Solitude lies in the foothhills of the Blue Ridge mountains. Just above the quaint, rural town of Vesuvius, Virginia, the stillness of the air is shattered by Norfolk Southern 15T flying down Lofton Mountain Grade. Wrapping around the horseshoe curve between Pkin, and Lofton, the horn of 8104 echoes off the surrounding hills as the train barrels towards the north end of the double track. Flying through the equilateral switch at Pkin, NS 8104, the "Lehigh Valley" heritage unit, splits the N&W CPL's controlling the north end of 4 miles of double track. It's a straight shot from here, for the next 80 odd miles to Roanoke, Virginia.
