A Norfolk Southern coal train creeps forward as it gets loaded with at the Eckman coal loadout in West Virginia.

Veteran conductor extraordinaire Dale Long throws the derail prior to U24 pulling out from Eckman Yard. The new, shiny AC power was just delivered and will soon join the other horseheads on the Po... (more)

New GE ES44AC units are arriving to the Pokey. Note the black number boards and right side front door. I like the black boards!

With 3 brand new ES44AC on the point, U24 patiently waits to leave Eckman Yard for Auville Yard with coal loads while a helper set consisting of two older ES44AC heads west on main 2 to get an eas... (more)

NS 17M splits the signals at Eckman on his way to Williamson on a beautiful afternoon in November.

A helper heads west over the Pokey as a shifter assembles a coal train in the background.

An old high hood still putting coal trains together in Eckman Yard after all these years. Better get them while you can.

NS 57N speeds by a coal train being built just below Eckman Yard.

17M heads west under the signal bridge on main 2 at Eckman skating the yard which is once again bustling with coal business.

The power on 51R nicely compliments the colors of fall at it heads west by the yard at Eckman.

Hard to believe OSHA allows this in the modern era. Releasing the brakes on a steep spur, a worker roped in rides a coal gon under the loadout till full, then will ride it by gravity down to the m... (more)

A look at a dying breed. The single car loader at Dan's Branch is one of only a handful still active along the Pokey and her branches.

The crew of mine run U20 waits while the last hopper of the day is loaded at the small single car loadout on Dan's Branch near Eckman, WV. The mine has 30 loads to be pulled today.

17M speeds down the mountain across Elkhorn Creek and through Eckman Yard with power to spare. Today's power consist of NS 8551, 6631, 6643, 8672 and 8986.