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.

Early Morning Visit to the NS in Gainesville, Georgia

On our way to Helen, Georgia, we dropped in on the NS in Gainesville at 8AM. Several units were sitting completely shut down instead of idling. Because it was so early I dealt with a lot of shadows, but an okay photo is better than none! Also nearby were a string of SOU-NW-NS PS 3-bay covered hoppers in various schemes.

Across the street were nearly thirty CSX Trinity 3-bay centerflows, but the light was such that I could only take one photo. I need an excuse to go back to Gainesville soon! All shots can be had from public property in both the morning and the afternoon.

NS #2764 SD70M-2 sitting shut down in Gainesville GA 10-20-2012

NS #2764 SD70M-2 sitting shut down in Gainesville GA 10-20-2012

NS #9947 D9-40CW sitting shut down in Gainesville GA 10-20-2012

NS #1748 SD40-2 Logo Gainesville GA 10-20-2012

NS #9947 D9-40CW NS #2583 SD70M sitting shut down in Gainesville GA 10-20-2012

NS #9947 D9-40CW NS #2583 SD70M Cab Shot sitting shut down in Gainesville GA 10-20-2012

NS #3371 X-CR SD40-2 sitting shut down in Gainesville GA 10-20-2012

NS #3371 X-CR SD40-2 sitting shut down in Gainesville GA 10-20-2012

NS #3209 SD40-2 X-SOU sitting shut down in Gainesville GA 10-20-2012

NW #177405 4750cf PS2-CD in post-NS merger 'Claytor' font Gainesville GA 10-20-2012

NS #255505 4750cf PS2-CD in full NS paint in Gainesville GA 10-20-2012

SOU #88145 4750cf PS2-CD in mixed Claytor and classic SOUTHERN lettering Gainesville GA 10-20-2012

NS #254175 4750cf PS2-CD in full NS markings in Gainesville GA 10-20-2012

NW #178647 4750cf PS2-CD in full 1970s NW markings in Gainesville GA 10-20-2012

NW #176664 4427cf PS2-CD in full 1970s NW markings in Gainesville GA 10-20-2012

 CSXT #262344 3-bay Trinity covered hopper in Gainesville GA 10-20-2012

Norfolk Southern Coil Cars

Very few car fleets are uniform, but Norfolk Southern's coil car fleet is wildly varied in car type/builder, hood size, number of hoods, paint schemes, and road names from merger partners. In one train alone back in April of this year all of these NS (including CR and NW) coil cars (Macon, Ga. 04-20-2012):