Whew! That Was Close

On Sunday of Memorial Day weekend I was following the progress of the Wabash and Southern heritage units on a Norfolk Southern train.

Initially, Ursula and I were planning on a mid-afternoon dinner at Red Lobster in Ashtabula

But when I saw that the duo was approaching the Pittsburgh area around 3:30 p.m., I suggested that we do Applebee’s in Willoughby and politely suggested that we drive down to Bedford for an hour and a half after dinner

We had our meal then got to the tot lot at about 5:30 p.m. The only warning that I would have would be the westbound signal and a lot of luck.

We would have to leave by 7:15 to be home by 8 to Skype with my cousin in Arizona.

The first two westbounds were just that.  At about 6:50 p.m. the ultimate horror began happening again.

All I could see was what happened to Jeff Troutman and I a couple of months ago with the Norfolk & Western heritage unit. You may recall that No. 8103 leading a westbound through Bedford on Track No. 2 when an eastbound came along on Track No. 1 and blocked out view of the H unit.

I heard the grinding of an approaching eastbound and the signals for Track No. 2 westbound showed an approach indication.

The crossing gates for West Glendale went down but shortly thereafter they went back up. Then the West Grace gates went down and the Glendale went down again

Which train was going to get there first? And would it be what I was waiting for?

I didn’t want to cross the tracks because the early evening sun was in the perfect position.  Also, I was praying it would be the train with the Wabash unit on the lead and that it was not going to be blocked by the other train because I didn’t want to look like a complete fool in front of my wife.

Then I heard the locomotive horns and they sounded like they should.  But would it be the Wabash?  Thank God! It all worked out, but just barely.

Article and Photographs by Edward Ribinskas

Tags: NS 1070, NS Southern heritage unit, NS Wabash heritage locomotive, NS Wabash heritage unit