Southbound CSX W992-06 High and Wide I was on my way North on Main Street here in Madisonville, Ky, through the heavy overcast and misty freezing rain yesterday, February 10th, 2021, when I encountered CSX high and wide train W992-06 heading south on the Henderson Subdivision. I hadn't received any heads up on this move from my friends to the north and so I was caught completely by surprise when I saw the red caboose on the end of this shot train! I immediately made a u-turn and the chase was on! While the predicted ice storm was passing through our area, the temperatures were slightly above freezing and I knew the roads were just wet and not ice coated yet, plus I knew that this train would be moving at a restricted speed of 25mph, which is normal for high and wide moves and that I wouldn't have any problems keeping ahead of it as I got to some good spots to catch it's move, despite the bad weather. This was my first spot which is the S curve approaching the New Salem Church overpass in Nortonville, Kentucky. It was a Emmert International train move with CSXT SD40-3 #4020 as power and BBCX 1002 as the trailing caboose with what appeared to be a steam generator of some sort. It was being hauled on their BBCX1000 Schnabel Railcar. According to the Emmert International website: "Emmert International's BBCX1000 Schnabel Railcar is specifically designed to carry heavy (up to 1 million pounds) and oversized loads in such a way that the load itself makes up part of the car. The load is suspended between the two ends of the cars by lifting arms; the lifting arms are connected to a pivot above an assembly of pivots and frames that carry the weight of the load and the lifting arm. For loads not designed to be part of the car Emmert International's BBCX1000 is equipped with a deck designed to carry the loads in standard configuration up to 836,000 pounds. Customized decks can be manufactured to increase the overall payload weight. Emmert International's BBCX1000 is equipped with hydraulic equipment that will either lift the load vertically or horizontally shift the load while in transit to clear obstructions along the car's route. With 20 axles (ten for each half) containing four trucks connected by a complex system of span bolsters its tare (unloaded) weight without deck is 424,000 lbs. The BBCX1000's empty car length is 115'10" with a maximum length with the loading deck at 168’ 9". Maximum vertical load shifting ability is 14” and the maximum horizontal load shifting ability is 22". The heavy duty AAR railcar mechanical designation is “LS”." Emmert International's BBCX1000 Schnabel Railcar is accompanied by the BBCX 1002 Caboose and BBCX1003 flat car that carries the deck when not in service. The BBCX1000 is pulled by special train service and requires 2 operators. When in transport not carrying loads the BBCX is limited to 40 mph. When loaded or empty with deck in place the BBCX1000 is limited to 25 mph. Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @290mm f/7.6, 1/640, ISO 640.

Southbound CSX W992-06 High and Wide

I was on my way North on Main Street here in Madisonville, Ky, through the heavy overcast and misty freezing rain yesterday, February 10th, 2021, when I encountered CSX high and wide train W992-06 heading south on the Henderson Subdivision.

I hadn’t received any heads up on this move from my friends to the north and so I was caught completely by surprise when I saw the red caboose on the end of this shot train! I immediately made a u-turn and the chase was on!

While the predicted ice storm was passing through our area, the temperatures were slightly above freezing and I knew the roads were just wet and not ice coated yet, plus I knew that this train would be moving at a restricted speed of 25mph, which is normal for high and wide moves and that I wouldn’t have any problems keeping ahead of it as I got to some good spots to catch it’s move, despite the bad weather.

This was my first spot which is the S curve approaching the New Salem Church overpass in Nortonville, Kentucky.

It was a Emmert International train move with CSXT SD40-3 #4020 as power and BBCX 1002 as the trailing caboose with what appeared to be a steam generator of some sort. It was being hauled on their BBCX1000 Schnabel Railcar.

According to the Emmert International website: “Emmert International’s BBCX1000 Schnabel Railcar is specifically designed to carry heavy (up to 1 million pounds) and oversized loads in such a way that the load itself makes up part of the car. The load is suspended between the two ends of the cars by lifting arms; the lifting arms are connected to a pivot above an assembly of pivots and frames that carry the weight of the load and the lifting arm.

For loads not designed to be part of the car Emmert International’s BBCX1000 is equipped with a deck designed to carry the loads in standard configuration up to 836,000 pounds. Customized decks can be manufactured to increase the overall payload weight. Emmert International’s BBCX1000 is equipped with hydraulic equipment that will either lift the load vertically or horizontally shift the load while in transit to clear obstructions along the car’s route.

With 20 axles (ten for each half) containing four trucks connected by a complex system of span bolsters its tare (unloaded) weight without deck is 424,000 lbs. The BBCX1000’s empty car length is 115’10” with a maximum length with the loading deck at 168’ 9″. Maximum vertical load shifting ability is 14” and the maximum horizontal load shifting ability is 22″. The heavy duty AAR railcar mechanical designation is “LS”.”

Emmert International’s BBCX1000 Schnabel Railcar is accompanied by the BBCX 1002 Caboose and BBCX1003 flat car that carries the deck when not in service. The BBCX1000 is pulled by special train service and requires 2 operators. When in transport not carrying loads the BBCX is limited to 40 mph. When loaded or empty with deck in place the BBCX1000 is limited to 25 mph.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @290mm f/7.6, 1/640, ISO 640.