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R613 is roaring down the Poorfork towards NRG with CSX 363 leading the charge, still in its as-delivered YN2 paint scheme. We made it with only 2 minutes to spare; we received notification upon exit from the tunnel by Rhea and rushed down from the house. As we stepped out of the truck, and met another railfan by name of Will Jordan, we heard the horn sound in the distance. Perfect lighting, perfect morning catch.

The day began as the Eastman train barreled down upon Loyall with 45 empties and a YN2 leader, a classic scene that is only ruined by the trailing YN3 ES44AH. This was strange compared to the normal operations, as they usually load the full 90 cars, take 45’s in 2 trips and brung the entire 90 empties back. The dispatcher got themselves into a bit of a pickle however. R615 was rolling in on Main 2 and the other 45 Eastman loads was on Main 1. In the yard tracks, only 3 are inspected and up to date for use, the rest are for storage or just out of service. A MOW train of ballast and ties took up one of those tracks, and a set of bad orders was on another, meaning that when Eastman arrived with the loads and went in on the only open track, it was impossible for the power to run around for its second cut. Instead of leaving first, the crew had to wait until the high rail finished up for the R615 instead, better news for me. I opted to catch them coming in by the old Baxter Interlocking Tower, built in 1926.