Years ago I had a seasoned SCL Chief Dispatcher explain to me that there were three degrees of derailments. The "Aw Shucks" wasn't too bad. A little worse, but not totally devastating, was the "... (more)

A westbound B&O manifest struggles around Turkey Foot curve and past the CPLs on October 21, 1979. Back then, it always fascinated me just how much tonnage B&O could tie on to two worn out Geeps.... (more)

Some people may remember yellow and white dots on freight cars, applied in the late 1970's, to identify whether or not the car had a certain type of wheel suspected of causing derailments. Specif... (more)

C&O NW2 No. 5068 was going about the business of loading C&O car ferry "City of Midland 41" at Ludington, MI June 16, 1981. I remember being amazed at just how much the ship would lean to one sid... (more)

Eastbound Conrail train WHSN-04 slowly ambles up the rickety track through the remains of the old Glen Burn Colliery at Shamokin, PA on April 29, 1987 with three MP15s. The scrappers were dismant... (more)

Central Virginia is well known for its ice storms. During the early morning hours of January 21, 1978, it rained and it froze on literally everything. By sunrise, the clouds and rain were gone a... (more)

Feb. 24, 1972 dawned cold and nasty in Richmond, VA, in more than one way for RF&P. During the night a southbound freight had derailed while running down No. 4 Track between Greendale and Acca Ya... (more)

Eastbound Amtrak No. 704, the "Blue Ridge," was passing Mexico Tower at the east end of Cumberland Yard on Oct. 12, 1975, led by Amtrak E9A No. 400. To the left in background was an eastbound Tra... (more)

While fanning the C&O Rivanna Subdivision on Aug 25, 1973, we stumbled across this U. S. Army steam locomotive on a flat car at Strathmore, VA. I don't know a lot about it and it raises more ques... (more)

Considering its remote location, one would have never thought Falls Cut Tunnel would have become a trouble spot. Such was not the case. In the early 1980s, the excellent swimming hole below the ... (more)

It was a very steamy morning along the New River as a westbound manifest pulled through the yard at Quinnimont, WV on Aug. 19, 1975. The sun had just popped over the ridge and the local "yard dog... (more)

RF&P had a small derailment in the yard at Fredericksburg, VA during the early morning hours of March 6, 1978 when Train No. 105 was making a set off. By daylight a wreck train had arrived from R... (more)

I must admit, I took every opportunity to view RF&P 250 ton wreck derrick No. 1 when it was being used. It didn't get used often, but when it did, I tried to be there. Still, being steam powered... (more)

D&H U33C No. 755 was undergoing an overhaul at the Colonie Shop in Watervliet, NY on Sept. 14, 1976. It was one of those pleasant late summer days and I guess the workers figured they could enjoy... (more)

The bridge over the east end of the N&W yard at Crewe, Va was an interesting place to watch trains. Back in 1977, it still had a lot of "personality" about it. Switch tenders were still employed... (more)