Grant and I drew the short Straws but also the unhappy stares of the rest of the group. The plan was for two of us to get in the cab when the train stopped in Greenberry Hills. We would get a short ride past Shomo Yard and be dropped off at a grade crossing on the other side of the sprawling yard complex. There the unlucky guys who didn't get to ride would meet and pick us up. Mr. Reid handed up orders and a short note about the planned cab ride to #654 as she went by. We met #654 at Greenberry Hills and introduced ourselves to the engine crew. Bill Reid manned the controls while the fireman, Rich Weyand, graciously let Grant and me take turns sitting on the left side of the cab. Talk about a trip to remember! Rich pointed out the sights as we went by Shomo Yard. All too quickly the cab ride was over as we hit the ballast and met our friends at the designated highway crossing. Of course they were all green with envy! The next stop for us and #654 was Greencastle. We were in luck as CL-4, a local freight, was still in town and in the hole for the passenger train. It had a box car to deliver to the freight depot and we photographed the engine backing down to make its delivery before leaving town. We discovered that another local, CL-7, would switch the cold storage and feed mill later that day. We found it interesting that each local only switched trailing point turnouts in order to save time and unnecessary switching maneuvers. The west slope of Timber Ridge was our next destination and we found a nice stone viaduct along the ridge that turned out to be our favorite photo location. Coming from flat country in Illinois, we were really impressed by the mountains and scenery The viaduct allowed us to get great photos of the trains stretched out against the mountain. Passenger #654 came through first and we waved to our new friends in the cab, Bill and Rich. CV-88 was following right on the heels of #654, so we hung around to get a photo of it before once again dashing off in the car, this time for Shippensburg.
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