Never ones to quibble about power NS has assigned a big GE ES44AC to handle the three car local today. As the WB intermodal rushes by the local cools it’s heel in the siding, late in the day.

Cursed with a very short siding, Abingdon doesn’t get many long distance trains “going in the hole” here. This days intermodal is short and met opposite number (23G) here.

Having promised a short chase but ending up near Bristol to catch the WB UP, I sought to avoid an issue with the “War Department” I wheeled about and scurried toward home only to find this guy... (more)

Having just met an eastbound this intermodal is accelerating by the empty athletic fields of the beautiful rural campus.

Heeling into a curve, this intermodal is at the threshold to a suburb of the vast Tri Cities, VA/TN metropolis.

About to enter the side for a meet with mixed freight 16T, a welcome change from the usual powers this WB stack. They also meet 23G here.

After meeting two, including the sub’s “problem child” 16T, the celebrity of the day departs for Bristol where they’ll change crews.

Passing the athletic fields of venerable Emory & Henry College this intermodal is in beautiful sunshine, a rare commodity around here of late. This the most due East-west spot on the line around ... (more)

NS 22A pounds up Christiansburg Mountain with a trio of GEs leading the way.

Looking huge and powerful a newly rebuilt unit storms thru our small town with a small train as the M of W equipment cowers on the siding.

Having just met an Eastbound this short stack train eases out of the siding passing the new switch heater, PTC equipment and signal bridge. The former N&W line between Front Royal and Bristol is ... (more)

Racing west as seen from the display caboose, between the restored passenger station and the 1857 station foreman’s House.

First shot of the year has been a long time coming. A mundane double stacker charging westbound toward a crew change in Bristol. But maybe the drought is broken, so I’ll take it.

Catching a break in the snow squalls, the Conrail heritage unit leads intermodal 22A across the Middle Fork of the Holston River into Marion, kicking up some loose powder along the way.