Artcle #64: NS 740 w/ Nickel Plate Heritage Unit ES44AC 8100 Catawba, NC (August 15, 2025)

 

In this new article we are taking a look at NS 740 loaded coal train at Catawba, NC on Friday August 15, 2025. 740 originates in Shire Oaks, PA and terminates at th Marhsall steam station near Sherrills, Ford, NC. 740 along 742 and 744 run for 39 miles on the Asheville District S-Line between Salisbury, NC and Catawba, NC. At Catawba, the loaded trains come to a stop so the crew can switch sides of the train from the lead locomotive to the pusher. So with that, the locomorives on the train reverse roles. The pusher becomes the lead locomotive and the lead becomes the pusher. and heads into the lead track for the steam station. The lead locomotive here was AC44C6M 4018.

Here is the Nickel Plate Heritage Unit 8100 pushing pas the signal.

Here is a side view of 8100.

AC44C6M 4678 was the other pusher.