Much to RF&P's credit, their track was superbly maintained. The MofW forces were laying rail at Elmont on Oct. 13, 1978 as southbound TOFC hotshot No. 275 passed with three units.

At the time this image was taken on July 12, 1978, three of RF&P's classic wooden overhead bridges remained on the railroad. These bridges were built by the railroad to carry county roads over th... (more)

I never understood why, but Southern Railway usually held its Annual Shareholder Meeting in Richmond, VA. The old Southern freight house in Richmond had been refurbished for that purpose. Since ... (more)

Southbound Auto Train AT-3 was crossing Neabsco Creek at Neabsco, VA with two U36Bs on May 21, 1978.

I must admit, I took every opportunity to view RF&P 250 ton wreck derrick No. 1 when it was being used. It didn't get used often, but when it did, I tried to be there. Still, being steam powered... (more)

Southbound RF&P No. 275 was approaching Vaughan's Crossing at the north end of Ashland, VA on Feb. 11, 1978 with two GP35s and a GP7. The sharp eye will notice the SCL caboose spliced into the tr... (more)

Northbound Amtrak No. 174, the Colonial," was whipping up the snow as it rounded the curve at Laurel, VA on March 3, 1978, led by F40PH No. 273. No. 174 was the first train to offer a morning dep... (more)

1978 seemed to be the year that we got nailed with lots of ice storms. Manifest No. 176 was passing through Hunton, VA on Jan. 21, 1978 in a landscape where eveything is literally ice covered. I... (more)

RF&P's northbound local freight No. 3 (Acca Local) was leaving Elletts, VA on Jan. 14, 1978 after switching the Best Products Co. distribution center. Considering we had one of central Virginia's... (more)

I always wondered what it felt like, after a wonderful vacation in Florida, to wake up, look out the window, and see weather like this. Reality check. Northbound AT-4 was passing by the old gene... (more)

Railroading, as we all know, isn't always conducted in ideal conditions. The fog was thick as northbound Amtrak No. 174, the "Colonial," sped through Elmont, VA on the morning of Jan. 7, 1978. I... (more)

Southbound RF&P manifest No. 109, led by GP40 No. 123, was being overtaken by Amtrak No. 89, the "Palmetto," led by P30CH No. 714, at Franconia, VA on Nov. 27, 1977.

As a rule, RF&P tried pretty hard to keep its power clean, especially during the 1970's and 1980's. They didn't have a wash rack and washing was done with a scrub brush when the unit was in for m... (more)

At less than 1%, as far as railroad grades are concerned, RF&P's Rutherglen Hill was pretty lame. That said, it could still take the wind out of the sails of a freight train as is passed over the... (more)

Southbound RF&P No. 105 was passing through Elmont, VA on April 13, 1977, the first day of an experimental pool power arrangement with Conrail. If I recall correctly, RF&P tried it in order to ge... (more)