Finally ...

I'd struck out twice trying to get a decent picture of the NS8100 Nickel Plate Road engine. Both times it had been leading but both times it was dark and the last time it was raining sideways.

But, thirds times a charm, eh? When the NKP was assigned to 23G I figured that, once again, it would be a missed opportunity as the 23G typically goes through Jonesborough in the wee hours of the morning. But something went pear-shaped east of here and gummed up all the eastbound train traffic Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. Now all that had to happen was for the train traffic to break out about daylight and I'd have a good chance. Well that didn't happen before I had to leave for work ... oh bother.

At work I got word via the FaceTube that 23G was just then rolling toward Jonesborough, so off we went to catch it in downtown Johnson City. I had scouted out this location before as a good candidate for a morning train shot. The light was good - a little too good, actually it would have been better with a little cloud cover - but it was nice just to be taking train pictures during daylight hours for once.

It took twice as long as it should have for the train to get to JC as we thought. There was still fallout from the earlier nights gumming up. But when it finally arrived we got the shots we wanted. Some folk don't like to shoot the engines when they are running as DPUs - pushing from the back of the train instead of pulling at the front - but I rather like it because I can practice shooting the train as it rolls by and get the timing down. Shooting a moving train is a developed skill, so practice is always welcome.

NS8100 Nickel Plate Road in Johnson City

Of all the NS Heritage paint schemes, this one is the second worst IMHO - the worst being the lime green with yellow stripes of the Illinois Terminal "glow worm". Its only redeeming feature is the nicely scripted lettering.

Regardless, it's not a new Heritage engine capture but it is a much better picture of a previous catch. Still 7 down and 13 to go.

Update (12/18/2013): the NKP returned on 22A again, leading this time. I snapped the following two pictures in downtown Jonesborough, just after dark ... again ... one more time.

NS8100 NKP nose, Jonesborough, TN 12/18/2013

NS8100 NKP butt, Jonesborough, TN 12/18/2013

#1 1069 Virginian
#2 8098 Conrail 

#3 8104 Lehigh Valley

#4 1073 Penn Central
#5 8100 Nickel Plate Road

#6 8105 Interstate
#7 8101 Central of Georgia