P87 emerges from the lower loop at High Fill on it's westbound trek through the Old Fort Loops.

P87 passes through the 123' long Jarrett's Tunnel in route back to Asheville.

135 emerges from Jarrett's tunnel in the Old Fort Loops with a rare visitor for these parts, a CEFX lease unit.

The westbound Autumn Leaf Special has just exited the tunnel at Ridgecrest on it's trip west to Asheville.

Amtrak 156 leads a roundtrip excursion from the North Carolina Transportation Museum in Spencer NC to Asheville NC on the famous NS S-Line.

NS 165 makes it's way over the old Southern Railway loops from Old Fort, NC to Ridgecrest, NC on the S-line. Seen here exiting Lick Log Tunnel just before going through McElroy Tunnel.

Norfolk Southern's "Erie" Heritage unit crests the grade at the top of the Blue Ridge. In just a few seconds one of the cars will break a knuckle which will delay 744 at the top of the ... (more)

Norfolk Southern's "Erie" Heritage unit nears the summit of the Blue Ridge Grade at Ridgecrest on this beautiful early September morning. A four hour delay due to a stalled 162 ahead al... (more)

The Monongahela colors are seen far from their intended location as 135 has completed its climb up the Southern Railway loops heading west for Asheville, NC.

Catawba coal loads slowly decend the famous Old Fort Loops on this cold January morning behind NS #7531. The photographer is standing on the old U.S. Highway 70 overpass/High Ridge Tunnel west po... (more)

Grinding upgrade and negotiating the Loops, NS 135 struggles to reach the summit at Ridgecrest, NC on its eastbound journey to Asheville, then Knoxville via the River Line.

Pusher train P34 shoves the last few cars of Q44 over the top of the grade at Ridgecrest and is about to coast down the mountain to Old Fort.

A second-section 744 loaded coal train battles gravity as they pull to the top of the grade at Ridgecrest in late evening light. The train will soon begin its descent down the famous Southern Loop... (more)

NS train 66E (unit woodchips) is nearing the top of the Old Fort loops with their long string of loaded chips in tow.

After spending 45 minutes climbing the Old Fort loops, 135 will now coast downhill the last 15 miles into Asheville.