After the tragic wreck of the Amtrak Sunset Limited at Big Bayou Canot just north of Mobile, AL the CSX was forced to run a considerable amount of detour traffic over the NS into New Orleans to move freight. Here we see NS detour symbol R71 heading to New Orleans. This train originated in Birmingham, Alabama and is a combined CSX train 579 and CSX train 615. Power is CSXT SD40-2 8259, CSXT C30-7 7072, and CSXT GP40-2 4447. The trailing unit GP40-2 4447 was the last 4-axle locomotive delivered to CSX predecessor B&O and bears the name of retired Chessie System General Manager of Operations Arch McElvany. Slidell, Louisiana - 9-25-1993 - C.M.Palmieri Photo. |