Chesapeake and Ohio through the Mountains

  GP40 3794 leads a westbound at the junction of the James River Line and the Mountain Division just east of Clifton Forge

Looking west across the very east end of the yard at Clifton Forge.  October 20, 1980.

  The passenger station area on April 9, 1993.  Photo by Gary Madden.

  A pair of General Electric U30B units are on an eastbound coal train about mid-way in the yard.

  Another coal train with some SD-40's arrives.  October 20, 1980.

  More GE's at the yard throat.  There is much to see in this image.  Compare it to the next shot...

  Taken in 1993, the entire yard layout has been changed. 

  Looking west as in the two views above.  April 1993 views courtesy of Gary Madden.

  Covington, VA.  The diamond shaped area probably was where the REA sign once was mounted.

  8266 leads an eastbound entering Covington.    Passing the station platform.  1980.

  A westbound CSX SD40 passes the station in July 1992.  Gary Madden Photo.

  Just west of Covington the line cuts under I-64 and enters a tunnel.  7535 is eastbound.

  7535 again, but back a few miles near Moss Run.

       The 8216 and several others units struggle mightily to crest the mountain
at Alleghany, West Virginia.  The sound of all those units in that narrow cut was deafening!

White Sulphur Springs, WV.  October 19, 1980.

    After waiting for quite a while, or until the clouds showed up, this eastbound is working hard
up the grade toward Alleghany.  That U33C, 3304, was along for the ride, dead-in-tow.

  The freight house at Ronceverte, WV.

  Dark blue SD40 7502 flies through town with westbound empties.

    Two views from 1992 courtesy of Gary Madden. 

  Alderson depot.  October 19, 1980.

      GP40 4199 heads west with a merchandise train at Big Bend Tunnel.
This at the small town of Talcott.

  GP7 5767 works the yard at Hinton in the early morning of October 19, 1980

  Power in the Hinton yard.  

    CW cabin at the west end of Hinton.  In 2008, the tower is closed, but still standing.

  A very classic C&O tower located in the tiny hamlet of Quinnimont, WV.  

       B&O GP35 3516 is gathering up coal empties to drag up the mountain to Beckley.

    8208 is ready on a westbound coal train at Quinnimont. October 18, 1980.

          Raleigh, WV is the yard servicing the coal branches
 around the Beckley area.

  In case you were wondering why there so many people at Quinnimont taking train pictures.  By chance the
Chessie Steam Special behind the 614 was running a trip out of Charleston that Saturday, October 18, 1980.

    The throngs of passengers have descended upon the little old town of Thurmond, WV

      The photo run-by of 614 and her train.  The steam has shrouded the train.

    A full vertical shot of the third photo above.  614 photos taken on October 18, 1980.

    GP40 4186 leads an eastbound late in the day through Prince, WV.  This Amtrak's stop for
the Beckley area.  Beckley and some other larger communities are up the mountain while the railroad follows the New River.

  In the last light of the day, 614 comes through Prince at full track speed heading back to Charleston.
I'm alone to record its passing.

More to come shortly........

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