Everyone loves a good shortline pic, with Patriot Rail motors formerly assigned to the CLC mixed with Georgia Northeastern diesels.

The grades are mostly short, but steep on the old L&N Hook and Eye. However, at 10mph a short, steep grade still gives trains a workout.

After the requisite stop and whistle, Job 102 proceeds south through the crane gantry of Blue Ridge Marble & Granite Company. This industry has been around for years and was formerly Georgia Marb... (more)

GNRR's Tate-Elizabeth road local blows out sand as it drags 15/8 general freight up one of the many short but steep hills, passing a tie crane that has been part of ongoing line maintenance.

Georgia Northeastern hauling marble through the mountains.

The remaining three GNRR painted locomotives in freight service are together on a Bob Kelley Special... a solid 21 hoppers of marble chips heading south to the CSX interchange at Elizabeth.

Returning from Whitestone, a late day GNRR passes the well maintained depot now housing the Pickens County Mercantile and Quilt Shoppe.

GNRR's Friday Southbound road freight rolls through The Mill on Etowah. Originally the "Canton Cotton Mill" that produced denim fabric, the redeveloped buildings feature a shopping mall... (more)

GNRR Job 102 is passing Talking Rock Brewery, which is located inside the restored passenger cars. There is a 0.01% chance you'll see a train while they're open, but they have good beer and are g... (more)

Retaining it's horizonal nose headlight through both a Morrison-Knudsen rebuild and more recent de-turboing, for SSW 7653 is no stranger to the mountains. However, it likely never operated over t... (more)

5,800 horses drag 12 loads of marble chips up one of the many grades on the Hook & Eye, passing two horses on a lovely farm.

Job 102 is bringing the first cut of 27 empty CSX covered hoppers back from the Pilgrim's Pride feed mill in Holly Springs. I didn't know it at the time, but this would be the last unit train of ... (more)

The rest of the GNRR's power handling the southbound road freight and necessitated splitting up 30 loads of corn interchanged from CSX. Here the first 15 loads cross over very light COVID-19 rus... (more)

5+ years after Patriot Rail purchased the line, a trio of GNRR painted stallions was enough to get me out of the house. The 8705 has since been moved up to the Blue Ridge Scenic passenger side of... (more)

The pride of the fleet, an ex-Kennecott Copper leaser, leads Job 102 as they start their journey to Tate, GA.