On what is likely her maiden run, GE ES44C4 No. 6945 leads a baretable train west over the BNSF Seligman Subdivision near Flagstaff in the last light of the day.
Eastbound through Kingman Canyon, BNSF 7315 leads a stack train toward Flagstaff on the BNSF Seligman Subdivision.
Charging over a former Santa Fe trestle in Kingman Canyon, five BNSF GE's lead a stack train toward Flagstaff on the Transcon.
Destined for Barstow, a single DPU assists a westbound mixed freight through Kingman Canyon, east of Needles.
Near Cables on Tehachapi Pass, a Z train led by C44-9W BNSF 5041 snakes through the scenic S curves, north of Tehachapi. The train will soon complete its journey over the 23 mile pass and glide th... (more)
Approaching Cables Siding, a UP manifest has just emerged from a series of tunnels along the scenic Tehachapi Pass. The train will continue its southward trek across the UP Mojave Subdivision into... (more)
Snaking its way over the final miles of the Tehachapi Pass, a southbound pig train will soon glide its way into Tehachapi and east along the UP Mojave Subdivision.
Former Southern Pacific searchlight signals display two red signals, indicating an approaching train. The skies are clear and a new moon has allowed for a star filled sky to provide a backdrop on ... (more)
Northbound on the Tehachapi Pass near Bena, a UP mixed freight has completed its run over the famous Tehachapi loop and scenic pass, now gliding over a dry creek bed on its final run into Bakersfi... (more)
Westbound near Bagdad, adjacent to the Historic Route 66, a Los Angeles destined stack train glides across the desert at ease, operating at a track speed of 70mph under the power of three BNSF GE'... (more)
In the last light of the evening, just 10 minutes before sunset, an eastbound stack train blasts through Newberry Springs, enroute to Needles along the BNSF Transcon.
Two recently released GE ES44AC's from Erie lead a loaded grain train over the NS Louisville District near Waddy. Spring is in full bloom in Central Kentucky with wild flowers in bloom and blue sk... (more)
A pair of clean GE ES44C4's lead a high priority piggyback train through the Tehachapi loop, near Walong along the UP Mojave Subdivision. The pass is in spring bloom with rolling green pastures co... (more)
Spring time on Tehachapi Pass! The green rolling hills of the scenic Tehachapi Pass compliment the UP yellow as a northbound manifest twists around the Pass on a beautiful spring evening.
Blasting through the four track diamond at the corner of Lake and Wells, a Sunday afternoon CTA commuter makes its rounds through the Windy City on a gloomy Sunday afternoon.
After crossing the diamond with the Canadian National at Gilman, an eastbound TP&W local glides through downtown Gilman, Illinois with a somewhat unusual consist of matching GP40-2LW's.
METX 196 leads a westbound commuter through the suburb of Downers Grove, west along the BNSF "Racetrack". The CB&Q search light signals still guide BNSF and Metra commuter trains through the heavi... (more)
Splitting through downtown Chicago at CTA track speed, a commuter approaches the impressive four track interlocking making its trip around the L.
Prior to the afternoon Metra rush, a westbound commuter led by a fresh F40PH rebuild blasts through Hinsdale on the BNSF mainline out of Chicago.
Northbound on CN's Chicago Subdivision, a near 10,000 ft. manifest led by CN 2561 blasts through the community of Loda, enroute to Chicago from the south, along the former Illinois Central mainlin... (more)
In the late evening light, long term reroute, CSX Q135 blasts through St. Albans with a fairly loaded train of single level intermodal containers. The train is destined for CSX's North Baltimore I... (more)
Coal is king on the N&W.. With two separate empty coal trains departing for the coalfields to the west, an eastbound loaded grain train idles in the background (far right) awaiting the removal of ... (more)
Westbound baretables, operating under the long term detour of CSX Q139 blast through St. Albans at track speed, nearing the completion of their 276 mile crew run from Clifton Forge to Russell.
