Interesting NS Cars in Georgetown, KY

[MrFSS]

I live just north of Lexington, KY and our only rail line is a NS freight mainline between Cincinnati and south central Tennessee area where it then splits and goes several different ways. I see lots of car racks coming from Detroit and heading south and even more cars carrying semi-truck trailors. Just south of town is a long siding where two freights can pass each other with no problems at all.

For the last several weeks there has been a string of strange looking cars on the siding. Not easily accessed but I was able to pull over on a bridge today since the sun was shinning (that hasn't happened here in a while) and grab a few pictures.

This looks like some type of set of cars for housing employees at night (it is really lit up after dark) who could be working on the track up or down the line during the daytime. Not visible in the pictures are many cars and pickup trucks outside each of the units.

Also, several old business cars and a large power source generator.

Anyone seen anything like this or have additional information?

Thanks!!

 

[AmtrakBlue]

Circus?

 

[MrFSS]

Circus?

Probably not - they all have the NS emblem on the cars.

 

[AlanB]

Could be a track gang out doing some major work to the line nearby.

They sleep & plan in the various cars.

 

[Ryan]

It isn't the Rinling Brothers circus train, but it may be another.

I can't quite make out the lettering on the gray car under the American flag. If I squint hard enough, I can almost convince myself it says "Hurricane".

FEMA housing being relocated from the Gulf Coast?

 

[Carolyn Jane]

I blew it up to 400% and think it says Harrington Angel something. Interesting looking car.

A little googling and I came up with this:


CJ

 

[MrFSS]

I've been without Internet all day but I appreciate the video. That is what these are for sure. And the lettering on that business car is: Harriman Award Winner. Maybe for the Tennessee city of that name that is A big NS area.

 

[Carolyn Jane]

Harriman Award:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E._H._Harriman_Award

 

[Notelvis]

I've seen these cars a couple or three times in Asheville, NC. My understanding is that they are used to house MOW crews when work is being done on the sparsely populated (and mostly not accessible from the highway) route up the French Broad River into Tennessee.

Of course tonight that siding is housing the 21st Century Steam excursion consist for a series of 4-hour Old Fort excursions this weekend.

 

[MikefromCrete]

I believe it's housing for maintenance of way crews. I think NS is the only railroad that still utilizes rail-based housing. Other railroads house crews in motels. The units are mobile homes on flatcars.