The fall colors are in full peak as P-87 approaches Ridgecrest on the morning of October 27th. In just a few short days an early season snow storm will remove all the remaining leaf color from th... (more)

135 has almost completed its climb up the famous Southern loops in western North Carolina as seen from the Ridgecrest overlook.

Westbound freight led by GP50 #7039 at Ridgecrest, NC || June 1983

NS P-87 emerges from the fog at Ridgecrest with its usual load of empty chip cars for Bristol packaging in Bridgewater, NC.

In perfect morning light, an eastbound coal train thunders upgrade at Ridgecrest. In less than a minute, the head end will begin the 16-mile descent to Old Fort down the 2.2% grade through the Loo... (more)

Literally seconds after the sun has risen over the mountains to the east, Asheville-Hickory local P87 trundles by at Ridgecrest with woodchip hoppers for Old Fort in tow.

NS #2593 leads this eastbound rail train that will spend the day picking up old sections of rail along the Old Fort Loops before returning to Asheville.

NS #5093 leads the eastbound P87 (Asheville-Bridgewater) through Ridgecrest, NC on this cool September morning.

The lights of a yet-unseen train cut through the landscape of bare trees, their leaves already fallen for the winter, as daylight wanes on this dreary November day in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Thanks to inspiration from a fellow photographer, my Dad and I decided to hike the 2.5 miles down to the tunnels near Ridgecrest. The shot worked out but the experience made the hike worth it

Southern consul 630 is about to dive into Swannanoa Tunnel at the summit.

Morning westbound Asheville to Old Fort roundtrip cresting the grade at Ridgecrest after exiting Swannanoa Tunnel

Eastbound morning Asheville to Old Fort roundtrip

The Smoky Mountains Though I don't believe this is what the people that coined the name had in mind. Southern Railway #630 climbs out of the Loops, letting the diesels kick in prior to ente... (more)

NS #7597 leads Wateree, SC bound coal train 786 as it approaches Ridgecrest, NC.