October 9th, 2012
I officially kicked the month off on gloomy and cloudy October 9th with sighting Norfolk Southern's Interstate heritage engine piloting #756 down the ex Virginian Whitethorne District. Despite such dark weather, that day yielded two images that actually turned out surprisingly well. The bright "creamsicle" color that Interstate 8105 proudly displays, exploded out of the images taken creating good contrast and popping images.
In this scene, NS 756 is pictured parading past a few hay bails situated trackside in Kumis, VA just west of Salem. The hay bails seemed fitting for an October composition!
After briefly pausing at Riverside while awaiting the Roanoke Yard Master to get them a track at South Yard, NS 756 now has clear signals all the way into Roanoke as he throttles up to finish the last 15 miles of trek that originated at Bluefield. The surrounding mountains make for a beautiful back drop as the train passes through the scene.
Running roughly an hour behind 756, NS 768 files downhill into a S curve situated at Slate Hill Tunnel just east of Ellet, VA with a train of 100 loads bound for Hyco, VA.
October 13th, 2012
On a gorgeous afternoon situated in Merrimac , VA near the top of grueling Merrimac hill along the former Virginian Railway, finds train 762 grinding away toward the summit ahead led by Interstate 8105. Located directly behind the photographer lies the old abandoned N&W Blacksburg Branch crossing over the ex Virginian main. The branch is now known as the Huckleberry Trail; primarily used for walking and biking. Beautiful scenery situated along the trail makes it a regularly visited trail by local residents.
October 14th, 2012
I set off early morning on October 14th bound for the Princeton Deepwater District, with hopes of catching a few movements along this stunningly scenic former Virginian Railway route. Upon arriving in Elmore, the yard was baron and not a single train was en route; I realized right away this was not a good sign. After spending 7 hours in the small town with not a single train, I finally decide to call it a day and return to Bluefield.
After arrival in Bluefield, I catch train 757 charging into the practically full yard with 5 locomotives and a decent sized hopper train bound for Williamson, WV; the hillside was on fire with color that fine afternoon. This was the first time I witnessed a nearly full yard at Bluefield in quite sometime.
On October 19th, I decided to venture trackside since it was such a gorgeous afternoon. I wind up along the New River to railfan the Whitethorne District and catch three loaded coal trains that was en route. The first of which is depicted in the photograph below rolling through McCoy, VA with a pair of 8000s pulling the monster toward Whitethorne. It will then pause to acquire helpers for the assault to Merrimac.
Minutes later, NS 810 is pictured roaring through gorgeous Goodwins Ferry, VA with a quartet of NS motors commanding the heavy coal train. This train originated near Mullens, WV on the P-D district, this monster will eventually wind up at Norfolk for export.
With the sound of an approaching coal drag permeating the air, NS 820 blasts around the sharp turn situated below the beautiful Eggleston Palisades as the loud horn echo's throughout the New River Valley. This location was regularly shot by corporate Virginian Railway photographers back in the day for its apparent beauty and uniqueness. This is definitely a favorite location of mine, the cliff's are nothing short of intriguing and make for a super cool shot.
As the shadows begin growing long and the sun gets closer and closer to ducking behind the horizon, NS 39Q rolls across the New River viaduct situated just west of Radford, VA with an old standard cab EMD leading the way. The train still has a good 100 miles ahead of it to finish its trek from Roanoke, VA, if all goes well, they will arrive in Bristol roughly 3 hours from this point.
October 20th, 2012
After the previous weekend's trip roaming the P-D was a total bust, I return on October 20th full of anticipation to what I may see. Upon arrival in Elmore, I shoot two hopper trains situated just east of the yard in the hamlet of Tralee, WV. The trains are awaiting crews and their next assignment which will be take the hoppers up one of the following routes: the Deepwater main to Alloy, WV, the Guyandot River Branch to Gilbert, WV, or the Winding Gulf Branch to the Affinity or East Gulf mines.
After swapping crews, NS U93 proceeds off the Guyandot River Branch and around the Y toward the Princeton Deepwater mainline at Elmore. After the rear clears the branch, the head end power ,depicted in the photo below, will then become helper set J93 to shove the train up the grueling 2.2% grade to Clark's Gap . Three fully fueled C40-9W's sit behind the photographer waiting to couple onto the train; it will then become hill run symbol U86 for the assault up the mountain.
With the hillside situated behind Garwood trestle absolutely on fire with color, train U86 permeates the air with the sound of three C40-9W's straining their guts out to keep this heavy coal train rolling up the steep grade. The mountain shakes, the ground vibrates, and the unremitting sound of engines are all familiar at this particular location when eastbounds pass through. The photographer cannot adequately describe how it felt to feel the earth shaking as the train entered Tunnel 9 beneath him; it was just amazing. Signs of the electrification are still evident along this stretch of the ex Virginian as one can see by the old canopy's over the tracks at this location.
