NS 242-07 (BNSF leader!) pulls on down to CP Pine Log out of the siding after seeing 243

Recorded 5/8/2024 at 10:32 am. I initially missed this 242 through Spartanburg, and kind of planned on not catching it altogether because it was just regular NS power. The BNSF D9W was added on in Greenville most likely due to NS 4630 failing on the crew. As you can hear in the video, the ACe sounded like it was working fine, but the C6M didn't sound like it was running at all. I was quite surprised when I checked the Virtual Railfan Spartanburg cam to see 242 having this leader. This was so unexpected, so I wasn't really mad for missing it. I was planning on coming down to Carlisle to see 243 anyway, but when I saw 242 stopped in the siding, I knew I'd still be able to get this BNSF leader on video. Nice engineer for the horn salute! Enjoy the video.
-NS 242 Intermodal/Mixed Manifest Combo
-Atlanta, GA - Charleston, SC
-Locomotives:
BNSF #5481 D9-44CW
NS #4630 AC44C6M
NS #1092 SD70ACe
-69 manifest and 22 buckets
-NS Coastal Division/Columbia District/W-Line
-MP W112.7

[@joshpack7330]

Nica catch! That leader was truly a surprise for me too, as I didn't see the power on the cam, and decided to let it be a surprise.

[@anscrailfanner6812]

Thanks Josh. I was sort of irritated that I missed this leader bc it would’ve been my chance to see a train at track speed in Pacolet 🙃. I’m sick of this auto control crap. It’s gotten even worse nowadays it seems. You’ll see in a video of 296 I have coming. Even with your catch of 297, that train was moving UNDER 25 mph and it almost looked like it was stopping.