An assortment of power idles near the N&W coal tower at Iaeger, on the west end of NS's Auville Yard. The NS 8018 will soon depart Auville headed for Welch, while a separate crew boards the NS 967... (more)
Silhouetted by a full moon, the eastbound C&O two track signal bridge at CP "Sandstone" stands guard, west of Hinton along the scenic New River Subdivision.
With a full moon silhouetting the C&O cantilever signal at the "E.E. Meadow Creek", an eastbound Hinton train approaches from the west. This particular cantilever protects the NF&G siding at Meado... (more)
NS 380 has just arrived in Nitro from the north, sporting EMDX 2012 on the point. The 2012 General Motors Locomotive Group (EMDX) SD70ACe is a demonstrator unit that Norfolk Southern tested in mid... (more)
In the last of the early evening light, a pair of light engines have just cut off of an eastbound train, now dodging their way through the crossovers near Mexico. While the tower is now closed, th... (more)
Protected by two classy C&O cantilevers, an eastbound has just pulled on a clear signal at Cotton Hill, struggling upgrade through the beginning of the New River Gorge.
The abandoned town of Thurmond nestled in the New River Gorge along the C&O mainline.. What once served as a busy terminal and coal camp, now abandoned and forgotten.
Railfanning in the New River Gorge.. A perfect example of railroading along one of the most scenic rail lines in West Virginia; the New River Gorge. A near half moon silhouettes the massive New Ri... (more)
Clear signal at CP "Neck".. After an evening of heavy downpours, thick fog and mist have formed in the valley of the New River Gorge, as a westbound approaches.. Flanges are squealing and the two ... (more)
With the exhaust rolling out of the tunnel and a draft pushing out of the west portal of Big Bend Tunnel, 2 GE's and 150 empties are just seconds from busting out of the 6188 ft. Big Bend Tunnel, ... (more)
After departing Hobson Yard earlier in the morning, the southbound NS 380 has arrived at the Nitro Yard, sporting the exclusive EMDX 2012 Demonstrator, currently on lease to Norfolk Southern. Afte... (more)
Passing the AEP John Amos Power Plant across the Kanawha River in Winfield, EMDX 2012 leads the NS 380 south through Poca. EMDX 2012 is now roaming the rails of Norfolk Southern paying back horsep... (more)
Putting what little bit of a winter behind us and looking ahead to Spring, we look back from the February of this month, during the one and only significant snowfall of the 2011-2012 Winter season... (more)
Looking north along the original Coal & Coke Railway, later the Baltimore & Ohio, and eventually, the New York Central/Penn Central/Conrail right of way in Pinch, the line has been reclaimed by Mo... (more)
Railroading in the New River Gorge... Overpowering the sounds of the violent rapids of the New River just feet away, eastbound coal approaches the cantilever and mast signal at the interlocking o... (more)
Spring is here! Similar to fall, the short lived season in which spring 'peak' per say only lasts for about a week. Exceptionally warm temperatures this March have prompted an early spring, almost... (more)
In the last light of the evening, the sun shines down on this abandoned 0-4-0 and C&O passenger coach, resting in the CSX Avis Yard in Hinton. The fireless steam engine and coach are display piece... (more)
Breaking record high temperatures for the first time since March of 1921, westbound Hinton bound empties pass under the C&O signal bridge at Riffe, westbound on the Alleghany Subdivision.
Idling at the old scale track in South Charleston, Genset locomotive, CSXT 1325 is picking up an additional cut of cars for Elk Yard, sight of the CSX car shop. Quite a clash of generations of rai... (more)
New visitor in town.. In addition to the trio of MP15's assigned to South Charleston, CSX recently assigned NRE 3GS21B 'Genset' locomotive to the terminal. Sporting a crisp YN3 paint scheme and an... (more)
Long term detour and second section Q135, CSX L135 charges through Kenova in late evening light, west along the former C&O mainline.
Springtime in downtown Hurricane.. Loram's eastbound RG 318 grinds through downtown Hurricane during what has quickly developed into an early spring, nearly a month early.
