Departing the City of St. Paul, CSX's 2012 Santa Train continues its journey south on the Clinchfield to Kingsport, with remaining stops at Dungannon, Ft. Blackmore, Kermit, and Waycross.
Nearly completing its 70th running, CSX's Santa Train crosses the Holston River at Kingsport, under the power of freshly repainted SD40-2 No. 8140 and executive F40 No. 9993.
Over halfway through its southward trek across the north end of the Clinchfield, the CSX Santa Train arrives at Ft. Blackmore, welcomed by dozens of Appalachia residents anxious for the arrival of... (more)
Arriving at St. Paul for one of its more significant stops along the route, Santa and his helpers, featuring the Thompson Square country band distribute gifts to very anxious children.
'Half a car to stop, Santa Train', CSX safety teams transmit over the radio as CSXT 8140 and its sharp consist featuring CSX's business fleet arrives at Dante for the 70th running of the Clinchfie... (more)
After greeting dozens of children at Clincho, CSX's annual Santa Train arrives at the community of Freemont for the distribution of more gifts and greetings.
Operating for its 70th consecutive year, CSX's Santa Train crosses the McClure River in downtown Clincho, southbound on the former Clinchport Kingsport Subdivision. The train will perform a series... (more)
Catching the last rays of the evening sun, the Crescent Harbor splits the N&W CPL's at Stuarts Draft, southbound on the Roanoke District.
In the last of the evening light just before sunset, AMTK 85 leads the Roanoke NRHS excursion train through Stuarts Draft, enroute to Roanoke from Shenandoah.
"Could I get a little shove on the rear?" engineer Dick Noble requests to rear end helper, B&O 722 as the Green Springs turn departs Romney north. Covered with the last of the autumn leaves and th... (more)
In the last of the evening light, Amtrak No. 85 leads southbound 'AMTK 010' through the town of Elkton, south on the Roanoke District to Roanoke. Passengers on board the mixed consist of Amtrak an... (more)
Operating over rare trackage, Amtrak P42DC No. 119 leads a Roanoke NRHS Chapter excursion train north over the NS Roanoke District at Stuarts Draft, enroute to Shenandoah from Roanoke.
Railroading at Cassandra.. On a cold and dreary morning an eastbound intermodal drags upgrade, while a quintet of SD80MAC's make their journey from the South Fork to Cresson for servicing.
Under the power of two conventional cabs in Notch 8, a loaded grain train operating as NS 52Q grinds up grade near Newours, east on the N&W mainline to Bluefield.
Departing Bluefield for points west, NS 185 and its five unit consist (including NS' Reading heritage ACe) catch the late evening sun after being recrewed. In the distance, NS 52Q has just arrived... (more)
Arriving in Bluefield from the west, NS J5J pushers assist an NS 52Q loaded grain train into the yard. The pushers, featuring NS' Interstate Railroad heritage ES44AC will soon cut off, departing t... (more)
Near Flat Top Yards, NS J5J assists eastbound NS 52Q toward Bluefield, featuring NS' Interstate Railroad heritage ES44AC.
Assisting NS 52Q toward Bluefield, a duo of AC's featuring NS' Interstate Railroad ES44AC crosses over Tug Fork in downtown Welch, eastbound on the N&W mainline.
Detoured via the C&O from Russell to Richmond, as a result of Hurricane Sandy damage along the East Coast, CSX R439 (CSX Q439) approaches the W.E. Coal Dock, west of St. Albans.
After being recrewed on the passenger main at Russell, westbound coal loads for the Toledo Docks blur by Greenup on the C&O Northern Subdivision.
