Four B&O SD35s shove hard on the rear of an eastbound coal drag at Amblersburg, WV on Aug. 16, 1975.

We are in Rowlesburg, WV on Aug. 17, 1975 and an eastbound coal drag has reached the bottom of Cheat River Grade and is getting a roll on things for the climb up Cranberry. Back in the days of fr... (more)

An eastbound B&O coal drag was climbing Cranberry Grade between Amblersburg and Rodemer, WV on Sept. 21, 1980, led by recently repainted SD40 No. 7593. During this time, coal drags usually ran in... (more)

An eastbound B&O coal drag was giving it everything it had as struggled the last couple of miles into Terra Alta, WV on June 21, 1980 with GP30 No. 6953, three GP9s and a GP35. I have always been... (more)

Three Geeps, led by GP9 No. 653, get the swing on an eastbound coal drag as it passes through Nottoway Court House, VA on Feb. 28, 1977.

The bridge over the east end of the N&W yard at Crewe, Va was an interesting place to watch trains. Back in 1977, it still had a lot of "personality" about it. Switch tenders were still employed... (more)

An eastbound C&O coal drag had stopped at the crossing at Maidens, VA on March 5, 1982 to allow the passing of a westbound train of empties. The water level James River and Rivanna Subdivisions w... (more)

Years ago I had a seasoned SCL Chief Dispatcher explain to me that there were three degrees of derailments. The "Aw Shucks" wasn't too bad. A little worse, but not totally devastating, was the "... (more)

An eastbound B&O coal drag grinds up Cranberry Grade west of Terra Alta, WV on October 21, 1977. As seemed to frequently be the case back then, a second generation unit is leading a mixed bag of ... (more)

NS 8310 leads a loaded coal drag EB under CSX at Collier Yard. 8310 has several shades of old Big Blue (Conrail) on her.

BNSF 5094 crests the mountains with a heavy coal drag over Marias Pass.

UP 6702 Leads An Assortment Of Coal Hoppers East At Rocky On UP Moffat Line West Of Denver Colorado.