It seems the 2% grades of the Princeton-Deepwater District have taken a toll on U85, today's train being one of the last of the ex-VGN hill runs. As the trains eases into Clarks Gap to swap power for the trip to Bluefield, the traction motors of the third unit can be seen pouring smoke. Even in today's world of advanced traction control, exhaust emissions, and other novelties added to improve day-to-day railroad operations, the fact of the matter is the once-electrified Virginian was an engineering marvel in it's heyday. Then again, that's also the reason the line between Elmore and Kellysville was mothballed on October 1st in favor of the circuitous low-grade Guyandot River Branch.
