After just exiting Sandy Ridge Tunnel, The 67th annual Santa Train with the wheel flanges squealing and the smell of brakes, rounds the tight left hand curve to Dante.

The 67th annual Santa Train crosses the Holston River, just minutes away from Santa's arrival in Kingsport, TN

Two SD40-2's warm up as they prepare to return to pusher service, while two trains with GE's green power idle waiting to exit the yards.

A long line of empties and plenty of power, tied down at Tacoma

A scene played out many times at Bluefield, finds two ES44AC's returning to help with more coal that passes through Bluefield each day.

The NS 233 makes it's way out of Bluefield with two Union Pacific units in the consist.

The J57 pushes the NS 186 into Bluefield Yard, as a stack train exits on track two.

The 17M leaves Bluefield Yard with a D8-40CW still in Conrail paint, as the pair work hard to get the train up to speed.

A rare catch around Bluefield, two SD40-2's in pusher service, the J62 leaving the yards to help with another load of black diamonds.

The yard crew move a cut of cars putting together an outbound mixed freight

The 22A rumbles past the old Freight Depot in Abingdon, VA

The 37Q departs Bristol Yard and into Tennessee and on to Knoxville in the last of evening light, after a meet with the 16T.

An empty continuous rail train, tied down at the Bristol Yards, awaits it's next assignment. NS D8-40CW 8462 exLMS 722

The outbound Q23 with coal empties waits for the inbound 16T, after a quick crew change for a Virginia crew, the 16T would head on to Roanoke, and the Q23 would depart into Tennessee to Bulls Gap ... (more)

A TOFC train waits to depart Bristol Yard and in control of the Knoxville East East End District into Tennessee.