The Tropicana Juice Train put in a relatively early showing on September 20th in Ashland (VA that is). With two DC GEVOs on the point, the train was making more smoke than the engines pulling it as an ailing refrigeration unit 6 or 7 cars from the tail end belched out an exhaust plume:

Tropicana Juice Train at Ashland VA, September 20, 2008

A couple others I caught the same morning:

One-engine wonder AC6000CW 5001 flashes its 'Diversity In Motion' logo as it rolls north with 36 containers in tow:

Single-unit container train at Ashland, VA

Two ex-Conrail units, SD40-2R 8885 in full CSX and patch job C40-8W 7334 take general merchandise north. At about 1:12, check out the trio of C&NW hoppers, one each in green, blue, and yellow:

Conrail Reunion

Nice vids, what a shame its a quite zone as there is great opportunity to raise hell

Thanks for sharing

You're welcome. One of these days I plan on getting back to Doswell (just north of Ashland) and try filming there. There's a level crossing with a former C&O line now operated by the Buckingham Branch shortline, complete with wye, interchange tracks, and an abandoned brick tower. Last time I stopped there briefly, the BB had 3 Geeps there tied down for the weekend. However, the whole place is a minefield of No Trespassing signs. I've since talked to a few other railfans who say the BB's more of the 'okay but just don't get in our way' attitude, it's just CSX you have to worry about. There's an antique store (appropriately named 'Squashapenny Junction') right next to the tracks and a grade crossing, so if I am able to work out a good vantage point there'll be plenty of opportunity to catch some hell-raising