CIRCUS TRAIN PT 1

The Circus came to town this morning! Actually, it PASSED through town this morning.

These two shots show the overall view of much of the train, which belonged to the James E. Strates Show. I missed the passenger cars on the head end.

Another shot of the train, showing the various trailers carried aboard the long flatcars, including one of the advertising trailers.

Note the pick-up on the far flatcar with it's trailer behind it. The trailer in front of it seems to be a ride, folded up for storage.

More ride trailers, with the tractors attatched. Most of the tractors were these Mack Ultra-Liner cab-overs, others were Mack "R" tractors like the one seen in the first photo. Most seemed a bit worse for wear. A bit hard to see in the photos, all of the flatcars have end drop ramps to facilitate loading and unloading the equipment. This style of loading/inloading was used at the start of intermodal railroading; now trailers are loaded/unloaded using overhead cranes, the same way as containers- like the ones on the train in the background. Driving the equipment on and off the flats was -and still is -called 'circus-style' loading/unloading!

HARLEY/LAMBO PICS!

Starting off, here is a shot of a nice, clean, "HOG". This is a Road King.

Next up are these two shots of a Lamborghini Diabalo, owned by a local man. I met him once a while back, long before I took these photos. Unfortunately, the car only seems to come out at night; my humble little camera can't do this car justice!

FREIGHT CAR PICS

I shot this pic of a covered hopper to show that sometimes the end caps on the outlet gates don't always get put back on after unloading! I'm sure they will be screwed back on before the car gets moved.

This shot shows a Coltainer placed on an EPIC articulated spine car with three EPIC containers. While these cars originally carried up to six EPIC containers, with two double-stacked at the ends of the car, these containers are taller than the origional ones; thus only four are now placed on a car. In front of the spines is a string of loaded NS TopGons.

More Coltainers behind the EPICs. Since they were in a sting of cars with coal-loaded TopGons, I no longer suspect that they are used for scrap hauling. They may, indeed, be used for their intended purpose of hauling coal, but the presence of the EPIC containers indicates that they may also be used for hauling contaminated dirt. Or even trash!

THE NS EXECUTIVE UNITS

To celebrate the introduction of Amtrak's new Lynchburg-D.C. train, Norfolk Southern moved its business train to it's Lynchburg, Va. Montview Yard.

Here's a view of the four rebuilt F-units that pull the train. Note that only the cab-equipped 'A' units are equipped with Head End Power generators (the reason for the rear exhaust muffler/stacks) to power the passenger cars. The non-cab 'B' units in the middle lack this equipment, since they can't be used by themselves.

A close-up of the HEP modifications.

Here's another top view of the units. Those of you looking to detail the Athearn units released last year, here are your shots!



When I got to the overpass, it was still dark out, so this was the best I could do with the rest of the train. By the time the sun was up, I had already been interviewed by the cops- passerby thought I was planning to jump off the bridge! I stayed long enough to shoot the power.

MORE VEHICLES

A few weeks ago, I shot this 1929 Ford Model A in a local motel parking lot. The owner was in town for a Model A convention in Charlottesville that weekend -over 200 Model A's in one place!

Here is yet another trike I found. This one also has a trailer.

The other side.

2 TRIKES & A FLATCAR

Here are two photos of a Honda trike I found in a local hotel parking lot recently. The man in the background is the proud owner. He was polishing it up a bit when I asked permission to photograph the bike. Note the lights on the side of the front forks and the bug deflector in front of the foot pedal.

This rear view shows the matching trailer. I believe there is also storage in the compartment behind the seat. Overall, a nice, clean ride.

This is a more custom trike I found one afternoon outside the local Target. The rear storage on this one appears to be a large, lockable plastic storage box mounted to the rear frame. The rear lights are mounted the sides and rear of the box! That's probably the fuel tank in front of it. Note the 'Wheelie' bars underneath!

The front view shows off the custom 'chopper'- style front half; complete with long forks, wasp fuel tank, and custom seat. It also shows that the engine is mounted between the rear wheels, instead of under the frame like a conventional motorcycle. Note the extra head lamps in front of the rear wheels. In a way, not as fancy as the first trike, but definately just as distinctive.

Finally, there's this NS heavy duty flatcar loaded with a brand new transformer from local company Delta Star- note the logo on the side of the transformer. The two boxes on the end deck are probably accessory parts. Note the series of plates welded to the main deck to secure the transformer, along with the cables attached from the top to the car. When the car finally gets to it's destination, the plates will be cut off so the load can be removed. Also seen in this view are two former trailers that have had their landing gear and rear boogies removed and converted into storage containers.

MORE NS CARS

Here we see a NS gondola sitting in Montview yard. Notice, however, the logo on the near end of the car- a Missouri Pacific 'Buzzsaw' herald! Obviously the NS acquired this car second-hand.

Next, we see an NS-owned tank car, similar to the Atlas 20,700 gallon tank car model. In fact, the top hatch configuration is very close. It appears to most closely match the model with the 2-piece top platforms and type 20 saddles. As you can see, the car is in Maintenance Of Way service, and looks to have been recently painted/repainted. This is the first railroad- owned tank car I have see in person.