After departing Elmore Yard, near Mullens, W.Va., just minutes before, No. U81 rumbles south(timetable west) along the Guyandotte River on the former Virginian Railway, with a train of empties en-route to a fairly new mine load-out located in Kepler, W.Va, situated roughly 15 miles ahead. This forty-one mile long branch, referred to simply as NS' Guyandotte River Line, spans south to the tiny community of Gilbert that hosts a small yard and a connecting branch, that reaches the ex-N&W Pocahontas main line at Wharncliffe. Photos taken along this stretch of railroad is very rare, due to sporadic traffic and extreme back-woods territory, that keep most from venturing along its tracks. Easily accessible locations are also far and few between making things even harder.
