It's a Monday and right on cue (at the time), NE01 is returning to Lebanon, TN with rock loads from the Rogers Group quarry in Gordonsville, TN. Unfortunately, the quarry recently halted production and is shipping product on an as-needed basis from stores on the ground. NE01 previously ran on alternating days east to the quarry and west to unload in Nashville. Now it is strictly as-needed, just like the commodity it hauls.
The scene here is a far cry from the Nashville & Eastern many of us remember for its old fleet of GE U-boats in green and yellow paint. New owner RJ Corman brought in this pair of ex-NS SD70Ms wearing the special 50th anniversary scheme to handle the heavy rock trains.