Outside of Quinwood, Rainelle train and work crews carefully observe vehicle traffic below as they cross over Route 20, dumping over a foot of snow on the roadway below. They've managed to success... (more)
As the wind blows and light snow continues to fall, it's difficult to judge exactly where the right of way lays, using only the G&E Milepost 9 as a reference point. The Rainelle based train and wo... (more)
Near Bellburn on the G&E branch, Rainelle work train H037 plows snow drifts left behind by Hurricane Sandy. The train is only seven miles from Rainelle, and slightly less than halfway to the end o... (more)
Beginning their assault over the G&E Subdivision of the former NF&G Railroad at Rainelle, former C&O Jordan Spreader No. 914057 and two GE's, including CSX's Spirit of West Virginia begin clearing... (more)
Leaving Manhattan flooded and much of the New Jersey coast destroyed, Hurricane Sandy left behind nearly 3' of snow in the eastern mountain counties of West Virginia in late October 2012. At nea... (more)
Bringing up the markers, Georgia Railroad's 'Dearing' and 28 passenger cars consist of the 2012 New River Train, as it travels east along the C&O, passing the Thurmond Post Office and Depot.
Passing through the town of Thurmond on its second to last excursion of 2012, the New River Train and its consist of three P42DC's and 29 passenger cars passes the historic structures, and under t... (more)
Built in late 2011 by Freight Car America, a loaded CSXT company hopper sits in the house track at Quinnimont, damaged from what appears to be the result of the June 2012 'Derecho' storm that was ... (more)
Operating for its second weekend of the 2012 season, the Collis P. Huntington New River Train arrives in St. Albans with its 29 car consist stretched across town. Once passengers board the train w... (more)
At 8:58 am the first of the morning light illuminates the valley of the New River Gorge as westbound mixed freight Q303 and its eight car consist snake their way through Backus, and soon to be Qui... (more)
Returning west as light power, the Ronceverte helper illuminates the WAS at WS Cabin in downtown White Sulphur Springs. The single ES44AC helper will return to Ronceverte, only long enough to coup... (more)
An eastbound loaded drag, struggling upgrade with 150 loads coal cars illuminates the EAS WS Cabin, nearing the completion of its assault over Alleghany. The time is 5:47 am, and first of the morn... (more)
150 loaded coal hoppers destined for Pier 9 in Newport News have just started their assault over Alleghany grade, after acquiring the Ronceverte helper. Here, the single ES44AC helper illuminates ... (more)
Export coal loads illuminate the signal at Riffe's Bottom, eastbound on C&O main to Clifton Forge. This signal is expected to be removed from service in 2013, as part of a signal replacement proje... (more)
Westbound empties for Hinton illuminate the double track C&O signal bridge at Riffe's Bottom, east of Pence Springs. The Riffe's Bottom signal serves as an intermediate signal between the absolute... (more)
Downgrade with empties, a pair of SD70AC's operate at a track speed of 30MPH in dynamic braking. Destined for the coalfields of Southern West Virginia the empties will later return east with loads... (more)
An eastbound loaded coal train grinds upgrade, east of Quinnimont, as seen from high above at the Grandview overlook. To the left of the scene, where the street lights are visible is the lcoation ... (more)
Catching the last of the evening light, before shadows dominate the New River Valley, westbound X139 hugs the banks of the New River, westbound through the Gorge near Hawks Nest.
Upgrade and in full throttle, 10,000 horses struggle to keep 150 loads of Southern West Virginia coal moving over the stiff grades of the New River Subdivisions at Sewell. The train has just cross... (more)
Dragging upgrade with 150 loads of coal from the Southern West Virginia coalfields, export loads pause at Cotton Hill, waiting for signals east to Sewell. Despite clear skies and ideal railroading... (more)
Idling in St. Albans to allow passengers to detrain, the 2012 Collis P. Huntington New River Train has nearly completed its first weekend of fall foliage excursions between Huntington and Hinton o... (more)
Amtrak's eastbound Cardinal briefly pauses in downtown Alderson, observing its 'flag stop' before continuing east along the route of the C&O's George Washington. Fall colors are post peak at this ... (more)
Exiting Stretchers Neck Tunnel, the only tunnel on CSX's New River Subdivision, Amtrak's eastbound Cardinal prepares to board passengers at Prince, before continuing east. The tri-weekly Cardinal ... (more)
Passing the C&O Station at Prince, eastbound CSX Q130 operates at track speed, enroute to Quinnimont, Hinton, and points east on the C&O with a high priority container train in tow.
