Thanks to inspiration from a fellow photographer, my Dad and I decided to hike the 2.5 miles down to the tunnels near Ridgecrest. The shot worked out but the experience made the hike worth it

Southern consul 630 is about to dive into Swannanoa Tunnel at the summit.

Morning westbound Asheville to Old Fort roundtrip cresting the grade at Ridgecrest after exiting Swannanoa Tunnel

Eastbound morning Asheville to Old Fort roundtrip

The Smoky Mountains Though I don't believe this is what the people that coined the name had in mind. Southern Railway #630 climbs out of the Loops, letting the diesels kick in prior to ente... (more)

NS #7597 leads Wateree, SC bound coal train 786 as it approaches Ridgecrest, NC.

NS #5820 brings P87 to the top of the Old Fort Loops at Ridgecrest, NC.

NS #8326 brings westbound train 135 to the crest of the Old Fort Loops at Ridgecrest, NC

CEFX #1007, a rare leader for NS train 135 as it crests the top of the Old Fort grade at Ridgecrest, NC.

NS #9934 leads train 135 at the top of the Old Fort Grade at Ridgecrest, NC.

NS 135 leads a train up the steep grade through the loops near Old Fort, NC. In half a mile the train will finally reach flat ground as it continues on towards Asheville, NC.

My pre-dawn departure from Durham was looking more and more like waste of time as I drove past Greensboro, Statesville, then Hickory in a constant drizzle under overcast skies. As I neared Old For... (more)

As a stiff breeze from an approaching cold front blows the lingering clouds off the continental divide revealing the stars above, the trailing headlight of the helpers on a loaded eastbound coal t... (more)

Westbound 135 tackles the final stretch of the climb to the continental divide at Ridgecrest on a bleak fall afternoon in western North Carolina.

The helpers have just crested the grade at Ridgecrest, most helpers head back to west to Asheville but set will ride down the hill to Old Fort NC to do some local switching before heading back to ... (more)