GP38-2 No.4160, 4161, 4162 and 4163 were added to the N&W roster after the merger with Illinois Terminal. All four ex-IT GP38-2s were painted in the paint scheme exhibited by #4160.

Westbound N&W freight in downtown Roanoke, VA || August 1969

A fan favorite N&W style. Crews complained vociferously about that "winter window" which made switching uncomfortable. It was probably liked a little better in northern Ohio and such.

A westbound hopper train trundles along and is nearing the location where the railroad departs the New River. The roundhouse has securely tucked the old Alcos in between the good units as they we... (more)

set of power Hagerstown, MD

The New River hamlet of Whitethorne has perhaps ten dwellings. Its importance to the modern N&W--and today--is that of a helper station. Eastbound coal loads normally need a shove to get out of th... (more)

A SD45 road slug set exits Montgomery Tunnel. The N&W operated two such SD45 sets which were typically assigned to coal service. The slug unit was built from a damaged SD35

Bluefield-Radford Local speeds through Glen Lyn

A trio of N&W SD-40-2s and a SD40 move a loaded coal train along the New River. The N&W SD40-2s were low short hood but normally operated long hood forward. When running as a lead unit this could... (more)

N&W SD45 1746 and 2 SD40-2s exit Montgomery Tunnel near the mid point of Christiansburg grade. The long train of westbound empties is down to around 10 mph despite best efforts by the trio of six... (more)

Three Tidewater bound coal trains wait to depart Roanoke on a rain slick August 1983 night. Coal loads from Roanoke follow the gentle profile of the Virginian, avoiding Blue Ridge grade. Visible ... (more)

As if to underscore the compatible motive power philosophies of the two main NS predecessors, two high hood ex-N&W EMDs bracket two ex-Southern high hood EMDs hurrying a west bound manifest out of... (more)

N&W SD45 1726 leads a westbound empty into Christiansburg grade at Elliston, Virginia on a hot July 1983 afternoon. The NS merger is at hand but the above scene is pure Norfolk and Western.

Roanoke River Wayside on Rt 460 just west of Salem is one of the only places to catch action on the old N&W and Virginian as both lines cross a public highway just a few hundred yard apart. Here N... (more)