The frost has yet to dissipate on the ties and rail in the shady areas on a clear, crisp December morning. NS U49, under control of engineer Joe Fox, serves as a pusher on a set of empties crossing Roaring Fork Creek at Kent Junction on the ex-Interstate Railroad's Pardee Branch. The train is destined for loading at Cumberland River Coal at Pardee (Whitfield). Upon arrival of the empties at Appalachia, the road power stopped short of the switch to the west leg of the wye in Appalachia. The motive power was uncoupled and a J77 pusher set was coupled to the head end to serve as a leader to Pardee. Once the rear of the empties cleared the east wye switch at Appalachia, the road power, now operating as U49, turned on the wye and coupled to the rear to act as pushers. Thus, the road power would be properly oriented on the head end for loading. U49 would take the loaded train to Norton, where an ex-N&W crew would board and lead it eastward.
