For the first time in well over two decades, Norfolk & Western No. 611 claws her way uphill through the famous Southern loops. With minimal diesel assistance, the "Queen of Steam" sure p... (more)

N&W 611 leads NS 957 trough the western portion of the "Southern Loops" of the S-Line just outside of Old Fort, NC on a beautiful, crystal clear day in the heart of Spring.

For a brief moment I got a glimpse of what life used to be like in Old Fort when Southern Railway painted units passed the depot on every train. Just after midnight on 4-17-2016, a shot I'd h... (more)

Norfolk & Western No. 611 is almost finished with it's assault on the loops as it climbs out of Old Fort, NC bound for Asheville. Seen here having just exited Lick Log, about to enter McElroy, and... (more)

N&W 611 steams up the Southern Railroad Loops in Old Fort on its way to Asheville, NC. Just above the locomotive is the upper level of the track.

N&W 611 descends the Southern Loops in Old Fort, NC on its way back to Spencer from Asheville.

Norfolk & Western No. 611 is almost finished with it's assault on the loops as it climbs out of Old Fort, NC bound for Asheville. Seen here having just exited Lick Log, about to enter McElroy, and... (more)

Norfolk & Western No. 611 is almost finished with it's assault on the loops as it climbs out of Old Fort, NC bound for Asheville. Seen here exiting McElroy, still inside Lick Log, and about to ent... (more)

Norfolk & Western 611 exits Point Tunnel at the tail end of the loops as it approaches the small town of Old Fort, NC

It's like we have stepped back into a different time period. But in all reality it was 4-10-2016. N&W 611 leads the excursion train into Old Fort with the beautiful Blue Ridge Montanans in the bac... (more)

The Blue Ridge Special storms The Loops on it's Asheville bound journey with the one and only Queen of Steam, N&W J Class 611 as it takes front and center.

"Thunder On The Mountain"

As the sun drops behind the Blue Ridge Mountains, NS 744 creeps down the intense grades of the Southern Loops.

N&W 611 works furiously to pull her twenty three car train, the Blue Ridge Special, up the grade at the famous Old Fort "Loops", as she breaks the peaceful silence throughout the Pisgah Nat... (more)

With both Southern units howling and NW 611 working her heart out, NS 958 climbs the loops and out of Jarrett's Tunnel near Old Fort.