Who says the Pokey has been shut down due to the Heartland Corridor project? Looking like a tight squeeze, NS 766 at a ten miles per hour slow order passes workers drilling the roof of the tunnel ... (more)
Something a little old, something a little new. Two methods used to keep ties from splitting due to the weather and heavy tonnage. Just around the corner in this remote corner of the Pokey sits a ... (more)
Westbound mty train is seconds away from exiting Elkhorn Tunnel, then it's all downhill to Iaeger.
With dust from tunnel work flying, two new AC motors making a pusher set head west for either a coal or grain drag. Much of the Heartland Corridor project is completed, evident from Roderfield tun... (more)
Leaning sharply into the curve, NS 9957 is dwarfed by the huge coaling tower still standing at Farm.
After finally getting the pusher situation figured out, NS 9957 grinds uphill at Farm on the Pokey. An mty coal drag heads west toward Mohegan on Main 2.
With dusk, rain, and fog all falling along the Pokey, a train of mtys glides out of Elkhorn Tunnel and begins the long descent down to Welch. The huge ventilation system and iron shroud are from a... (more)
In the last glint of evening, a pusher crew throws the sand and begins to head east on the Pokey. The tunnel ahead has already been notched for the Heartland Corridor project.
A closeup of the Heartland Corridor project work. Both sides of the tunnel have been notched in anticipation of doublestacks once the project is completed. Note the test bores ringing the portal f... (more)
The daily 18M, hauling the mail one could say. rushes east out of Glen Alum tunnel. Work is due to begin this Fall on the widening project for Glen Alum.
Mandatory power in the coalfields, CSX 452 awaits service up one of the many branchlines surrounding Logan.
With a salute from the cab, a fast freight passes worktrain 98J on the Pokey not far from the Cedar Welcome Center.
With the lead motor almost out of fuel and headed east while loaded, U85 awaits a power swap with U86 coming up the hill from Matoaka.
Westbound with DPUs still attached, NS 891 streaks thru Glen Alum tunnel. Dogwoods provide a touch of white above the portal along this remote and underestimated stretch of the Pokey.
Power for another coal drag idles away in the Peach Creek Yard. In the background is the old engine house and workshop.
A long string of mtys is tied down at Clarks Gap siding on a blustery spring day.
From green to red under the new signals, a grain train is shown weaving from Main 1 to Main 2 due to work just east at Panther. The rugged Tug Fork river is just to the right.
I'd always wanted this shot at Keystone but it never seemed to come about due to trackwork.
Like a rat streaking by as a light mist hits the rails.
Ducking under the huge iron shroud from the steam days, a fast freight tops Elkhorn Grade and enters the mile long tunnel at dusk.
An old high hood still putting coal trains together in Eckman Yard after all these years. Better get them while you can.
Easy downhill, this coal drag will be in Virginia in seconds in what essentially is a trip from the mountains to the sea with WV black diamonds.
Showing the notched ceiling for the upcoming doublestacks, Antler Number Two tunnel is ready for business when the corridor project is completed.
After pushing one up the Grade, this pusher set heads back to Farm to repeat the job all over again.
Antler Two tunnel on the Pocahontas main. This marker has seen billions of dollars of black diamonds in a lifetime go by.
Conrail quality. Sold out! An empty gondola currently used for tie storage, with an oldtimers inscription adding commentary to the scene.
As the evening light fades on the Elkhorn Grade, a DPU grain train is shoved over the Pokey at Powhatan.
With lead motor problems and a sliver of daylight left along the Tug Fork, 77A has just been told to limp to Williamson with their mtys.
Veteran conductor extraordinaire Dale Long throws the derail prior to U24 pulling out from Eckman Yard. The new, shiny AC power was just delivered and will soon join the other horseheads on the Po... (more)
Standing guard at Devon, WV for loaded coal and coke trains coming off the Buchanan Branch. Devon has to be one of the most remote and wild sections of the Pokey, being nearly impossible to access... (more)
