FastFlyingVirginian's video: The Virtual Railfan 2021 Whistle Stop Tour Part 3: Eastbound Chase Finale

If grandiose director's cuts aren't your bag, watch the condensed version of the Whistle Stop Tour video here: https://youtu.be/BB3TqrfXwv8 October 10th dawned overcast and drizzly - no wait, foggy - no, hang on, bright and sunny...yeah, let's go with bright and sunny, that's the ticket. Driving west from Cassandra to Latrobe to get in position for the return run of @Virtual Railfan's Whistle Stop Tour, that was actually how the weather progressed. Perhaps east of the Alleghenies would have its meteorological act together by the time I followed Amtrak back in that direction. 0:00 - Latrobe - NS I1G Like East Conway the day before, Latrobe was one of those locations I had long admired in photos and video but had never gotten around to visiting in person. The morning sun angle recommendations I received combined with a desire for a better-lit stop-and-go look at the private cars to swing my vote away from locations further west (sorry Rade and Wing, another time). That sun angle was on full display as I1G (extra 21G) cruised west under the sunrise, led by ES44ACs 8010 and 8059. 3:57 - NS 591 What, me worry? Amtrak's ETA was on my mind as empty coal train 591 ambled west behind AC44C6M 4364, SD70ACe 1198, and C44-9Ws 9706 and 9768. 10:19 - Amtrak 42, Pennsylvanian Thankfully, 591 passed with several minutes to spare before P42 92 and train rounded the distant curve. One good look at the train pulling away, then back into the car to give chase. "Eastbound and down, loaded up and truckin'..." 12:42 - Huntingdon So much for sunny skies, but in all honesty I didn't mind a little fog for the mood. Congestion around Altoona had put Amtrak behind schedule a bit as it arrived in Huntingdon shortly before 11. 14:46 - Rockville Bridge Sneaky bugger - Upon arrival at the Marysville end of the famed Rockville Bridge, a quick toot of the horn and a little flange squeal was all the warning I had before Amtrak rolled into view. To add injury to insult, in my haste to unfold the tripod I slammed the center of the leg brace down on my index finger, neatly slicing off the center of its fingerprint - so neatly in fact, that I didn't notice until I looked down after stopping the camera and wondered why I was leaving blood droplets on the pan handle and the viewfinder. This is why we pack first aid necessities, kids. 15:29 - NS 21G I knew better - much better - than to attempt to follow Amtrak onto the Keystone Corridor, but I wasn't going to just turn around and leave one of the Pennsy's most storied locations without catching another train or two. A few minutes after Amtrak cleared the scene, 21G stepped out onto the bridge behind AC44C6M 4482 and SD70ACe 1130. 20:58 - SD40Es 6344/6348 'Or two' indeed. 45 more minutes of waiting netted only a local freight led by SD40Es 6344 and 6348. Lingering after the pair and their train was a bust, so I folded up the tripod - carefully this time - and began the trek back west. 24:36 - Tyrone - NS 592 With no schedule to keep now, my return to Tyrone was far less hectic than my visit during the westbound chase of the Whistle Stop Tour two days before. The newly-renovated station platform and max elevation on the tripod made a fine combination for capturing the passage of eastbound coal drag 592, powered by AC44C6Ms 4157 and 4407. 27:23 - NS 21M Back to ground level at the crossing 40 minutes later for hotshot 21M, led by C44-9W 9658, ES44DC 7565, and C44-9W 9978. 30:09 - NS 20Q/Amtrak 43, Pennsylvanian When I captured the Whistle Stop Tour during the westbound chase, 20Q slipped past on the inside at Tyrone. This time, the dispatcher flipped the script and 20Q passed on the outside, leaving Amtrak to stop at the crossing and board there once 20Q was clear. The Whistle Stop Tour was done, but I was just getting started.