Covered hoppers were not unusual on coal trains. On this southbound four of them are on the front. They were usually limestone dust, used, as I understand, to coat the walls of mines to keep the... (more)

A friend and myself ventured out the morning of February 3rd, 2017 with the goal of catching the once a week Loyall to Eastman coal train on the ex L&N Cumberland Valley. After arriving at Hagans ... (more)

This one has many shots on RP. One this date, as a steady cold drizzle falls and the clouds wreath the ridges, she and her consist are dragging a reluctant coal train on slick rails up the steep ... (more)

Preparing for a meet at Kermit, CSX U355-18 runs southbound parallel to US 23 at Speers Ferry, Virginia, just before crossing over the NS Appalachia Division. To see a similar photograph by Ron Fl... (more)

Running on trackage rights, loaded coal train NS 750 spans the massive Clinchfield Copper Creek Viaduct in Speers Ferry, Virginia with three GE's doing the honors. This train loaded this morning, ... (more)

A 10 minute exposure creates a beautiful star trail effect at the scenic Copper Creek trestles. The upper is CSX's former Clinchfield trackage, while the lower trestle is NS's Appalachia District.... (more)

After MOW crews cleared up the main, a rail train gets on the move to Erwin, TN as they cross the impressive Copper Creek viaduct on CSX's Kingsport Subdivision.

Southbound "Santa Train" is rather workaday this year, no Fs, and rather short, with an ordinary, but very clean leader. Due to visibility issues wide nosed units did not work out and t... (more)

A long way up for the Santa Train.

The 72nd annual Santa Train crosses the famous Copper Creek Viaduct high above the Copper Creek valley. Santa has two more stops in Virginia to distribute toys, candy, and winter wear before the ... (more)

A father and his two young sons get a unique perspective look at the passage of the 72nd CSX Santa Train.

Another southbound coal train is running eastbound on NS trackage rights climbing the steep grade to the summit at Big Cut. Flanges sqeal all the way to the river and somewhere back there helpers... (more)

Crossing U.S. Highway 23, CSX helpers shove hard on a coal train at Speers Ferry, Virginia, on May 12, 2014.

"Back in the day" doesn't seem that long ago but it has been almost 26 years. They were still using 4-axle manned helpers and the hillside was not so overgrown with cedars as to be impa... (more)

A southbound CSX loaded coal train bound for South Carolina rolls across the Copper Creek Viaduct at Speers Ferry on a beautiful spring afternoon.