This was in my consist today.

The picture looks like it was a little scrunched.  Anyway, I went to relieve the crew at Maher, WV., and this motor was second out.  They wrote our motor numbers on our orders and I didn't even realize the number was a heritage motor until I walked up to get on the train.  Too cool.

That Central Of Georgia unit is one of my favorites! 

Nice...you are a lucky man.

Ross:

I'm kind of curious.  Are the NS T&E employees in your crew district generally showing much interest in these new heritage units?  I've seen first hand how trashed the cabs of locomotives can become, so it will be interesting to see if these receive any extra care.

Curt

I can say this.  I am a neat freak so I clean up when I get on the engine.  Also, it's one of the rules so it should always be kept clean.  I think that a lot of the employees are taking notice.  It's a hot topic with us working on the Pocahontas Division.  It seems we always get the newest power due to working in the coalfields.  Just the other day the N&W, Nickel Plate Road, and the original Norfolk Southern heritage motors were all in Portsmouth, OH. at the same time.  Imagine getting those side by side!  Would have made for a great pic!  But I for one am excited about this.  A buddy and I have a little contest going on who sees the most first.  I took a self pic with my iphone of my face beside the Central of Georgia logo.  I put it on his facebook and the comment was "Don't be a hater".  I was the first out of the two of us to have a heritage locomotive. 

I should be getting called anytime to take that same train back to Williamson, WV.  The CofG unit will be on the head end so I would guess there will be some railbuffs out there between Kenova and Williamson today.  And yes, I grew up by the C&O as a kid and wanted to be an engineer all my life.  God has blessed me with a lifelong dream coming true.  I might have rambled on a little but I hope I answered your question.

Glad to see the professionals enjoy this as much we do!

lucky!!!

I thought cell phones were a no-no, while on duty.    LOCOMOTION

In the cab, while "on duty" & moving.

I applaud you and a wonderful picture.

Have fun! Stay safe!

I saw this one pass through Rke a week or so ago. The Interstate was sitting outside the house at SXing a few days ago.

Ross:

You didn't ramble and it was a great answer.  Over the years, I've talked with so many jaded old heads on the railroads, that it is good to hear there are guys who do actually enjoy the job.

Curt

Took it east today and got to talk to a guy that was taking pics.  Super nice guy.  Terry was his name.  Took a lot of pics of us going east.  When we stopped I took his picture, with his camera, of him standing next to the engine.  Gave him my email and hopefully he will send some pics of our train.  Gave him a christmas ornament I had in my grip leftover from 2011.  He couldn't believe that I gave it to him.  Said it was too cool.  Great to meet people like that.  Ended up throwing my orders off to him and told him it was great talking to him.  It was a good day.  Nice to stop and talk to people like that and let them know we're not ALL buttholes. 

Hey Ross,

Glad to see I'm not the only one who got a heritage unit! I caught a 651 out of Altoona on my way back to Conway last week, and it didn't take long for me to go through Trainorders to figure out that it had NKP 8100 on it. Buffs were out everywhere shooting us. Many thanks to Dustin Faust for the picture. That's me giving a "relaxed" wave. Gotta take the job seriously!

Both the Conrail heritage unit and the Interstate unit are having software problems and both are in Roanoke as of early this week.  The computer on 8098 was giving a false "broken crankcase" reading, thus why they thought they'd actually already broken the crank.  The Interstate unit was having problems being MU'd (good thing UP didn't get hold of it for 844...total joke). 

Thank goodness for the 3 year/36,000 mile GE warranty.  HAHA.

Ross072566, I was just in Portsmouth on Wednesday and Williamson on Thursday! I met with a few of your Division Officers doing the advance work for the 765's visit there in August. This was the first time I had ever been to Williamson. Quite an interesting place. I didn't see any Heritage Units, however.

Driving from Portsmouth to Williamson along US 52, I could see that there probably isn't 100 feet of straight track between those two cities! What a winding route the railroad has to take to follow the river! Very scenic country and I'm looking forward to running down there.

 In the last week I saw the NKP,Lehigh Valley and recrewed ross072566 on Wayne Branch when he had the CofG unit.

 It's been cool seeing these heritage units passing thru.

 Rich it's a shame you didn't pass thru here before the old yard office was torn down in Williamson.It really would have taken you back.Also the passenger depot in Portsmouth,which was the last one built by the N&W.

 Who did you get to talk with,Mr.White or Mr.Runyon ?

 I can't wait to see steam pass thru here again.Hope I can get some tickets .

The G0fG livery looks a lot like the B&O's.  Connection?  Copycats?

I'll bet the old office was something, but that new building is pretty nice, too. I like that bottom level drive-through. There is still lots of railroad history in Williamson.

I met with Mickey Runyon, Bob Maloney and Dallas McGinnis. Good people.

During the weekend we're going to keep the train on the SV Main and water the 765 at the hydrant right behind that new office building. Since there is nowhere to turn in Williamson, the 765 trips will likely run both directions. We'll go to the wye at Ought One in the morning and the wye at Naugatuck in the afternoon.

Have you a switcher to assist you when wying?

Dominic:

According to the latest issue of Railfan & Railroad magazine, the CofG paint scheme was copied from the B&O paint scheme by the EMD design department.  The only key difference was that EMD substituted orange separation stripes for the gold that was used on the B&O scheme.

Curt

No...why would we need a switcher? We'll just pull in one leg of the wye and back out the other. Or vice-versa, depending on the location.

A nice photo....