Railfanning Ashland 8-30/9-9-25 (feat. ex-BN GP39M, Amtrak Midnight Blue, CSX MAC, and more)

Another compilation of two Ashland visits. The highlight of all was undoubtedly the ex-BN Geep. Enjoy!

8-30-25
(0:00): Amtrak P089 SB through Ashland.
P42DC 181

(0:50): Looking around Tiny Tim's Toy and Hobby shop. There were some cool locomotives, like a N&W J Class, a CSX Stealth Geep, a US Army GE, and more.

(4:03): CSX M419 passes Gwathmey Church Road.
CM44AH 7572 (ex-AC4400CW 512)
ES44AH 3120

(7:34): A butterfly!

(8:06): Amtrak P079 SB with a Phase VII P42.
P42DC 187

(9:06): CSX I031 SB.
CM44AH 7252 (ex-AC4400CW 321)
ET44AH 3295

(10:41): Amtrak P153 arrives and departs Ashland.
ALC-42 365

(14:01): Amtrak P092 NB.
ALC-42 305
P42DC 25

(14:41): Amtrak P080 NB.
P42DC 19

(15:37): Amtrak P158 arrives and departs, and meets M409 with an SD70MAC leader.
Amtrak P158
ALC-42 316

CSX M409
SD70MAC 4541
ES44AH 959 (DPU)

(21:59): Amtrak P053 SB. Still a shame Amtrak replaced the P40s with these eyesores...
ALC-42 352
ALC-42 322

(23:27): Amtrak P195 arrives and departs.
P42DC 168

(27:06): Amtrak P091 SB.
P42DC 155
ALC-42 306

(28:23): Missed the first few seconds, but a boarding announcement for Amtrak P124.

(28:59): Amtrak P124 arrives and departs Ashland. I'm liking the new Phase VII Amfleets. They're reminiscent of the Acela Regional Capstone livery from the early 2000s.
ALC-42 319

(30:12): Amtrak P099 arrives and departs, and meets CSX M416.
Amtrak P099
P42DC 135

CSX M416
ES44AH 984
CM44AH 7221 (ex-AC4400CW 331)

(37:12): CSX C750 SB.
ET44AH 3255
SD70MAC 4572
ES40DC 5298

(39:55): Amtrak P087 arrives and departs with the third Phase VI Charger of today.
ALC-42 307

(42:32): Amtrak P097 SB.
P42DC 15
ALC-42 324

9-9-25
(43:30): Pulling up to the Moutain Road Crossing, Amtrak P141 passes.
ALC-42 317

(43:48): CSX I031 passes through Ashland.
CM44AH 7111 (ex-AC4400CW 73)
ES44AH 798

(46:05): Boarding call for Amtrak P138. I like when they list the station stops.

(46:45): Amtrak P138 arrives and departs Ashland.
ALC-42 356

(48:38): Amtrak P080 rolls through Ashland with the Midnight Blue unit leading.
P42DC 100 (Midnight Blue)

(49:53): Amtrak P091 passes by with an FRA (former PRR) coach at the head end.
P42DC 155
ALC-42 361

(50:40): Catch of the day! CSX M418 passes by with an ex-BN GP30 trailing! This engine was due to be set off at Doswell and head to its next home in Staunton through the BB route, but it ended up "touring" the CSX system for another week or so. It's sure BeeN a while since I've seen anything like this around here, and that BN Cascade green paint is lovely!
CSX ET44AH 3346
CSX ES44AH 926
BNSF GP39M 2809 (ex-BN 2809/UP GP30 830)

(54:22): Amtrak P095 SB.
ALC-42 336

(55:16): Amtrak P090 NB.
P42DC 181

(55:49): Amtrak P053 SB.
ALC-42 352
ALC-42 354

(57:17): Boarding call for Amtrak P186.

(57:50): Amtrak P186 arrives and departs.
P42DC 37

(59:32): Amtrak P125 arrives and departs.
ALC-42 351

(1:01:29): Amtrak P093 arrives and departs.
P42DC 50

(1:04:49): CSX L134 hauls ass through Ashland with a solo GP38-2 leader. This train has been running in the evening instead of the morning now.
GP38-2 2617 (ex-SBD/L&N 4110)

(1:08:35): Amtrak P097 SB.
P42DC 150
P42DC 146

(1:09:51): We finish the day with the arrival and departure of Amtrak P087.
ALC-42 334

(1:12:42): Slideshow of the catches.
Music:
The Cars: Bye Bye Love

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