A clear and quiet night lingers over the valley on the NS Roanoke District. The only sounds are barking dogs and some occasional rustling in the nearby bushes. The aspect of the signal changes from red to yellow, indicating a lineup for an oncoming train. A few minutes later, the silence of the landscape is broken by the sound of a distant horn. The yellow aspect turns green just before NS train 201 clears the north end of the siding at Solitude. 201's headlights begin to paint the landscape as it rushes around the curve to meet the facing signals of Arcadia. "NS 201 clear Arcadia" is called out over the radio by the conductor. Moments later, the green falls down to a red as 201 zips into the night. The EOTD flashes past, indicating the end of the train, and the silence is soon restored for the sleeping folks of Arcadia, Virginia.
