Ashland VA 07.21.19: The Fast Frying Virginian - Part 1

Sauna-like humidity and a triple-digit heat index? Sure, let's go railfanning!
Yes, heading up to Ashland on July 21st in the face of a 110+ degree heat index was a little nuts, but I was on a mission. FFV Junior was set to board Amtrak's northbound Silver Star that morning in Richmond for a trip to Washington DC, and it would have taken more than some temporary thermal discomfort to keep me from recording the passage of his train. Armed with a cooler stuffed with as much water as I could carry and an ample supply of sunscreen, I set out before sunrise and planned to bug out as soon as Junior's train came through.
0:04 - Fast enough for the sunrise, yes - fast enough to catch Q032, not so much. The hotshot intermodal could be seen in the distance as I crossed College Avenue and parked the car, and I had to be content with a few quick stills as it flew by the platform. Fortunately, I didn't have long to wait before Q438 followed at 6:10 behind a powerful quartet: ES40DC 5310, CW44AH 591, AC4400CW 402, and ES44AH 925.
3:28 - The morning sun was reaching across the tracks as Northeast Regional 164 pulled into the station at 6:48, led by P42 166.
5:47 - The temperature was well on its way to triple-digit territory as two Titanic-sized freights met in the center of the Center Of The Universe at 8:09. Q415 was first to arrive, led by ET44AH 3342, AC4400CW 302, and GP40-2 6156 (the latter dead in tow). The giant continued its slow march south as ET44AH 3266, C40-8W 7766, and AC4400CW 96 slipped past on track 3 with Q410. I hoped for a low-sided freight car or two as I panned back north, but it was not to be. However, the pan did time well with the passing of Q415's DPU, ET44AH 3461.
12:57 - The passengers waiting for Northeast Regional 88 escaped the heat and humidity not a moment too soon when their train arrived at 8:38, led by P42 40.
15:06 - Some late fumbling with the camera nearly cost me a shot of Northeast Regional 65 as it arrived in Ashland a few minutes before 9, led by P42 15.
16:21 - On the bright side, lulls such as the one that preceded Northeast Regional 96 allowed ample time to top off the fluid levels and reposition for better shade. The last regional of the morning arrived at 10:31 behind P40 837.
18:30 - GP40-2 6280 and GP38-2 2717 hustled local D794 through Ashland at 10:53, to the accompaniment of a stirring EMD soundtrack.
20:09 - Another lull (and another fluid check), and then it was train time again as the southbound Palmetto breezed through town behind squeaky-clean P42 72.
20:44 - The northbound Auto Train had suffered major delays due to a grade crossing incident in South Carolina and finally made an appearance in Ashland at 12:53, led by P40s 832 and 835.
22:33 - While FFV Junior was boarding the Silver Star in Richmond, the southbound Carolinian was passing through Ashland behind P42 117.
23:21 - The heat index was passing 110 F as the Silver Star finally appeared at 1:40, led by P42s 25 and 2. The high sun and tinted windows precluded any view of Junior waving from business class (he promised he did), but I panned the car anyway. I wasted no time in packing up and getting into the car so I could crank the A/C for the drive home.

[@BaltimoreAndOhioRR]

💛 Happy new week!

[@jamesburnside3023]

Great video and location

[@wehearttrains8479]

The title 🤣 ... great video!

[@nathanrailfan4654]

Sweet Action!

[@RainierRails]

Great video!

[@FastFlyingVirginian]

Thank you sir!

[@FastFlyingVirginian]

Good question. I counted 134 cars on Q410 when I reviewed it on the Virtual Railfan cam, but I still need to look at the raw footage of Q415 to see how it measured up. I was curious myself.

[@KamikazeCaz]

Great video FFV.