Grinding eastbound on the Kanawha mainline near Culloden, Loram's RG 318 makes its annual visit to the C&O. In the distance, a track inspector makes his daily westbound trek from Montgomery to Bar... (more)
The intermediates at Brooks have just kicked on, indicating a westbound has passed the next eastern Control Point at 'CW Cabin', to the west of Hinton. Painting a vibrant red and yellow glow from ... (more)
After testing along the New River & Kanawha Subdivisions earlier in the day, CSXT GMS-1 sets, tied down on the former yard lead of St. Albans. The car will test the Coal River Subdivision the foll... (more)
Tied down for the night, high hood GP38-2 NS 5123 leads the NS 92Z work train.
After a long day of grinding along the Kanawha Subdivision, Lorgam's RG 318 has returned to its respective hole, in the Westward Siding in downtown St. Albans. The longer days have allowed for thi... (more)
Tied down in Westward Siding for her annual visit, Loram's RG 318 is undergoing maintenance after grinding along the former C&O mainline for much of the day. Her crew will make any necessary repai... (more)
Lonesome night at Prince.. Deep in the New River Gorge valley below, the silence is broken by a westbound coal train charging through the abandoned coal community outside of Beckley. The C&O Princ... (more)
Starry night at Claremont.. Looking to the north, with the star, Polaris overhead main one, the stars rotate in this near 19 minute exposure. The moon is less than 20 minutes from rising, which wi... (more)
Westbound on the A&O Cowen Subdivision, empties for Cowen from Grafton operate at track speed, just north of Burnsville. The Grafton-Burnsville crew will soon be relieved and a Burnsville crew wil... (more)
Downhill on the Mountain Subdivision, westbound CSX Q317 passes the B&O Station and freight house at Tunnelton, nearing the completion of her crew run from Cumberland to Grafton.
Russell bound CSX Q317 charges through Mount Lake Park at track speed, west along the former B&O Mountain Subdivision east of Terra Alta. The Q316/Q317 manifests serve as one of the more long dist... (more)
Cresting the grade at Terra Alta, eastbound CSX U813 will soon come to a halt, allowing the M&K helper to cut off and return west to Grafton. The eastbound will glide down the Glades with ease int... (more)
The M&K helpers assist CSX U813 eastbound through Rowlesburg Yard, sporting a duo of new CSX 'boxcar logo' GE ES44AC's. The helpers will continue to shove to Terra Alta before cutting off and retu... (more)
Assisting eastbound CSX U813 over the three famous B&O grades from Grafton to Terra Alta, December 2011 built GE ES44AC No. 989 and sister, No. 954 operating as the CSX B236 'M&K Helpers' shove in... (more)
Eastbound along Raccoon Valley Road, CSXT 922 snakes its way through the S curves of the former B&O Mountain Subdivision on its uphill trek from Newburg to Tunnelton.
Passing the Newburg United Methodist Church, eastbound loads operating as CSX U813 depart for Newburg for Tunnelton under the power of four GE's and 1 EMD.
Eastbound loads pause in Newburg, waiting for the passing of westbound empties for Grafton. They'll soon throttle back up and continue their commute over the Mountain Subdivision to Terra Alta wit... (more)
After departing Berkley Run Jct. earlier in the morning, CSX U813 is on the move, eastward on the former B&O Mountain Subdivision near Independence. The grades are treacherous on the B&O with load... (more)
The conductor of A&O X711 led by CSXT 36 performs a 'safety stop' before coupling onto their empty train near D Tower in Grafton. To the left, an additional empty is in the process of performing a... (more)
In the last light of the evening on the second to last day of Daylight Savings Time, CSX Q317 observes a 15MPH slow order through Sistersville along the former B&O Ohio River Subdivision to Parker... (more)
After making set offs and pickups at Nitro, NS 380 passes Diehl's Restaurant, a family owned favorite in Nitro. While it's almost 3pm, the parking lot is nearly packed as guests enjoy home cooked ... (more)
Ethanol trains from the Midwest generally yield some unique power during their eastward commute across CSX rails and this late evening CSX K447 was no exception. Led by ICE 6434, CITX 3053, and SO... (more)
The daily ritual.. Nitro based local, NS J1J has just returned from the Par Industrial Park with pickups for NS 381. The local serves numerous industries in Par, including a scrap yard, numerous c... (more)
Timeless... Reducing throttle and preparing for a stop, a westbound empty train for Russell silhouettes a bad order hopper and the C&O Thurmond Depot on a foggy night in downtown Thurmond..
