A northbound mixed freight is about to cross, and leave the river it has followed, in a serpentine manner, from Speer’s Ferry. We Clinchfield fans are hoping this scene become more frequent.

It’s hot, no I means it’s HOT, and humid, as the daily loaded coal train descends the steep grade to there connection with CSX’s former C&O main. Dynamics brakes are working hard. They’l... (more)

This is the city, a collection a few old buildings, a restaurant owned by a famous author, a restored station, an old Post Office, probably WPA, a few houses scattered about. It it is bisected se... (more)

The most ridiculously long freight scheduled on this line gingerly threads the curves, vertical and horizontal, that make this area infamous for train separations. Seen here approaching a signal ... (more)

Only twelve or so years ago. Even then the track was simplified compared to Bluefield heyday but it was still intricate.

Rear unit of a string heading to Trammel to assist a stalled coal train. They are passing a landmark made famous in innumerable railfan shots.

The yard at Erwin has a distinct vertical curve about the middle. Here a southbound unit coal train makes that evident. To the right is one of the new remote control switches.

As seen from CUTS former tower an inbound train of covered hoppers slowly snakes its way from Ludlow, KY and will reach the NS yard soon.

Back before it’s rhinoplasty this unit was a common site around here on the local.

This train of “dirty” coal has backed up the branch to await cleaning at the prep plant. This unit has been rebuilt into AC44C6M 9245.

An Alco S-4 powered by a big Cummins 900 HP prime mover has brought some freight for the big guy at Norfolk Southern’s former SOU Louisville-St. Louis main.

This train, lead by a former San Manuel Arizona unit set pff a train at Switz City, when through the connecting track and is heading for home in Jasonville. The CF7 had become a “mascot” at t... (more)

Visions of the ferroequine zombie apocalypse. Pre -Corman “streaks of rust” through some stuff they were scrapping after years of neglect.

Having promised a short chase but ending up near Bristol to catch the WB UP, I sought to avoid an issue with the “War Department” I wheeled about and scurried toward home only to find this guy... (more)

Sometimes you just have a great day. C of G heritage unit in the AM and a “foreigner” in the PM. Unusual to see a single unit on the point of any NS train. Two DPUs are helping out further ... (more)