Every night, around 9 or 930, a northbound train goes past my apartment. I’m right next to the CSX tracks at what used to be the throat of Potomac Yard in Alexandria VA. Its fast moving and definitely a unit train.
Here’s where things get less clear. I can’t tell what the rolling stock is. Its large and fairly long. I’d guess around 70’ or so. They’re also tall. Maybe as high as the reefers that make up the Juice Train. They could be open topped and, under the floor line, they have what seem to be flat bottomed doors. Like a hopper would have…but they have a rectangular appearance rather than triangular like a typical hopper. They do not run the full length of the car, like a lot of coal gons. I haven’t been able to get a count of how many of these features there are. They’re not exactly close and its dark outside, after all. They’re also a light color. I want to say a light gray. They’re easier to see their bulk in the darkness than, say, a dark red boxcar. I definitely cannot make out reporting marks, even with binoculars. Its simply too dark.