Initiated in 1973, train 215 was probably the hottest freight ever to run on the West Point Route. Originating in the big Hamlet yard, 215 ran to Atlanta via the old SAL, then over the West Point ... (more)

A small portion of the 240,000 ton annual output of steel pipe produced by the Berg Steel Pipe mill in Panama City rolls north on unit train K565. The pipe is longitudinal seam welded and has bee... (more)

W954 and its 1900 foot long train of empty tie gondolas glide into the curve at the northern area of Opelika. Two versions of the SD50 purchased by two different railroads at the time are represe... (more)

A scruffy GP38-2 (ex-L&N 4060) and a leased Santa Fe C30-7 take a sb down the old West Point Route. The flood of new C40-8s is getting underway, so the property is about to start looking a litt... (more)

A lone SD9 flying green flags heads west with a mainline local. This is an unusual shot in that, by 1972, Southern's six SD9s and lone SD7 (all inherited from C of G) were generally in captive ser... (more)

Atlanta-bound run-through train 214 passes the old WofA coaling tower (still there in 2015) and bangs across the double crossing with Southern.

Next to GP38s (and GP38-2s) U23Bs were the most common power of L&N run-through trains that began using the WofA in 1973. On this day, 2739 fronted a set that included another U23B, two GP30s an... (more)

After idling for hours waiting for a nb to clear, the C40s on this southbound erupt with exhaust smoke as their throttles are opened. Interesting that 7511 has no nose logo.

Back when NS and CSX (and their predecessor roads) had agents at Opelika, there were several local gents who hung around the depot just about every day. Here, one looks on as the NS agent hoops-u... (more)

The newest NS heritage diesel was earning its keep 15 years ago by partnering with an SD60 for several days on long-distance locals 45/46. In this photo they're eastbound approaching the CSX cros... (more)

Here's the newest NS heritage diesel earning its keep 15 years ago by partnering with an SD60 on the eastbound long-distance local. In this photo they're working the small yard at Opelika and the... (more)

Now this is a compromise joint!
Having to connect vastly different sized rails on this seldom used NS house track greatly illustrates how valuable compromise joints are and what they ... (more)

NS 136 has finally made it to Opelika with 97 cars in tow behind a pair of SD70M locomotives. After chasing this train east from Kellyton, it's now 1.5 hours closer to Columbus where this crew wi... (more)

It's after dusk as two Southern SD35s roll an eastbound around the big curve at Opelika just before crossing the Western Railway of Alabama mainline.