A coal train passes through historic Matewan W.Va.

Having come from Elmore earlier in the day, the Virginian heritage unit sits tied down at Neds with a cut of coal loads.

An all-EMD lashup leads a very long loaded coal train, 81W, through Matewan.

A lone BNSF unit delivers empties along the Pokey at Devon.

Coal train, NS 81W rolls downhill between the massive cliffs and the Tug Fork River. Only feet from main 2, these cliffs require slide detecting fences.

The face of Glen Alum tunnel will soon change as the Heartland Corridor project gets underway, if it ever does. Redbuds cling to the face as a coal drag roars out at dusk.

Complete with NS brakestick and American flag, coal drag 81W bursts out of Glen Alum tunnel and runs along the slide fence.

These rented units on a turn job clips the new signals at Glen Alum. Both new signals are on the north side of the tracks now after the EB signal slid into the Tug River last year. It had been up... (more)

A coal train exits the west portal of Glen Alum Tunnel amid the first snow fall of 08. Not the greatest of conditions for crews to come back to after having the New Year holiday off.

81W passes a Ballast Regulator stored on the siding at Cedar.

Helpers bring up the rear of 81W at "Jerry".

81W swings west off the Gilbert Branch at "Jerry"

Two ex Conrail locomotives sit idel with a loaded drag on a cold afternoon in southern West Virginia.

A flurry of blooming redbuds give blazing color to the WV hills along the Pokey as an mty coal drag passes the Thacker Signal Department. The symbol will turn into U15 moments later as the train h... (more)

In the very last light of the day 81W returns to Williamson with its loads led by a C39-8 on borrowed time. To the far right is the 56Z from photo id: 162353; now tied town awaiting a crew to cont... (more)