It was the last Saturday in July of 2013 I remember the day vividly. The weather and the trains was less than desirable, for most of the day it was a cloudy, drizzly mess. The CSX was slow except for a eastbound coal drag and me and my buddy Dave was waiting out if the ABC crew was going to move the Buckeye Lady ( a Wheeling Executive car of some kind) back to the Wheeling. Well as it would Have it we hear the Z641 call out to the CSX IO dispatcher and ask for permission to the W&LE connection off the CSX at MP128.9 After getting permission the crew began to make the move (unknown to us at the time) with the Buckeye Lady in Tow.
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| Our Eastbound Coal Drag |
Now before I continue about our special move I would like to give you a little background into the Z641. This is a usual local move made by the Akron Barberton Cluster Ry or (ABC Crew) from their yard in Barberton over the CSX to the Wheeling and Lake Erie (W&LE) connection and up the W&LE tracks to the yard over on Market Street and sometime back in the same day. Usually with 1-15 cars in tow. Today would just be the Buckeye Lady. As they came east on track one They called the signal at Exchange street and we got set to get our pictures and begin our chase.
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| 1502 With the Special Tow |
Once we got the Shot down by the University we got in the car an scooted down to the Summit street connection Where we Caught the crew again.
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| Z641 with the Buckeye Lady at Summit Street |
Now once they were on the Wheeling we knew we could catch them over on the way into the yard on Market Street
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| On the way to the Market Street Yard |
Once The conductor threw the switch an they were on the Wheeling Main we hopped on the Freeway and Got over to the Overpass at Goodyear Blvd to get ready to catch them again. About 15-20 minutes had went by when we saw 641's headlights in the distance.
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| Z641 at Goodyear (note the old Pole leftover from the steam era) |
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While the chase could have ended there it didn't, once they was in the yard we decided to hang around to see what they would do with the Buckeye Lady. Sitting in the Parking lot at McDonald's with the scanners on full blast eating breakfast we hear the Akron base ( The Wheeling Dispatcher) tell them the 565 Crew was waiting on them to put the Buckeye Lady in the train. While waiting for them to put the Car into the consist we moved over to the road by the yard lead ( I can't recall the name right now) and Waited on the 565 to ready itself for the move South.
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| 565 With the Buckeye Lady in tow |
Once the 565 was given the track warrant to move south we began the second part of our chase this ensued following every country road we could find on the GPS we caught it many times as they only move about 35 mph on the line and we could do 45-50mph making it a easy chase.
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| 565 at Wing-foot Crossing |
Keeping ahead of the 565 proved to be difficult at times but we managed with Dave's awesome driving skills and my quickness with the video camera we were able to not only to capture pictures of the chase but video as well.
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| 565 North Canton |
While Our day ended with it moving through CP Wandle where the Wheeling Crosses the NS in Canton and provided the most awesome backdrop for a move like this. Now most of our chases don't wind up this long or have something this special making for a Great day even though it was a dreary one and that in my words, made one for the record As I leave you with this last picture of 565 moving through Wandle and the video from that day I hope you enjoy this trip back down memory lane, remember God is still in charge and in control. Also do something nice for someone it might be the only kindness they experience that day and might make the biggest difference.
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| CP WANDLE |
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