On a dreary and humid morning, train U86 roars uphill outside Princeton, WV with a pair of old EMD's permeating the morning stillness as they work toward Elmore on the former Virginian Railway.

Striving for Clarks Gap on a Hill Run, U86 pushers are down to a crawl as they prepare to enter Tunnel 9 under the photographer. The WV hills are alive with color on the P-D.

After the middle pusher unit went down, crews stop the shove to Clarks Gap on a Hill Run to bring the power back up. Shove stopped between two tunnels due to the exhaust.

With these three units pulling and three pushing, Hill Run U86 attempts the ascent to Clarks Gap. Minutes later, one of the pushers will go down after exiting Tunnel 9. Both times I've witnessed... (more)

Coal run roars along the old Virginian Railroad.