Progress Rail PR43C #4000 is on it's maiden test trip up Starkey Hill in Southwest Roanoke, VA. Starkey is the test hill for the NS Research Dept. Closest thing I've seen to an SD45 in a long ti... (more)

Progress Rail PR43C #4000 is on it's maiden test trip up Starkey Hill in Southwest Roanoke, VA. Starkey is the test hill for the NS Research Dept. Closest thing I've seen to an SD45 in a long ti... (more)

A going away shot of a test train on Starkey Hill. These two SD70s have just completed a test run south up the hill and are now being pulled back north by power on the other end of the train. The ... (more)

Adhesion testing on the NS Winston line.

3 of 3: Test train in the clear on the "Silt Mill Lead", empty hopper train 565 heads north at JK with an interesting consist. After 565 gets by, train 758 (with NS 8851 at left of test train) wil... (more)

2 of 3: Test train 995 backs through the connection off the Winston Line onto the former Virginian in a move to clear up and let a northbound empty hopper train get by. NS 8515 is actually on the ... (more)

1 of 3: Test train 995 heads south near MP R9 on Starkey Hill. Research car NS 32 can be seen between the units and train. NS performed adhesion testing on Starkey with four borrowed CSXT AC440CWs... (more)

MPE 244 is on the point of an NS 995 test train in Roanoke. This train is making runs up Starkey Hill (the NS testing hill), evaluating tonnage and traction abilities. The unit on the opposite en... (more)

MPE 244 is on the point of an NS 995 test train in Roanoke. This train is making runs up Starkey Hill (the NS testing hill), evaluating tonnage and traction abilities.

Conrail SD70s undergoing adhesion testing on NS during November 1998. Note Research Car 32 behind the units.

Conrail SD70s undergoing adhesion testing on NS during November 1998. The train is just below the summit of Starkey Hill.

Test train just below the summit of Starkey Hill. Blue barrels and hoses mounted on the platform are for the wet-rail tests.

2 UP SD70ACe's sandwhich NS research car #32, on the point of a 995 test train. The train is pulling across the ex-Virginian diamond into South Yard. Another SD70ACe and 2 brand new GE c45ACCTE'... (more)

NS did testing on C40-9Ws in addition to Conrail SD70Ms and SD80MACs in November 1998 (note research car NS 32 behind the locomotives). The train has stopped near the bottom of Starkey Hill and th... (more)