BNSF never repainted their BN hopper car. It’s at the end of the video parked with some boxcars. I was on the excursion, the Saturday one and also the 765 excursion from near Bethlehem to Pittston in late August 2015, I live just west of Allentown. We went through Allentown on a see saw move to get over to the yard and the ex-CNJ line to Lehighton where it merges with the ex-LV line. It is very rare now to see a steam locomotive in Allentown area. NS has been closed to excursions again since after spring 2017. But, the Reading and Northern operates regular excursions out of Reading, Jim Thorpe and other towns, and T-1 #2102 is returning this year. I never got to ride the freight only since 1964 ex-Reading line from Allentown to Harrisburg. An Amtrak excursion in late October 2016 covered that line. But, also after 2017 the Amtrak Autumn Express excursions ended with a March 2018 charter ban.
I wouldn't say overkill, as the Horseshoe Curve requires helpers on the mainline freights traveling over it, and so NS likely figured a second diesel would be needed in case NKP 765 stalled and the diesels would need to push the train onward.
Freight locomotives have no ability to provide electricity to the coaches. They were there for extra HP and dynamic braking on down grades. The train had a dedicated generator in one on the cars to provide electricity for the coaches.
Nice catch bro keep up the good work you know I got that on film too in Tipton, Altoona and Tyrone in Tipton after 765 went by ns 9222 went for it with a rs3l then in Altoona a tanker train was racing 765 then in Tyrone when 765 was on the crossing then out of know where a dash 8 40cw flu by with a short freight train with a caboose
very cool, and great catch with private varnish on the rear of Amtrak too. I am sure the passengers were wondering what was going on unless they were railfans. A friend who worked for NS rode one of these trips and Wick Moorman took the throttle on one of them.
