1997

NAHX #550383 FCC Catalysts-AKZO-NOBEL  pressure differential covered hopper on the NS at Oliver Junction New Orleans 05-14-1997

NAHX #551231 FCC Catalysts-AKZO-NOBEL cylindrical pressure differential covered hopper on the NS at Oliver Junction New Orleans 05-14-1997

NAHX #487333 Filtrol Catalysts  3-bay 4750cf covered hopper on the NS at Oliver Junction New Orleans 05-14-1997

NAHX #487347 Filtrol Catalysts  3-bay 4750cf covered hopper on the NS at Oliver Junction New Orleans 05-14-1997