How hot was it? Too hot for the brakeman to keep his shirt on.

I arrived in Bluefield in the middle of August when most coal mines are shut down for vacation. So a cut of over 20 cabooses was laid out in front of me. So go ahead choose your favorite.

N & W preferred running diesels long hood first. This made a big loco motive seem even bigger.

A Richard Beal photo: Coasting through Bluefield, WV yard, a set of two SD40's bracketing a SD45 heads toward the engine house

One of two rail grinders working out of Bluefield, WV, RG 318 runs eastbound through Hales Bottom.

With the fall colors slowly disappearing, a set of light power heads west, most likely to one the mines on NS Pocahontas District.

Two Pokey relects, a C39-8 and a coaling tower.

A three engine pusher set prepares to head west out of Bluefield yard with several old dilapidated engines.

NW Alco C-630 1134 broadside at Bluefield, WV

NS eastbound freight 194 begins its downhill slide out of Bluefield for the run to Roanoke just prior to sunset. The massive coal tower in the background serves as a reminder of the awesome machin... (more)

A GEVO sits at the engine terminal in Bluefield.

NS 17M with twin sets of NS and UP power leaves the Bluefield yard and continues the daily trip west.

The sun peeks through the early morning clouds on NS 7610 as it sits at the Bluefield Loco Shop awaiting its next assignment (a Pokey Divison pusher job)