This extra south is about to crest the grade at Altapass and begin his journey down the Blue Ridge Loops. He is entering the 1,865 ft long Blue Ridge Tunnel.

High Iron.

CSXT 637 slices through the incredible blackness and roars into Blue Ridge tunnel at the top of its climb up the mountain. I first heard this train enter the valley below about 45 minutes before ... (more)

Two pairs of AC's meet at Toe River siding. 5122 is hard at work dragging loads toward the summit just ahead at Altapass while the conductor of 25-car-long Q697 steps out to inspect the opposing m... (more)

An interesting piece of MoW equipment at Camp 2. Admittedly, I'm MoW illiterate, so I'd appreciate it if anyone would tell me what this thing is/does. Crewman Atkins (about to board) and his crew ... (more)

A very short Hamlet, NC to Russell, KY Q697 blasts out of Bird Ridge Tunnel as seen from above Lower Pine Tunnel on the former Clinchfield's very remote assault on the Blue Ridge known as the "Loo... (more)

This shot was taken looking down from the south portal of Bird Ridge Tunnel, the 3rd of 14 tunnels in the few miles between the beginning of the "Loops" and Spruce Pine. This empty train is retur... (more)

Old meets new as an AC44 and ES44 combo pass an old wooden Clinchfield caboose. This is the first of 14 tunnels that the train will pass through over the next few miles. U390 takes coal from Bel... (more)

CSX 595 leads a loaded coal train down the famous Clinchfield "Loops." Trailing the typical AC44 is a GEVO, giving us a bit of a break from her coal lugging AC sisters.

A loaded coal drag roars out of Blue Ridge Tunnel after passing under the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Eastern Continental Divide. The engines have already crested the grade and will soon be in ful... (more)

CSX 451 waits in Toe River Siding for a coal drag to pass before taking its short 25 car consist north.

A SB loaded coal train burts out of Altapass tunnel and passes this Clinchfield caboose #1023 on display. The train is only a few minutes away from starting its descend down the "Loops" in the pou... (more)

This Extra South has just met an Extra North at Toe River and is climbing toward the Clinchfield's "Top of the World" at Altapass on a snowy winter day.

Southbound coal train exiting south portal of Ridge Tunnel.

Doubled up hacks of two varities are a fine punctuation mark for a southbound Clinchfield. Pentax MX; Kodachrome