October 21st, 2012
I set out early this fine autumn day with a couple friends to document NS's Knoxville East End district spanning from Bristol to Knoxville, TN. The day was a complete success based upon the amount of trains we shot and the number of shots acquired.
Our first train rumbles through downtown Johnson City, TN in the early morning operating under the symbol 29W. The old picturesque buildings made for a unique photograph and the sound of a horn reverberating off the surround buildings situated downtown was a cool experience.
We catch up to 29W in the quaint community of Limestone, TN situated between Jonesboro and Greeneville. Southeastern Tennessee towns are great places to photograph trains passing old picturesque buildings; Limestone is no exception! The old town is only awaken with the passing of a train permeating the air as it was on this quite Sunday morning within the small hamlet.
The shots below depict NS 29W meeting train 16T in the siding situated at Rader, TN. After the meet takes place, 16T throttles up and completes the remaining 60 miles of it's journey to Bristol from Knoxville.
NS 38Q parades into the beautiful community of Bulls Gap, TN as it passes a increasingly rare Rock City barn situated behind the train itself. This daily manifest was extremely long and heavy that fine autumn day and will be a slow go from Bulls Gap to Bristol. A few miles ahead near Limestone, the train will go into emergency blocking the main for nearly two hours holding up hot intermodal train 202 that is quickly approaching to the west.
Situated just east of Morristown, TN in the small community of Russelville, finds train 202 blasting east toward Bristol with a hot intermodal cargo in tow. The older type intermediate signals along this route are quickly fading away; that is definitely apparent in this photo as one can see the new safe trans that are ready to be installed.
After 202, we decide to head back east.. Learning 38Q went into emergency shortly thereafter, we decide to try our luck on the ex Clinchfield RR at Boones Creek, TN situated just north of Johnson City. While there, I captured two northbounds working toward Shelby, KY with two very different perspectives.
The sound of an approaching train permeates the air with a horn blaring reverberating in the surrounding valley situated in Bluff City, TN, NS 202 crosses the Holston River with a trio of GE's commanding the train. The crew is less than 20 minutes away from arrival in Bristol and being relieved of their duties.
NS 38Q drags his heavy train uphill into Piney Flats, TN as it prepares to pass 22A just ahead who is waiting on their arrival in the siding. This train is barely doing 10-15 MPH as it struggles to make this last leg of the hill that began 5 miles to the west.
As the sun sets over the surrounding hills in Bristol, VA, NS 39Q begins his journey to Knoxville, TN as rolls past the beautifully restored Bristol depot after completing a set off and pick up in the yard.
October 22, 2012
For the next three following days: October 22, 23, and 24th, I visited some family in Glade Spring, VA. While there, I was able to capture a few trains in and around the community.
An old GP60 leads local freight V40 as it rushes into the the community of Glade Spring, VA passing the N&W CPL's at Washington on its way into town. This local operates 5 days a week and treks between Bristol and Rural Retreat servicing what's needed.
At sunset, NS 38Q shatters the stillness of a quiet autumn evening in the quaint community of Meadowview as the train rushes east with a heavy manifest train in tow.
October 23rd, 2012
NS 16T rumbles east through the town of Glade Spring, VA breaking the stillness of the early morning hours as it parades toward Roanoke with a very short train in tow.
With dramatic clouds looming above the scene, NS 202 rolls into the town of Bristol, VA for a speedy crew change before charging east toward Roanoke. This is the hottest train on the district and it will have nothing but clear signals from here to Roanoke as it will take priority over any other apposing train.
After changing crews a few miles back, NS 202 is full throttle as he files through the historic community of Abingdon, VA at an impressive 60 MPH. Train 22A and V40 are waiting his arrival at Glade Spring before they proceed to Bristol .
After meeting 202, NS 22A has now got a straight shot to Bristol as he files through the hamlet of Meadowview as it parades past the beautifully restored depot situated trackside.
October 24th, 2012
NS 16T awakes the community of Glade Spring as he roars east with another short train in tow as he rolls past the old N&W CPL's guarding the east end of the passing siding.
October 29th, 2012
To finish out October with a bang, I decided to chase the F units practically to Bluefield on beautiful October 29th. The weather couldn't have been better and the chase yielded some great images making it well worth the effort. The morning started off a little foggy, but it quickly burned off and the sun was shining bright and beautiful. The pictures below are taken in the following locations respectively: Shawsville, VA, Montgomery, Eggleston, Pearisburg, Narrows, Glen Lyn, Willowtown, WV, Oakvale, WV, and finishing up at Ingleside, WV. The chase was fantastic and the F units sounded great as they pulled the Office Car Special toward Bluefield permeating the air with its fabulous horn. A few leaves were still hanging on and I know the passengers on board enjoyed stunning scenery the whole way from Roanoke to their destination situated 30 miles west of Bluefield at Richlands, VA.
Thanks for reading and viewing the pictures! Hope you enjoy looking at them as much I enjoyed getting out and shooting them. It was definitely a blessed October and I will never forget the experiences of this past month.
