The class unit for FEC Gevo models, FEC 800, is trailing in the third position on this morning’s M606. The surprise visitor is mostly likely returning back from a trip to Mexico as it helps to ... (more)

My hockey loving son helped his street hockey team to win the Stanley Cup this past spring and thus got to spend 24hrs with it just like the pros. M602 just happened to be coming north that after... (more)

My son waves at the engineer of M526 as he pulls his train through downtown Opelika. The matching set of YN2 painted locomotives is a nice sight but I’m more interested in the small cut of inte... (more)

A photographic SD70MAC passes the iconic WofA coal tower in Opelika with 19 Schneider containers destined for the CPKC. While this train looks like it’s all intermodal, there is actually 90 car... (more)

Canadian Pacific locomotives pull today’s U844 (an extra L844) up to the highest point on the former Western Railway of Alabama mainline in Opelika. This handoff train from the CPKC to CSX via ... (more)

The manifest train M526 brings 24 cars north bound into Opelika on a sunny Saturday morning. Today’s M526 is unique in the fact that it has intermodal cars at the front. Going forward, this tr... (more)

Stop, Look & Listen
A surprising scene unfolds as M526 heads north through Opelika while a hi-railer quickly shuttles across the diamond before it. I’m sure this scene occurs at a... (more)

The UP to CSX intermodal train of Q144 heads north through Opelika with quite the lash-up including an SD9043MAC. Unfortunately this train would be discontinued soon after and get routed over the... (more)

A rather short CSX L845 is about to split the signals and at SouthEnd Opelika and encounter some bumpy track that can be seen in the foreground. The “local” has 18 Schneider containers at the... (more)

Two surprises in one shot. First, the clouds opened up as soon as this train rounded the curve into downtown Opelika. Second, a rebuilt photogenic SD70MAC was leading this manifest train. This ... (more)

The highest point along the former Western Railway of Alabama mainline is hidden just behind the present day location of Opelika High School. Standing at a height of 829ft tall, the crest of the ... (more)

CSX's "Western Maryland" heritage unit leads train M60507 across the NS (Central of Georgia) diamond in Opelika, Alabama.

Two CSX SD40-2's lead rail train W019 throught Downtown Opelika, Alabama. Photo by Elliott Hool

CSX's Western Maryland Loco leads southbound M605 through Opelika, Alabama with a crowd of spectators and a my father personal air horn. Photo by Elliott Hool

GP18 and GP35 team-up to power the westbound local. GP18 178 was the last diesel put into service by an independent CofG before the Southern takeover in June 1963.