Virginia coal-hauling short line Interstate purchased four ex-Southern Ks-3 Consolidations in July 1952--the last steam acquisitions by the company. Former Southern 2509--now Interstate's 28--leads a sister on a cab hop at the bridges over the L&N and Powell River just east of Appalachia. The doubleheader is likely a "Hill" crew, which will pull L&N interchange traffic from the connection at Dorchester Junction, and take it over to Miller Yard for interchange to the Clinchfield. The ex-Southern engines were out of service by late 1953, and officially retired and scrapped in 1955--replaced by orange, cream and gray Alco RS-3s. (Photo by D. Wallace Johnson)
