U23B 9550 sitting in the siding at Spruce Pine, NC on a work train.

CSX 4789 meets a northbound at Toe River.

CSX 4789 exits Vance Tunnel after meeting a northbound at Toe River.

A thick early morning bank of fog sits heavily over the valley as a coal drag breaks the silence of downtown Spruce Pine passing a hi-railer and the Spruce Pine local engine by the depot.

With the resident code line pole providing a frame, CSX 729 leads an empty northbound hopper train as it leans into the curve just north of Toe River siding on the south end of the former Clinchfi... (more)

If it's too cold to camp, I'd reccomend the Pinebridge Inn across the river from downtown Spruce Pine. You can see and hear coal trains headed thru the valley all night long. We used the 410 foot ... (more)

Northbound empties wind their way past downtown Spruce Pine, passing the former Clinchfield depot and the Spruce Pine local idling away in the siding. V386 is a Damron Fork, KY to Terrell, NC coa... (more)

As the sign proclaims, Spruce Pine indeed seems to be the "mineral city." "Gem mines" are open everywhere during the tourist season, and coal trains roar through constantly.

Shortly after finishing dinner, the sun peaked out from behind the clouds that develop in the mountains during the afternoon. The sound of horns in the distance had the makings of a pretty decent ... (more)

A winter blast has left a blanket of snow on the Toe River Valley. Here a southbound approaches Spruce Pine.

Rail grinding train sits at Altapass

loaded coal train heading into spruce pine nc