Norfolk Southern AC44C6M #4030 leads empty coal train #745 north at Gate City,VA on their way up the Appalachia District.

An empty CSX unit coal train passes through gate city, Virginia at the west Watkins signal as it heads to Loyall, Kentucky

724 passes the intermediate at the T36.7 with an Eastbound coal train.

A pair of CSX AC4400CWs still sporting the classic YN2 scheme lead 45 coal loads for Eastman Chemical in Kingsport as they head east along the NS Appalachia District just east of Watkins.

Trackage rights train CSX T090 rolls along the NS Appalachia District at Gate City, Virginia with a loaded Eastman coal train in tow.

Loads of coal for Eastman Chemical in Kingsport, Tennessee roll through a beautiful scene near Gate City, Virginia with fall colors showing on the mountain backdrop.

Loaded coal train T090 disrupts the quiet fog filled valley at Gate City as it makes its way down the NS Appalachia District towards its destination at Eastman Chemical in Kingsport.

A matched set of AC4400CW's wearing CSX's attractive YN2 paint scheme bring loaded coal train T090 through the Valley between Watkins and Gate City, Virginia on a foggy May morning.

Empty coal bucket 799 continues its journey Westbound on the Appalachia District while a snowy Clinch Mountain looms in the background.

416 is a helper today on a CSX Hauge Florida bound coal train, as it slows to a stop on the Norfolk Southern Appalachian district now the Clinch Valley district

Take a knee. Don't worry, the train is stopped for photos as we catch a reflective view at track level of Clinchfield Railroad 3632 (SD45). CSX's running of The Santa Train will be extra special t... (more)

A peaceful spring afternoon in 2013 finds rear end pushers on an eastbound CSX loaded coal train drifting by Ben Arnold's trackside home near Gate City, VA. The trains by here are much more scarce... (more)

NS 386 rumbles past one of the many churches along the railroad as it continues east towards Gate City.

As they now less frequently do, a unit coal train trundles westbound up a narrow valley as a cold March wind whistles through and only the green tips on the willows show any promise of spring.

Under a dreary southwest Virginia sky, three brand new GE ET44AC's make their first run up the Appalachia District with an empty Duke Power coal train in tow, seen here running up the valley towar... (more)