America 250 At Spencer: A Semiquincentennial Celebration, Part II

#train #railroad #railfan #trainspotting Cooler temps prevailed, at least for a little while on the morning of August 29; day 2 of the America 250 celebration at the NC Transportation Museum. Before the forecasted weather turned the museum back into a doomsday sauna, I claimed a spot with the crowd gathering by the turntable for a better look as the locomotives were positioned for the day's events. 0:00 - Naugatuck Railroad 2798 (GE U23B) The Naugatuck Railroad's 2798 was set to be paired with Delaware-Lackawanna 1776 on the day's photo freight, so it was first up to take a spin. The 2798 is the last Universal Series locomotive built by GE, ordered by Conrail in 1977. The unit wears a cat silhouette and the name 'Spirit Of Turbo' on its flank to honor the Naugatuck's late shop cat, Turbo. 3:43 - CSX 2026/CSX 250 (GE CM44AH) CSX CM44AHs 2026 and 250 were turned next; unfortunately they didn't get to sit next to each other. 11:02 - Wheeling & Lake Erie 1776 (EMD SD40-2) Wheeling & Lake Erie SD40-2 1776 slots between the Naugatuck's U-Boat and the CSX units age-wise, having been built for Union Pacific in 1979. 13:37 - Canadian National 2026/1776 (GE ES44AC) Canadian National's ES44AC duo were next. The 'Screaming Eagle' 1776 seen yesterday was preceded by the 2026, painted in the colors of Air Force One. 19:58 - Roundhouse Pan Shot From left to right: Norfolk Southern 8118 (GE ES44AC) Florida East Coast 250 (GE ES44C4) Buffalo & Pittsburgh 4434 (GE C44-9W) RJ Corman 1776 (GE Dash 8-40CW) Lake State Railway 1776 (EMD SD70M) CSX 250 (GE CM44AH) CPKC 7626 (GE ET44AC) BNSF 1776 (GE ES44ACH) CSX 2026 (GE CM44AH) CN 2026 (GE ES44AC) CN 1776 (GE ES44AC) North Shore Scenic 250 (EMD GP9) Cincinnati Scenic Railway 1776 (EMD GP30) Florida Central 1776 (EMD GP9RM) Reading & Northern 1776 (EMD SD40-2) Vermont Rail System 1776 (EMD GP38-2) Chicago Rail Link 4200 (EMD GP40-2LW) Carolina Coastal Railway 1776 (EMD GP38-2) 20:39 - CSX 250 Rides Again CSX 250 was brought out for another spin before taking its place in the circle again. 24:48 - BNSF 1776 (GE ES44ACH) BNSF ES44ACH 1776 paused on the turntable for the National Anthem, then completed its move afterwards. 27:51 - C'mon, Move Something (MLW (Alco) M630/GE U23B) The photo freight dream team of Delaware-Lackawanna 1776 and Naugatuck Railroad 2798 teased the crowd while a meeting took place in the cab of the 1776. To be continued...