Southern's long-distance local bumps across the Western with the usual assortment of log flats. In the background is a boxcar still in CofG colors, and the hood of a Southern diesel, one of two t... (more)

Returning from a run to Lafayette and Roanoke with a short train, #7 has just entered the WofA main for a short trackage rights hop down the hill to Opelika. The Southern folks are probably eyein... (more)

Another transitional model, the C39-8's boxy form-follows-function look reminded some fans of late model Alcos. That's CSX's former Western Railway of Alabama that 8572 is crossing, and the shado... (more)

A westbound NS train bound for Birmingham passes a couple of Opelika landmarks; one well-known, one not so well known. In the distance is the Lee County Courthouse, probably the most prominent bu... (more)

For many years, Southern/NS served Lafayette (and until 1982, Roanoke) with a turn out of Opelika. By 1994, the NS had ceased keeping power in Opelika, so the turn originated in Columbus, GA. A fe... (more)

The return leg of the Lafayette turn drops down into Opelika on CSX's Atlanta-Montgomery main using trackage rights dating back decades to Central of Georgia/Western Railway of Alabama days.

The NS (Central of Georgia) turn to Lafayette (Trains 7/8 in pre-CSX days) used about two miles of rights over the CSX (Western Railway of Alabama) between Opelika and Roanoke Junction. Here, #7 ... (more)

A lone SD40-2 of Norfolk and Western heritage sits tied down with a over a dozen MoW gondolas. This train will be here for a few days picking up scrap ties along the right of way as the last bit ... (more)

A pair of Southern Belles look great in the afternoon light as they pull an empty Herzog ballast train through town. No visiting of Historic Opelika for the crew today since they're only an hour ... (more)

A pair of gray KCS motors rumble into Opelika with over 6300 feet of train in tow. The city is well into the Holiday Spirit as the annual Christmas Tree greets this train when it comes into the h... (more)

The homebound leg of the daily turn out of Montgomery drops down the grade into Opelika with a switcher subbing for the usual second B30-7.

The mill being switched by the local provides a photo backdrop, with a junkyard full of Detroit iron in the foreground.

A former N&W SD40-2 won't quite fit into the open area between the old West Point Route coaling tower and vegetation on the opposite side of the CSX main.

This morning's Q220 train has finally made it to Opelika with a pair of locomotives that are rarely ever seen traversing this line. The lengthy and at times uncertain wait for this train was comp... (more)