After passing through the old Southern Rwy Cantilever signal at Webb MP-239.8 A, NS 710 is making a b-line to "Cameron" the crew change point on the east-end of NS Debutts Yard ending a long journey for this West-End crew that boarded this loaded coal bucket some 120+ rail miles ago at the now idle NS Sevier Yard in Knoxville, TN. It would be no less than 15 minutes that the outbound AGS crew will board the train, and will take this coal bucket some 137.5 miles southwest to Birmingham Ala. The lead 4011 was once NS 8857 a D9-40C, the locomotive was one of the candidates that took part in a rebuilt program into the NS GE AC44C6M. The locomotive is conversion to AC traction utilizing GE electrical components, new electrical cabinet, replacement of the existing crew cab and low short hood with a new GE widenose and cab, new replacement trucks plus traction motors, and additional weight was added to increase the units up to 432,000 pounds when fully loaded with supplies. The units meet Tier 1+ emission standards. All six axles are powered with GE 5GEB13B7 AC traction motors. Units are equipped for ECP (Electronically Controlled Pneumatic) train braking. Units are equipped for use in DPU (Distributed Power Unit) operation. Units are equipped with GE Trip Optimizer/PTC (Positive Train Control) system. Units are equipped with cab air conditioning. Currently NS has 18 units on the operation roster, and 57 more that are going to be rebuilt by the end of the 2017 year. Like the old say get as many pictures of the D9-40C as you can cause their days are numbered.
