From green to red under the new signals, a grain train is shown weaving from Main 1 to Main 2 due to work just east at Panther. The rugged Tug Fork river is just to the right.

Not an easy place to get to. Smack dab in the middle of the Cumberland Mountains, fourteen loaded coal hoppers left the rail with five hitting the ground. RJ Corman to the rescue.

A long string of mtys is tied down at Clarks Gap siding on a blustery spring day.

Power for another coal drag idles away in the Peach Creek Yard. In the background is the old engine house and workshop.

Westbound with DPUs still attached, NS 891 streaks thru Glen Alum tunnel. Dogwoods provide a touch of white above the portal along this remote and underestimated stretch of the Pokey.

Backing up to load at Jamboree 5 on the Delorem Branch, the caboose has just entered Kentucky with the power and mtys still in WV across the Tug Fork river. Fitting that the conductor is sporting ... (more)

With the lead motor almost out of fuel and headed east while loaded, U85 awaits a power swap with U86 coming up the hill from Matoaka.

With a salute from the cab, a fast freight passes worktrain 98J on the Pokey not far from the Cedar Welcome Center.

Mandatory power in the coalfields, CSX 452 awaits service up one of the many branchlines surrounding Logan.

The daily 18M, hauling the mail one could say. rushes east out of Glen Alum tunnel. Work is due to begin this Fall on the widening project for Glen Alum.

A venerable SD70 waits its turn for the second cut of coal at Turley. NS uses six engines from Sevier Yard and three back in each half, mainly for braking.

Sandwiched between mtys and an SD70, the first cut of 77G is being loaded by wheel loaders at Turley.

With the closed Island Creek Coal VP#1 plant rusting away in the background, Alco #2 is slowly being reclaimed by the weeds after being cannibalized for parts. The complex is part of the massive V... (more)

A closeup of the Heartland Corridor project work. Both sides of the tunnel have been notched in anticipation of doublestacks once the project is completed. Note the test bores ringing the portal f... (more)

In the last glint of evening, a pusher crew throws the sand and begins to head east on the Pokey. The tunnel ahead has already been notched for the Heartland Corridor project.