SD70ACU 7300 pulls NS 22A west through Abingdon, Va.

EB mixed freight crossing the hump in downtown, passing the moribund former Southern States grain terminal.

WB mixed freight, shorter than usual and no DPUs today.

The most ridiculously long freight scheduled on this line gingerly threads the curves, vertical and horizontal, that make this area infamous for train separations. Seen here approaching a signal ... (more)

Back before it’s rhinoplasty this unit was a common site around here on the local.

Having promised a short chase but ending up near Bristol to catch the WB UP, I sought to avoid an issue with the “War Department” I wheeled about and scurried toward home only to find this guy... (more)

One of my all-time favorite paint schemes finally graces our town when I’m there. I’ve found that the trains all run at certain times if everything is going well but the particular train in t... (more)

Behind a small church there’s a great little spot as a daily mixed freight grinds along and 30 MPH dictated to reduce break-in-twos between MPs 385-395. Seems to be working and sure does improv... (more)

One of this year’s graduates rolls along with the now semi-intermodal train filled out with coal on the head end. RCR. Railroading for the convenience of the railroad.

DPU on this EB freight is almost always buried in the train but on this date I got lucky. We had UPs on their opposite number. A most unusual day here in monochrome land.

This mixed freight catches all the low priority stuff. Today they are ferry power west for whatever reason.

With four units, one offline, this eastbound mixed freight has a speed limit of 30MPH but may have been making 20 at best as he heels into a curve east of town.

That is more like it! PC I mean. This commemorative is getting a bit ratty with a patina which is reminiscent of its namesake as it charges thru town leading a monster train at speed.

How green was my valley? Gotta be an old movie buff to get that reference. Rolling through the verdant countryside dotted with historic old farms this “hot” intermodal is obeying the 30 MPH ... (more)

With a newly rebuilt unit up front our big intermodal of the days rolls through with intermittent warning blasts of the horn as a maintenance of way crew prepares to head east with their ballast c... (more)