Stearns, KY was roughly mid-way between Cincinnati and Chattanooga on Southern Railway's Cincinnati, New Orleans & Texas Pacific subsidiary. A northbound local behind heavy USRA Mike 6319 (Southern class Ms-4) has stopped for servicing as another freight approaches around the curve. Notice the wooden platforms placed where the engineer can "oil around" the running gear while the fireman is taking water from the water column and loading coal. The old coaling station was located just around the curve north of the depot at Stearns. Today, the Big South Fork Scenic Railroad makes its departures from near that same location.