As a full moon illuminates the majority of the scene, the distant headlight of approaching westbound Q135 helps paint some light onto the signal bridge at Milepost 5.5 on the Northern Subdivision.... (more)
Moonlit at VA Jct. Less than a half a mile west of the W.E. Vauces interlocking, a commonly photographed C&O location, a C&O cantilever signal at 'VA Jct.' stands guard. Nothing is currently lined... (more)
The WAS W.E. Vauces is silhouetted against a clear and moonlit sky as the classic C&O signals stand guard at one of the more notable Chesapeake & Ohio locations in this region. The interlockings h... (more)
The sun has set and the remaining twilight has dissipated, allowing the full moon to illuminate this uniquely designed three track C&O cantilever that protects the W.E. Vauces Center Siding. Signa... (more)
With new Safetrans looming in the background awaiting activation, the C&O signals still guide trains over the Northern at C.P. Milepost 3, or more commonly known as Sciotoville Junction. Pictured ... (more)
Eastbound on the Northern, a loaded train operating as G892 passes under the Milepost 5.5 Intermediates, west of Sciotoville. This particular signal bridge is expected to be removed in the upcomin... (more)
Offering a unique perspective of the New River Gorge, the eastbound Collis P. Huntington New River Train snakes through the 'Narrows' of the New River Gorge near Cotton Hill, passing the secluded ... (more)
The results of warm air colliding with a cold front.. A mild 55 degree night has produced the right amount of energy for the development of severe thunderstorms across Kentucky and West Virginia. ... (more)
My one and only 'Leap Year' catch for the next 4 years... As thunderstorms approach from the west, the crew of NS J1A has just boarded their switcher, NS 7119 and will soon depart to the south for... (more)
After making set offs at Nitro, NS 380 proceeds south at 'Kapok' on a beautiful and exceptionally mild, 60 degree February afternoon.
The WAS Kanawha Falls signal, a design by US&S that I'm quite partial to stands guard at the interlocking of 'Kanawha Falls', where the New River main goes from double track to single main. The in... (more)
A light snow the night before has allowed the four red signals at Hilldale to reflect a vibrant red cast onto the ground, as a star filled sky silhouettes the C&O cantilever that will soon see its... (more)
Built in December of 1989, NS 4626 idles on a work train, tied down in the yard at Nitro. EMD GP59's are a unique locomotive model, with Norfolk Southern being the only railroad to purchase the un... (more)
North of Harper, southbound U92 struggles up grade through a rock cut. The train is destined for Mullens after departing Deepwater earlier in the day.
One of the first locomotives delivered in the 2011 order of NS SD70ACe's, NS 1009 leads a southbound loaded NS U92 through Pax, enroute to Mullens along the former Virginian.
After leaving close to 12" of snow overnight, the first trick yard job switches the east end of Clifton Forge Yard in preparations for Q302's departure. Clifton Forge is a relatively busy terminal... (more)
Richmond bound, CSX T239 has just been recrewed in Clifton Forge and is beginning its slow departure east, toward JD Cabin. The first significant snowfall of the 2011-2012 winter season has left a... (more)
Thunderstorms at a place long abandoned.. Handley served as a large terminal in the Chesapeake & Ohio steam era, connecting coal operations in the Kanawha Valley to operations in the New River Val... (more)
Action in Thurmond.. In a community that less than 10 people currently call 'home', there's no shortage of trains on this February afternoon.. Amtrak's eastbound Cardinal has just cleared town and... (more)
Dragging through the New River Gorge at a shade over 5 hours late, the eastbound Amtrak Cardinal attempts to make up time, after encountering a service disruption in Hamilton, OH overnight.
Westbound on the Loup Creek Branch, R.J. Corman power makes the commute from Pax to the spur at Harvey after loading a train earlier in the week and assisting it over the grade this morning.
