Coal may not be what it used to be and the trains may not roll through the community of Sproul as often as they used to, but the loyal Chesapeake & Ohio style cantilever signals still guide trains across a small section of CSX's Coal River Subdivision in south central West Virginia. Times have changed, but on this cold, quiet and snowy night, we take a moment beside the campfire to think about how things used to be - to reflect back on when coal dominated this rural, remote section of West Virginia. And we spend a few moments amid our busy lives to think about what an important role this very branch line used to play in moving coal from the mines of southern West Virginia to a variety of destinations using the historic, though reliable signaling equipment pictured here at the E.E. Big Coal Bypass in Sproul, W.Va.
A continuously growing album of photos that IMHO reveal the awesome and seldom-seen beauty of the railroad world from the dimming of day to dawn's early light! From dusk to dawn, trains roll on! (I'm still finding gems of sunset-to-sunrise surprises!)
This is dedicated (with permission) to the skilled and gifted photographer - Chase Gunnoe - who regularly posts and is on staff with RP. I believe he deserves a gallery showcasing his remarkable photos. This is for you Chase! (More great photos to come!)
