Former Southern Railway GP30 #2598 sits as it has since 2011 at the Sprouse Creek Prep Plant awaiting an uncertain future, as Appalachian coal production is still down.

Former Southern GP30 2598 sits at the closed Sprouse Creek Preparation Plant on the Norfolk Southern Alma Branch.

The Sprouse Creek Coal Co. works to unload a cut of cars on the Alma Branch. This line ends about two miles around the curve. Canon EOS 50D

Sprouse Creek Coal Company's ex-NS GP30 awaits the next train to load on the Alma Branch.

A 1963 model ex-Southern GP 30 workhorse has been idle for several months but not for long as you can see all new cars parked just above the loader.

All's quiet at Sprouse Creek.

Sprouse Creek Shifter dwarfed by one of the coal silos at the Rawl Sales & Processing Plant.

Both of Sprouse Creek's GP30's tied together

There probably aren't too many other GP30s quite like this one which features a high hood and remote control. A few years ago this mine was one of the larger ones on the Pokey, production has sin... (more)

AT Massey's GP30 starts to flood load a cut of 45 DEEX hoppers at the impressive processing facility located on the Alma Branch.