NS Buchanan Branch (4-20/4-23-19) Goin' Across The Hill
We start out with NS U57, the 5 PM job out of Weller, as they start up the grade at Thomas with 98 loads of Cleveland Coke in a steady drizzle. Engineer Mark Martin and Conductor Bobby Ooten would take the train over to the Extension and tie it down. Pusher J81 with Engineer Thomas "P Tom" Perry is shoving on the rear. The ACs where slipping on the wet rail, I've heard many engineers say that the ACs ain't worth much on wet rail.
The next train we see is NS 820, westbound Consol loads heading to Lamberts point. We first see the train starting up the grade at Thomas then we see it dropping down the grade through Hurley. The ballast tamper and regulator pass by on main one at Thomas also. J78 with Engineer D.R. Goodman was pushing 820. We'd see D.R. again after he cut off the 820 and headed back East to Weller.