A CSX ballast train sits in the rarely used Plant City Yard with a SD40-2 in the lead.

The 73rd running of the Clinchfield Santa Train rolls over the McClure River after making its brief stop at Clinchco.

With a veteran former L&N SD40-2 in charge, a short Q581 passes the 1929-built Seaboard Air Line bridge over Seigle Ave located in uptown Charlotte. Vintage SAL relics are few and far between in t... (more)

With a veteran former L&N SD40-2 in charge, a short Q581 passes the newly constructed Concrete Supply plant off of West Trade near uptown Charlotte. The train is getting ready to take a signal at ... (more)

An ex L&N SD40-2 leads CSX grain train G117 south across the Etowah River between Cartersville and Emerson,GA on the W&A Sub. The last time I saw the #8033 it was pulling the 2015 Santa Train.

Christmas Before Thanksgiving As darkness begin to fades in the hollars of Appalachia Coal Country on this cold late November morning, we catch CSX P907-21 crossing over the Russe... (more)

A sweet lash-up leads Q163 west through Pine Junction, bound for Bedford Park, IL.

CSX's Santa Train passes the old Clinchfield Yard at Dante. Seeing it nearly empty was a sad sight.

The Santa Train makes a 15 minute stop in Haysi with the head end poking out of Mcclure Tunnel #8 of the Clinchfield.

The 73rd annual Santa Train approaches the Union Baptist Church in Dante, Va. This part of the former Clinchfield has been mothballed, so there's no telling how many more trains will rumble past t... (more)

Basking in the sun at what is arguably one of the most iconic locations on the former Clinchfield Railroad, former L&N SD40-2 8033 idles on the head end of P907-21, otherwise known as the 73rd Run... (more)

The 73rd annual running of the Clinchfield Santa Train rounds the curve and crosses the McClure River after making one of its longer stops of the day at Clinch, VA.

CSX 8033 peeks through McClure Tunnel as it is on it's way to St. Paul, Va.

The 73rd annual Santa Train, pioneered by the Clinchfield Railroad, runs on-time through McClure, VA on the former CRR mainline. McClure is the birthplace of Bluegrass legend Ralph Stanley, and li... (more)

The 73rd annual running of the Clinchfield Santa Train splits the signals at Nora Junction getting back underway after making its stop at Fremont.