Railfanning in Spotsylvania, VA 3-20-18

Yesterday my dad and I went railfanning at the VRE station in Spotsylvania County. I rarely railfan the RF&P Sub north of Doswell, but I've wanting for a while to catch a VRE train. I rode them a lot when I was younger, especially in second grade (we even rode the Manassas Line once when VRE was leasing Bombardier coaches and F59PHIs from Sounder), but I never actually caught them on video. The last time I rode a VRE train was 2011, back when they still had Geeps and a few F40s and when Fredericksburg was the last station to the south. Anyway, this was an eventful day! Not even the cold weather and rain stopped me from having fun (the station building has heat anyway). Enjoy! Train #1: Sometime after I got there, Amtrak P095 came tearing by the station. 1. Amtrak P42 #144 Train #2: CSX Q410 passes the station with an AC4400CW leader and an SD40-3 trailing along with some interesting cars and loads. 1. AC4400CW #579 2. ET44AH #3420 3. SD40-3 #4228 Train #3: A while later, Amtrak Silver Star #91 sounded the horn for Mine Road before roaring by moments later. 1. P42DC #15 Train #4: It was a lull before Amtrak P053 became the next train in line. At this point, the first southbound VRE was maybe halfway here, but of course unlike VRE, Amtrak trains (especially P053) don't need to stop so often! 1. Amtrak P40 #831 2. Amtrak P40 #835 Train #5: My first VRE catch! VRE 303 pulls into the station a little late. After finishing the stop, they proceeded into the yard. 1. VRE MP36PH-3 #V59 2. VRE Gallery IV Cab Car #V730 Train #6: 303 was late, but the rest of the VRE trains were on time (hell, some even arrived early). VRE 305 arrives and departs Spotsylvania with a doubleheader. 1. MP36PH-3 #V53 2. MP36PH-3 #V61 3. Gallery IV Cab Car #V718 Train #7: While warming up in the station, I heard a horn. After coming back to the platform, Amtrak P125 flew by. 1. P42 #61 Train #8: VRE 307 finishes service here before going into the yard. As the cab car went by, I noticed that it had its door open. Perhaps Dave and Larry were stowing away in it to avoid being on an Amtrak train and forgot to close the door. 1. MP36PH-3 #V69 2. Gallery IV Cab Car #V714 Train #9: There was more waiting before this came. CSX work train W091 goes by the station with a sole GEVO. 1. CSX ES40DC #5257 Train #10: You guessed it, more VRE action. VRE 309 is the next to arrive and depart Spotsylvania. The lead engine's number reminds me of our favorite local on the NS Norfolk District. 1. MP36PH-3 #V62 2. Gallery IV Cab Car #V721 Trains #11 and 12: VRE 311 pulls into the station after its return from Washington D.C. I like how I was right next to the doors when they stopped. I usually move back a bit to give the passengers more room. As 311 went to the service yard, the scanner called the delayed Amtrak P090, which was the next to come by. VRE 311 1. VRE MP36PH-3 #V65 2. VRE Gallery IV Cab Car #V719 Amtrak P090 1. Amtrak P42DC #181 Train #13: While hanging out in the building, I didn't hear any scanner chatter or horns for some reason, and was caught off guard by Amtrak Northeast Regional #93 with the M. Kempf Memorial locomotive. 1. P42DC #162 Train #14: It's nighttime when VRE 313 arrives at the station to drop off its passengers. I moved to the far side of the platform because I thought I was hearing a CSX horn at the same time, and wanted to make sure it wasn't blocked. There was no CSX train, however. This was a very quick station stop. Interestingly, the leader has the same number as the former Amtrak Phase II heritage unit, which was sadly scrapped recently after its wreck. At least P42 #130 is the new Phase II unit. 1. MP36PH-3 #V66 2. Gallery IV Cab Car #V711 Train #15: The final VRE commuter for the day (and our last train of the day) is VRE 315. 315 arrives in Spotsylvania before heading to the yard. I like how the conductor was yelling "Last stop!" I never caught any VRE trains up until now, and I caught all of the southbound VRE trains except 301! After 315 left, I packed up to go home. 1. VRE MP36PH-3 #V56 2. VRE Gallery IV Cab Car #V725