An EB loaded coal train in meeting WB hoppers at the east end of the yard. In the background some of the old steam-era buildings remain. My favorite structure though, is the old switchman's shan... (more)

In the dying sunlight an empty WB hopper train heels into a curve on the upgrade along the East River, down between the many ridges of the Appalachians.

Following the East River between the ridges the Norfolk & Western had a few squiggles to negotiate to reach the easy grades along the beautiful New River. Just east of Oakvale this train, its dy... (more)

A common visitor to the Seaboard System yard due to the joint ownership of the Winston Salem Southbound line from Winston Salem, NC.

My little buddy in the background carried me to many great places.

One more pusher on one more coal train in the days when cabeese were required in Virginia. Roaring up the long grade approaching the tunnel where we grilled hot dogs, basked in the sun and waited... (more)

In the nondescript sandhills an inbound trains arrives, having originated on the jointly owned Winston Salem Southbound. Four units are much greater power than normal on this one.

After the merger mixed power is assigned to a helper. The last N&W paint scheme, though somber, was a huge improvement over the despised "NW". Photo by Dave Petke.

Just a catch along the way in one of many trips thru W-S.

This unit is leading a Roanoke NRHS excursion which will turn here and head back home. The units in their bright new paint have started up the east leg of the wye, which once led to the Saltville... (more)

The "Bluefield Turn" is departing. This model preceded what was arguably the best 4-axle unit of the second generation of diesels. This is the business end and the front on NS. In tho... (more)

The "Bluefield Turn" is departing.

Now actually Norfolk Southern but still lettered for the predecessor of my choice, this unit is shuffling cars in a place you don't think of as Norfolk and Western country. But it was.

Hard to imagine that thirty nine years ago we had come to find some of the last GP9s on the NS. They had seemed to never go away and now generations have come and gone but in many places this mod... (more)

Two Hoosier classics, the Coop mill and an ex-Wabash "Tyco" caboose on this hard working local. No name of the slide but believed to be by Mike Dolenski. From my collection.