Cowan-2012
Just a few days before Christmas we watch CSX M298-22 make a running start through the small Tennessee town of Cowan, TN (MP J-87.0 S. Cowan) for the Cumberland Plateau to meet the northbound manifest CSX Q582-21 (Atlanta,GA-Nashville,TN) which waiting at Sherwood,TN (MP J-96.9 Sherwood) approximately 10 rail-miles south of this location. This is the helper district on the CSX Chattanooga Sub where at that time when this photo was taken it was gonna be two to three years later that the massive track expansion project would begin. Today with the Positive Train Control (PTC) project completed on the subdivision the classic L&N style signals were replace with the newer Safetrans signal for visibility purpose. The Cowan siding has been extended, the original foot print of the siding started at the SE Cowan at the MP J-87.0 to the NE Cowan MP J-85.4. The siding was turn into a double track main which extended an additional five rail-miles to the NE Dechard at the MP J-80.6. At the MP J-84.1 which is the new NE Cowan location a cross over was added for train traffic that needed to diverge from the main 1 track to the main 2 track, which is definitely use by the pusher to run around to couple up on the rear of southbound that needed a push. All and all it just a sign of progress around these parts.
