The long-range local has completed its work in Opelika and is about to head west behind a pair of GP30s. Just a few months earlier power likely would have been GP7/9/18. A few months before that... (more)

Southern had 76 GP35s. Most had AAR Type B trucks, but five purchased for Central of Georgia had Blombergs, as did two units numbered in low 2700s. Here, one of the CofG units is powering the Ro... (more)

The every-day-but-Sunday Roanoke turn is back in Opelika with a substantial train. The train used a couple miles of the Western Railway of Alabama's main to get to Roanoke Junction, where their o... (more)

The eastbound long-range local rolls into Opelika. At the time this photo was made, their would have been plenty for 46's crew to do in Opelika. I doubt the current NS counterpart to 46 has much... (more)

722 and 750 team-up on an excursion down the former Central of Georgia mainline.

As usual, there is L&N power up front on 214, a Cincy to NOLA train that was a combined effort between L&N and Western Railway of Alabama. That diamond-shaped concrete sign, however, is all West ... (more)

Just after a summer shower, the L&N NOLA-Cincy run-through climbs the hill out of Opelika behind a cool collection of diesels- GP38-2/U25B/GP40/U23B.

When L&N and Western Railway of Alabama established Cincinnati-NOLA trains 213/214 in 1973 (early Family Lines days...), I do not think the trains worked anywhere between the endpoints. Within a ... (more)

Members of the two long-range locals (46 is working just around the curve west of the depot) mingle at the depot, and a few hit the Coke machine in the old waiting room. If I recall, the sodas (d... (more)

The first train through this wreck site is an eastbound behind C39-8 8551 and SD50 6510.

One of just a handful (maybe 3?) GP59s built with 'rounded' cabs teams with an SD40-2 on the eastbound long-distance local.

In the early 1970s, the GP38 was the dominant loco type on the old Central of Georgia main through Opelika. Boxy, black, turbo-less 2,000hp - not very exciting. Anything else was a relief, but S... (more)

In 1974, the Southern/Western Railway of Alabama crossing in Opelika was still first come, first served. On this spring day long-range local 45 gets their man to the crossing first, so WofA local... (more)

It’s a cold January afternoon as A746 is in the middle of working its last customer of the day. With loaded boxcars at the head end with plywood from Norbord, the local grabs loaded center-beam... (more)

Western Railway of Alabama trains 213/214 were run-throughs in cooperation with L&N. Initiated in 1973, they were powered most days by GP38s and U23Bs, with a few GP30/35/40 mixed in. Far more u... (more)