"Milepost 4": CSX #144, at the breezy speed of 10 mph, leads a coal train north to Thurmond, WV on the afternoon of May 18, 2021 on RJ Corman Railroad Group's, former C&O, Loup Creek Branch. A prolific branch line back in the steam era on the C&O, the Loup Creek branch was once considered for an upgrade to double track due to its production. Today, with RJ Corman operating the coal loadout at Pax, WV the line sure has its hands full. CSX delivers empties a couple days a week and later RJ Corman, using former Rio Grande tunnel motors, takes over hauling multiple segments of its coal loads to Mt. Hope, WV up the line's step grade heading east from Pax. There's not much better than branch-line mountain railroading!
