Emerging from the rock-lined Ridge tunnel, southbound coal train N760-06 has reached the highest point of the Clinchfield Railroad at Altapass and now begins the steep descent down the famous Clin... (more)

The newly painted CSX 911 and Veterans unit head south to Bostic on Q693 through Spruce Pine. Another special feature is that both units were wearing brand new Leslie RS5-T horns which is rare for... (more)

The newly painted CSX 911 and Veterans unit head south to Bostic on Q693 through Spruce Pine. Another special feature is that both units were wearing brand new Leslie RS5-T horns which is rare for... (more)

CSX train P90108 has just passed through 2nd Washburn Tunnel and back into the dense fog in the mountain tops along the Clinchfield Loops. Clinchfield F3A #800 is dead-in-tow, making a quick run f... (more)

A northbound manifest knocks down the CRR signals at NE Toe River has it heads north through the Blue Ridge Mountains, following the North Toe River through the Appalachian gorges of Western North... (more)

The N-2 style dwarf signal at NE Toe River, dating back to the days of the Clinchfield Railroad, shines down the former CRR mainline as a nearly full moon illuminates the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Two days after CSX announced it would be closing the Erwin, TN terminal; Q697 slices through downtown Spruce Pine, NC.

Southbound coal loads pass through downtown Spruce Pine.

The air is crisp and dry, shadows are deep and the leaves are poised to....leave as this northbound freight negotiates just another curve. On the other track hoppers carry the mineral wealth of a... (more)

A pair of AC4400CW locomotives lead a CSX train out of Ridge Tunnel as it heads north outside of Spruce Pine, NC on October 8, 2014. This is at the very top of the mountain on what used to be the ... (more)

A northbound hopper train heads back towards the mines of southwest Virginia and Kentucky on the former Clinchfield RR thru Spruce Pine NC

A CSX Coal train rolls under the pedestrian bridge at Pinebridge in Spruce Pine.

A wide cab dash 8 locomotive leads a southbound manifest train past milepost 187 on the former Clinchfield line outside of Spruce Pine, North Carolina on March 9, 2014.