Thunderstorms at a place long abandoned.. Handley served as a large terminal in the Chesapeake & Ohio steam era, connecting coal operations in the Kanawha Valley to operations in the New River Valley, in addition to acting as a servicing stop for road trains operating the double track mainline from Russell, KY to Richmond, VA and points beyond. The small town, nestled along the banks of the New River was built around the railroad and served as the employer of most citizens in the coal community. With dozens of coal mines nearby, Handley was at the top of its prime in the 1940's and 1950's. A locomotive shop, full servicing center, turntable, coal tower, and water tower all stood in the vicinity of the above photo. Several dozen yard tracks and spurs branches off of the yard, allowing access to the river. Handley maintained an active yard in the diesel era, but was downgraded as the C&O developed into the Chessie System and essentially CSX Transportation. Today, all that remains is a single yard track and two mainlines. The coal tower is the last prominent structure still standing, slowly camouflaged by the growth of vegetation.
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!)
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!)
For the train and storm chaser. Trains with thunderstorms, dark clouds, rain, lightning, hurricanes - tropical storms, funnel clouds, storm light, rainbows, and snow storms.
