On March 21st 2024, NS, aka Norfolk Southern, had to face Roanoke Yard being full. The solution, to reroute traffic mainly from 126 to the S, or the AS line, through Asheville. They initially ran M36 (Extra 136) from Knoxville to Asheville Yard with over 7000ft of train and almost 100 cars. At 5:30PM, NS 111 departed Asheville for Linwood, with P60's power being the pusher set. It was one interesting find to see a massive train on the AS line (formerly the S line), because the longest a train can get is usually 30 cars.
The chase started at Asheville East, or East Street. The locomotives were in higher notch, climbing a grade of about 1.4% out of Asheville Yard. We would also see the whole train here. Like in the video, you can skip ahead!
The next stop was Rawadero Drive, West of Swannanoa. Again, 111 runs around notch 8 climbing the grade there. We only caught the 1st 30 cars there.
The 3rd stop was Swannanoa, next to Railroad Street. Because the sun was taking over the camera, like in the previous shot, this shot, I had to get next to a semi truck to film 111 without the sun showing up. The lead ES44AC's were coasting or in lower power, but the pushers are seen in about Notch 3 or Notch 4.
The Final Stop was Black Mountain. NS 111 had the task of climbing the grade to Ridgecrest. And roars past Black Mountain, as you see in the final scene, the pushers, aka P60, was in notch 8.
I wished I went to the loops because it would have been a classic shot of a big train, yet a long video, but i had to get my homework done.
Hope you like this video