Observing restricted speed, light engines cross over the New River at Prince. On the heels of an empty train from Quinnimont, the two locomotives will soon couple onto the rear end of the empties,... (more)
Crossing the New River at Hawks Nest, the 2012 Collis P. Huntington New River Train hugs the banks of the New River, on its late afternoon excursion from Hinton to Huntington. The 2012 consist inc... (more)
On an overcast October evening in the New River Gorge, the hottest train on the C&O , westbound Q135 crosses the New River at Hawks Nest with its single stack container train in tow. Colors are cl... (more)
Bringing up the markers on the 2012 New River Train, Georgia Railroad's 'Dearing' with a full platform of business class passengers cruises east along the banks of the New River, enroute to Hinton... (more)
Shoving on the rear with a pair of AC helpers, eastbound Southern West Virginia coal loads make their assault over the N&W main through Keystone, and points east with a destination of Lambert's Po... (more)
On a dreary October evening in the declining community of Keystone, an eastbound loaded drag charges upgrade with a train of West Virginia black diamonds. Keystone serves as a great example of a c... (more)
As black diamond loads roll east along the N&W main, a pair of AC helpers shove on the rear, assisting the train from Davy to Farm, and points east toward Bluefield.
A pair of CITX acquired SD40-2's idle on the head end of an eastbound drag, stopped at Oakvale waiting for signals. Fall colors are at their peak on East River.
A pair of weathered ACe's pass the Oakvale United Methodist Church with their empties in tow. Fall foliage is at its peak, and with a small opening in the lower cloud deck, the sun illuminates the... (more)
As clouds roll over East River Mountain, ahead of a cold front that would later be responsible for the removal of most foliage, an eastbound mixed freight glides downgrade through the scenic East ... (more)
Westbound NS 217 leans into the S curve east of Ingleside, upgrade on the Christiansburg District toward Bluefield. Fall colors are at their peak along East River.
Passing 'AD Cabin' in Alderson, high priority Q135 charges at track speed through the quaint town of Alderson in the Greenbrier River Valley, east of Hinton.
The Ronceverte helper operating as CSX H247 assists eastbound U276 upgrade, passing the interlocking at E.E. White Sulphur Springs. The helper will continue to shove as far east as Tuckahoe, to th... (more)
In the late evening autumn light, two 'boxcar logo' AC's struggle upgrade with 150 cars of West Virginia coal destined for Pier 9 in Newport News. In full throttle, and sand applied, it's a diffic... (more)
After assisting 150 loaded coal hoppers over the Alleghany grade from Ronceverte to Tuckahoe, the Ronceverte helper returns west, passing the east end of the siding at 'Browns Mill', near the town... (more)
On a busy afternoon on C&O's Alleghany Subdivision, westbound grain empties pass the E.E. White Sulphur Springs, downgrade toward Ronceverte, Alderson, and points west. Meanwhile, an eastbound dis... (more)
Passing the EAS at WS Cabin, west of the White Sulphur Springs Station, Amtrak's eastbound Cardinal reduces from track speed, preparing to observe the station stop. Fall colors are near peak in hi... (more)
Eastbound on the Alleghany main, high priority eastbound container train CSX Q130 passes the secluded C&O signal bridge at 'Caldwell' east of Ronceverte, and exactly five mile west of White Sulphu... (more)
Riding on the heels of CSX Q135, an empty train for the coalfields idles on the west platform of the Prince Station, waiting for a signal west to 'Apple Orchard'.
As fall colors approach their peak in the New River Gorge, high priority CSX Q135 observes a slow order through Prince, the passing the C&O cantilever at east end.
Crossing over the New River at the bottom of the Gorge in Hawks Nest, CSX manifest freight Q303 makes a daylight trip west from Hinton to Russell.
Complying with the 10mph slow order over the New River at Hawks Nest, CSX Q303 with a recently rebuilt SD40-3 from CSX's Huntington Locomotive Shops leads the short, eight car consist.
Shay 11 pulls the 3pm Whittaker train into Gum Curve, just south of the Lower Switchback. Today's afternoon train is sold out, as passengers enjoy the 2012 fall colors.
Making its third and final trip of the day, Shay 11 shoves the 3pm Whittaker train toward Lower Switchback, passing over Leatherbark Creek in full fall peak, outside of the Town of Cass.
