The return of 611 has almost reached home of Roanoke, passing through the N&W CPL signals at Blue Ridge.

With the Blue Ridge mountains as a backdrop, N&W 611 splits the grade's namesake signals on the way home from Spencer to Roanoke.

The NS 9686 leads a mixed freight through Blue Ridge and into East Roanoke.

Racing westbound down Blue Ridge grade near the famed Photographers Bridge

After successfully traversing the grueling Blue Ridge grade spanning from Bedford to this location situated in Blue Ridge itself, NS S11 parades west toward Roanoke with Norfolk Southern's Reading... (more)

Sperry Rail Service car #136 testing rail westbound at Blue Ridge, VA in this February 1971 scene.

A Southern FP7 heads two E7 units on the eastbound BIRMINGHAM SPECIAL just east of Roanoke. It had been ten years since I visited this famous railfan spot.

N&W Y6a 2157 pushes a coal drag headed by five EMD GP9 units. This was my final shot of Norfolk and Western steam in regular service.

Five N&W GP9 units pass under the " photographers bridge " with an eastbound coal drag.

N&W Y6b 2179 and Y6a 2157 roll down the Blue Ridge grade in reverse during a light engine move.

Famous class A 1218 struggles up the Blue Ridge grade with an eastbound freight while a leased RF&P EMD E8 rolls downgrade with the POWHATAN ARROW.

N&W Y6a 2160 and class A 1219 are nose-to-nose rolling downgrade at Blue Ridge with an empty hopper train. I had also seen this unusual helper arrangement that August on one occasion. There were a... (more)

N&W Y6a 2157 hustles upgrade at Blue Ridge on a light engine move.

Leased RF&P E8 1014 drifts down the Blue Ridge grade with tr. 25, POWHATAN ARROW. The class J 4-8-4s were mostly in standby or freight service after N&W President Stuart Saunders decided to hurry ... (more)

Class A 1210 passes between position light signals with a westbound freight downgrade to Roanoke.