N&W SD45 1726 leads a westbound empty into Christiansburg grade at Elliston, Virginia on a hot July 1983 afternoon. The NS merger is at hand but the above scene is pure Norfolk and Western.
Cross platform connections between N&W 17 (left) and 3. Amtrak isn't far off, and these trains will both be gone. (Photo note: no tripod? Baggage carts can come in handy!)