The turn to Lafayette has made it back to Roanoke Junction, just outside Opelika. When they receive clearance, they'll enter the CSX main for a 2-mile jaunt back to home rails in downtown Opelika... (more)

The NS line between Opelika and Lafayette - a remnant of a longer CofG branch - was running out of time when this shot was made. It would be spun-off as the Pine Belt Southern, but that outfit on... (more)

After placing a fusee between the rails of the Southern, a crew member climbs aboard 754 as the train proceeds toward Montgomery.

Norfolk Southern C40-9W #8976, SD70 #2563 & SD60 #6631 lead train #135. The power is about 10 car lengths over the CSX crossing (former Western of Alabama/Atlanta & West Point) and is stopping to... (more)

A westbound train - probably #45 - clunks across the WofA mainline in Opelika on a typically hazy late spring day in Alabama.

This venerable hogger may be having a hard time keeping his focus on working the WofA interchange in Opelka, what with his last day on the railroad likely getting close.

Foreign power in the form of both NS and a leaser are called upon to pull today's Q619. Seeing other railroad's power on CSX does happen frequently on this subdivision. But seeing a Norfolk Sout... (more)

With Q619 on the mainline and its conductor on the ground, this freight train will begin the long and arduous process of detaching from its cars so it can retrieve the units from A746 resting on t... (more)

A little off the top
When brand new rail is connected to an existing one there is going to be the problem of matching the top of the rail heads to form a smooth running surface. Since... (more)

Having visited a car repair shop somewhere along the system recently, this aggregate hopper stands out from its neighbors with a fresh coat of paint. But what’s really surprising and noteworthy... (more)

As the sun peaks through a sucker hole at just the right time to illuminate the area, aggregate train K736 makes its way into Opelika past the former WofA coaling tower and across the NS mainline ... (more)

A surprising 6000 foot long Q619 with 97 cars of freight makes its way into Opelika passing a house most railfans wouldn't think is too close to the tracks.

NS 336 crosses a typical railroad looking fill as it heads to Columbus with a three pack of NS power.

Spikes
When a tie replacement is under way, one of the other fundamental things being replaced other than ties are spikes and lots of them as evident here. An original Atlantic Coast ... (more)

A pair of UP visitors pull today’s Q619 into downtown for a meet with X786 which is waiting patiently in the siding south of here. ... (more)