AUGUST 22, 2000
RAILFAN REPORT
I decieded to check out CSX's Memphis Subdivision as well as the West Tennessee Railroad and Norfolk Southerns operations around the Jackson TN. area. Not a bad day of railfaning at all, here is what I saw.
9:45AM: I arrived in Brownsville TN. after following CSX's Memphis Subdivision from Memphis to find Q-269 (a westbound Autorack) in the siding. The engineer informed me that there would be 2 eastbounds by before he could get out.
10:00AM: Brownsville TN.
M790 The Brownsville Road switcher rolls by to switch a few industries east of town.
CSX 2323 (GP30)
CSX 6451
10:45AM: Brownsville TN.
M790 then heads out to the Industrial Park east of town.
CSX 2323
CSX 6451
10:55AM: Brownsville TN.
An eastbound manifest rolls by, I believe Q-532.
CSX 8096
RMGX 5002 (Ex-BN GE unit)
CSX 8082
11:35AM: Brownsville TN.
An eastbound intermodal flys by. This is Q125 a Memphis to Jacksonville Intermodal.
CSX 9029
CSX 9033
11:45AM: Brownsville TN.
The westbound Autorack; Q-269 is finally given the clear to head towards Memphis. When I talked to the engineer at 9:45 he said they had already been on duty for 6 1/2 hours and were supposed to take this train all the way to the UP at Marion Ark. Bet that crew didn't make it there, also bet they can't wait for the new siding that is being constructed near Lakeland TN. to be completed.
CSX 8078
CSX 8100
CSX 8091
HLGX 6820
EMD 6311
HLCX 6200
12:20PM: Gibson TN.
The race was then on to see if I could beat the Eastbound Intermodal to Gibson TN. to grab one more shot. I beat him by about 1 minute.
CSX 9029
CSX 9033
1:15PM: Trenton TN.
I headed back to Humbolt from Gibson to photograph a West Tenn. Railroad train that I had spotted earlier but could'nt find it so I then headed towards Trenton. Just south of Trenton I spotted the train and snapped this shot from a highway overpass.
WTNN 3576 (CN paint, MLW M-420)
WTNN 2054 (Alco RSD-12)
1:30PM: Trenton TN.
I caught the West Tennessee Railroad train switching a cut of grain hoppers in front of the depot and railroad offices.
Also at Trenton I photographed two more of the West Tennessee's Alcos.
WTNN 1852
WTNN 1853
2:25PM: McKenzie TN.
After eating lunch in Milan TN. at the diamond of the CSX and NS, I headed to McKenzie to check out the old depot and diamond of the L&N and the NC&StL. This is where todays CSX switches from one line to the other to complete its route from Memphis to Nashville.
3:10PM: Bruceton TN.
At the yard in Bruceton there were several locomotives as well as the Q-532 that I had seen in Brownsville. Power in the yard was:
CSX 8075
EMD 6304
CSX 8081
CSX 6080
3:15PM: Bruceton TN.
Q-532 pulls out of the yard and heads toward Nashville TN.
CSX 8096
RMGX 5002
CSX 8082
I thought it was pretty interesting that the old Roundhouse was still standing in Bruceton. By looking at a map I would never realized how important this small town was and is for the railroad.
3:35PM: Hollow Rock TN.
I caught Q126 a westbound Intermodal departing the west end of the yard at Bruceton and was surprised to find this Phase II Union Pacific SD90MAC on the point.
UP 8550
CSX 8871 (Ex-Conrail)
4:45PM: Jackson TN.
It was then on to Jackson Tennessee. When I arrived I had a bit of trouble finding Iselin Yard but when I did I was rewarded with these two West Tennessee Railroad MLW's.
WTNN 3510
WTNN 3560
4:50PM: Jackson TN.
I then caught a Norfolk Southern scrap train entering the yard to tie up for the evening.
NS 3512
NS Engineer Eric Walker poses for a shot with his locomotive. It was then back to Memphis. Met several friendly railroad employees and was able to see several trains from several different railroads in an area that I had not had the chance to explore much. Total miles: 364.
Visits Since 08-28-2000