[4K] Ashland VA 12.30.23: When The Lights Go Down, Part 2

#train #railfan #adventure With 2024 almost upon us, I spent New Year's Eve Eve paying one more visit to Ashland before the Christmas lights came down after the calendar change. The railfan grapevine was buzzing all afternoon with news of northbound manifest M422 having a few surprises on the head end, but as darkness fell with the train still cooling its wheels in Richmond, it was anyone's guess when - or if - we would see it pass that evening. 0:00 - Amtrak 90, Palmetto/Northeast Regional 195 It was a toss-up on which way to face as a headlight appeared at both ends of town a few minutes before 5. ALC-42 310 and the northbound Palmetto were first past the station, followed quickly by the arrival of Northeast Regional 195 with P42 71 on point. 2:28 - Amtrak 91, Silver Star With our hyper-focus on news of M422's progress (or lack thereof) in our direction, I overlooked any mention of what else might show up. Thus I was caught completely unaware when the southbound Silver Star rolled by with 'Day One' heritage ALC-42 301 tucked in behind P42 132. 3:02 - CSX L134 The Fredericksburg local returned from its day's work with GP40-2 6156 leading 12 boxcars. 4:04 - CSX E750 M422 was reportedly waiting on an empty coal train to depart first, so we were encouraged when E750 appeared, 200 hoppers in tow behind ET44AH 3398, ES44AHs 861 and 859, CM44AC 7231, and ES44AHs 3150 and 3052. 8:03 - Amtrak Northeast Regional 124 While M422 continued to wait in Richmond, Amtrak continued to ply its trade in Ashland. Northeast Regional 124 was next to arrive, led by P42 194. 10:03 - Amtrak 53, Auto Train P42s 831 and 830 whisked another load of vacationers and their vehicles on towards Florida. The word from Richmond now said that M422's power had to cut away to pick up another locomotive. 12:28 - Amtrak Northeast Regional 99 M422 was now waiting for a signal maintainer to complete work ahead and give them the all-clear. Northeast Regional 99 conducted its business in Ashland in the meantime, led by P42 5. 14:47 - CSX M422 I'd say it was worth the wait. In my last railfanning catch for 2023, the long-awaited M422 finally made its appearance. The already impressive lashup of ES44AH 3057, ET44AH 3405, CN ES44AC 2894, GECX ET44AC 2029, and CN ET44AH 3006 had indeed been fleshed out with one more locomotive, Belvedere & Delaware River SW900 909.