Norfolk Southern's "Erie" Heritage unit crests the grade at the top of the Blue Ridge. In just a few seconds one of the cars will break a knuckle which will delay 744 at the top of the ... (more)
Norfolk Southern's "Erie" Heritage unit nears the summit of the Blue Ridge Grade at Ridgecrest on this beautiful early September morning. A four hour delay due to a stalled 162 ahead al... (more)
Just after 4 am EST and the silence in Old Fort, NC is broken by another load of coal for Plant Marshall near Hickory, NC. The full moon was a nice touch on this cool summer morning.
Catawba coal loads slowly decend the famous Old Fort Loops on this cold January morning behind NS #7531. The photographer is standing on the old U.S. Highway 70 overpass/High Ridge Tunnel west po... (more)
Catawba (Plant Marshall) loads accelerate eastbound out of Old Fort with the Black Mountains looming in the distance. Snow showers hang on the mountains around Ridgecrest on this cold December mo... (more)
744 has completed its decent of the Blue Ridge and departs Old Fort on this beautiful Spring morning.
Shoving hard on the rear of 744, Norfolk Southern's Virginian Heritage unit passes the Interstate Railroad's Clinch Valley connection as it makes its way west to Norton.
Loaded coal train 744 has just met westbound P87 and is underway at the east end of Old Fort. The Appalachian coal is at the bottom of the descent of the Appalachians down the famous Southern Loop... (more)
In perfect morning light, an eastbound coal train thunders upgrade at Ridgecrest. In less than a minute, the head end will begin the 16-mile descent to Old Fort down the 2.2% grade through the Loo... (more)
NS #9666 leads Catawba, NC bound coal loads past the classic Southern Style MP at the S-127. These loads will be delivered to the Duke Energy Plant Marshall facility.
Out for a Sunday stroll, NS 744 hustles empties back to Williamson as it follows the path cut by the Tug Fork River that lies to the right in the photo.
Eastbound loads snake through the S curve west of Oakvale.
A couple cars zip by on US 23, as NS 744 loaded with export coal heads down the Columbus District, past the CPL by Cook Rd in Lucasville.
After waiting for 80K to pass, 744 gets the parade of eastbounds moving at Tunnel 7. The first of many tunnels it'll pass through on the journey east.
NS 744 comes into the North End of Miller Yard. Train is operating over former Clinchfield Rails from St. Paul, VA to Frisco, TN.