The weatherman's forecast of sunny weather came true as my dad and I spent the day chasing trains.  We started out on December 23, 2006, in Chattanooga.  As we were driving around NS's DeButts yard we spotted a Powder River coal train with BNSF power.  We also noticed a NS train rolling into the north end of the yard and a manifest train heading south.  Next we drove down to Wauhatchie yard.  On the way we found a CSX manifest train waiting to head into town.   At the yard the fog was low and thick which prohibited us from seeing much.   We were able to see a few engines at the service tracks but that was all.   Next we followed the tracks south for awhile.  We explored a few tracks in the area and then headed west.  I had just bought a railroad atlas from SPV, and it was nice to see which tracks went were.

     We met up with the CSX tracks on the Chattanooga sub around Hooker, GA.  For the next 10 miles or so the tracks twist and turn through a heading downhill to lake Nickajack.  We explored the route all the way to the lake were we ran into an eastbound Powder River Basin coal train.  After a quick U-turn, we beat the train back to the high bridge over I-24 near Whiteside, TN.  Because of the steep grade the train was pulling  hard and not moving very fast.  It was easy to get a picture and then race ahead to find another spot.  I took several more photos at three other locations before giving up the chase at Hooker, GA.  In the meantime we missed a westbound NS manifest train.  Heading back to the lake we continued to explore the tracks.  We followed the tracks all the way to New Hope, TN.   The road curves away from the tracks here so we decided to head back to Alaten, TN, and wait for a train.

     The wait proved to be about an hour before another train showed up.  Over the radio we heard a westbound calling out signals, and soon we could see it approaching along the lake.  After a quick drive I had just enough time to grab a couple shots before the train arrived.  It was another Powder River coal train with more BNSF power.  We chased it to Moore Crossing, but we weren't able to beat it in time for a picture.  Next we headed down to Bridgeport, AL.  As we arrived we explored the tracks and found several nice photo locations including a high view of the bridge over the Tennessee River east of town.  We hadn't heard anything on the scanner for awhile so we continued to follow the tracks south.   We arrived at Stevenson, AL, just in time to catch the eastbound Nashville to Atlanta manifest train with CSX, NS, and UP locomotives for power.  We also noticed yet another Powder River coal train waiting to enter the CSX track in town.  After a quick chase back to Bridgeport, we didn't quite beat the manifest train.  So we settled down to wait at the bridge for the next train.  We heard the detector call out the train and soon three CSX engines rolled onto the bridge with train Q127. 

     After the train rolled by we drove to were the two main tracks change to only one as they go over the bridge.  There is a nice S-curve here for westbound trains.  I knew there was that coal train which would have a DPU so I was sure I would get the shot.  The coal train arrived shortly, but it was met by red lights.  Soon after it stopped, however, the same empty coal train we had seen earlier rounded the corner.  It was slowing down, and as I shot several pictures, one of the crew members came out to the front of the locomotive.  Then they proceeded down the stairs and got a hand off from the train they met.  After this coal train cleared the switch the loaded eastbound got a yellow light and started out.   I took several pictures as it pulled through the switch.  Next we drove down to Stevenson to wait for another train.  On the scanner we had heard of a westbound approaching.  After a few minutes the detector alerted us of the train's presence, and I set up for the shot.  I decided to use my tele-converter along with my telephoto lens.  With that combination I had the equivalent of 560mm at the longest zoom.  The only problem is that I have to manually focus the camera.  As the train approached I took multiple pictures.  After it rolled by we started following it west.

     We barely beat the train to Sherwood, TN, where we found two AC4400CWs waiting on the siding.  The Q126 rolled to a stop at the west end of Sherwood, and we could hear the helpers connecting on to the rear of the train.   Soon it started out of town and up Cowan Hill.  I got several nice shots of the helpers as it rolled by my location west of town.  The road doesn't follow the tracks up the hill so by the time we got to Cowan the train had already cleared town.   The helpers were already in the yard and being tied down.  Two other helpers were also in the yard and with in a few minutes they headed west towards Decherd, TN.   A few minutes later a westbound auto train rolled down the hill into Cowan.  I was able to get some nice pictures in the fading sunlight as it was already 4pm.   This train rolled into the siding at Cowan, and we decided to head up to Decherd.   We arrived in town and found a long cut of hopper cars in the siding.  Also the two helper engines were on the west end of the siding.  The signals were on for an eastbound so we decided we should start looking for a place to shoot.

     Before we could come up with a good place we heard the horn of the train.  We thought it would stop so the helpers could couple onto the rear, but it rumbled through town without any hesitation.  We still hadn't found a good location so we raced back down to Cowan.  When we arrived the train was stopped blocking the main crossing in town while the other two helper engines connected on the back.  We drove down to the next crossing, and I was able to get a couple pictures of the head end.  Then back at the main crossing, we waited while the train slowly pulled passed.  I decided to incorporate some Christmas cheer into my picture since it was almost Christmas.  So I tried to find a good angle to photograph both the train and the manger seen set up next to the tracks.  After the train rolled by the sun was almost gone.  We decided to head back home.  It was a great trip with beautiful weather all day.

  December 23, 2006