With nearly 400 passengers on board, Western Maryland Big 6 and Shay 11 double head up the mountain near the town of Spruce. Colors above Whittaker are at their peak, but not for long, in an area ... (more)
North of Romney Station, a southbound B&O passenger extra passes a steep rock outcrop and vintage stone wall, on its late evening trip through the scenic, and narrow Potomac River Valley. The road... (more)
South of Sycamore Bridge, the Potomac Valley afternoon excursion returns north, pulled by C&O F7(A), No. 8016, while B&O F7(A), No. 722 assists on the rear. The train will shove north through the ... (more)
As fall colors along the scenic Potomac River valley approach their peak as a result of extremely cool nights and mild afternoons, passengers on the sold out afternoon run of the Potomac Eagle enj... (more)
With colors approaching their peak on B&O's Sandpatch, the eastbound Capitol Limited descends through the S curves west of Hyndman, enroute to Cumberland, Hancock, and points east on the B&O mainl... (more)
Passing the C&O scales at Riffe's Bottom, westbound high priority container train, CSX Q135 charges through the Greenbrier River valley toward Hinton, and points west.
On time, Amtrak's Cardinal operates at track speed with ease through the S curves, east of C&O's 'A' Cabin. Destined for Clifton Forge, and points east, by dusk, Amtrak's Cardinal will be north ea... (more)
Westbound on the C&O main, CSX manifest freight Q303 passes a rock cut deep in the Appalachian Mountains, west of Clifton Forge.
On a 'picture' perfect autumn morning, eastbound high priority intermodal, CSX Q130 glides through the S curves east of Alleghany Tunnel, on its super ID crew run from Russell to Clifton Forge.
After re-railing over a dozen loaded coal hoppers earlier in the day, CSX and contracting crews continue to repair the track and right of way. At this point, crews have been on scene for over 12 h... (more)
Over 6,000 horses of General Electric power idle in the Rush Run Siding after loading on the R.J. Corman Loup Creek branch at Pax. A Hinton extraboard crew will taxi to Thurmond later in the night... (more)
After departing the loadout at Tom's Fork with 150 loads of export coal, the train encountered a broken/rolled rail near the mining community of 'Miami', where 13 of the 150 loads derailed. While ... (more)
As a full moon rises over the horizon in the background, B&O F7(A), No. 722 idles on the Sycamore Bridge on a passenger deadhead from Moorefield to Romney. For more information on a Spring 2013 ph... (more)
After a primarily overcast day along BNSF's busy Transcontinental railroad, a westbound manifest freight charges across the desert, as the sun dips below the cloud deck.
Leaving Hinton for points west, CSX manifest freight, Q303 passes under the C&O signals protecting the interlocking of 'Tool Car', west of the C&O Avis Yard. The train will begin its trek over the... (more)
Amtrak's westbound Cardinal catches the late evening sun at Nicelytown on the former C&O North Mountain Subdivision, now operated by Buckingham Branch. The Cardinal will soon transition over to CS... (more)
The Fall color of the 2011 season surprisingly was one of the more impressive of colors. Cooler nights and rain earlier in the year had helped the colors change not only early, but brought out som... (more)
Amtrak's eastbound Cardinal has just exited the Alleghany Tunnel, eastbound on the C&O mainline from Hinton to Clifton Forge. This is the highest point elevation on the C&O between Hinton and Clif... (more)
Amtrak's westbound Cardinal has just arrived at the White Sulphur Springs Depot, home of The Greenbrier Resort. The station platform is busy, as passengers detrain and prepare to board the Chicago... (more)
Deadheading from Williamson to Columbus, OH after performing a series of employee appreciation specials, NKP 765 crosses the C&O at Kenova, as mainline steam prepares to cross the Ohio River into ... (more)
Power you can rely on.. The slogan of General Motors Locomotive Group painted across their fleet of leased GP38-2's. A quartet of these very GMTX GP's have made their home on the Appalachian & Ohi... (more)
Changing of the Guard.. While CSX and contractor officials remove the remaining pieces to the C&O cantilever signal at 'FD Cabin', a CSX Communications & Signals employee cleans the exterior lens... (more)
