Riding NS 974 Operation Lifesaver Special on the ECBU

On October 25, 2011, Norfolk Southern and North Carolina Operation Lifesaver operated their annual special train for local officials and law enforcement to learn about crossing safety and to allow them to see crossings from the engineer's perspective. Cameras fed video screens throughout the train that riders could watch, and some rode in the cab of the locomotive and on NS Research Car 32 on the rear of the train.
In this 3-video series, you will see shots of 974 from the ground, the cab, in the passenger cars, and from the rear platform of NS 32.
This first video features ground shots at Pine Level, NC and as the train arrived at Goldsboro to pick up passengers. After running to New Bern, we move to head end for the run to Havelock so that the train can be turned on the wye. See the street running through downtown, as well as the view from he Trent River bridge as the swing span closes. We then get a look at the train while reversing the east leg of the wye off the Camp Lejeune(CL) Line back onto the EC-mainline. Then we highball west from Havelock for the return trip to New Bern.
PLEASE NOTE BEFORE YOU MAKE A STUPID COMMENT:
1. I am a part time volunteer with NCOL and had permission from officals to be on the train along with another photographer. The trainmaster for this area was in the cab the whole time to keep an eye on us.
2. This locomotive is NS 7018, a high hood GP50 with bi-directional controls and the long hood designated as the front. The controls are not on the same side as a short hood locomotive and I was not sitting in the engineers seat or near the controls.
3. Any comments that hint at trying to get anyone in any trouble will be removed. Its that attitude that probably limits such opportunities in the first place. As stated, this ride was with permission.