Coal Hollow Road (East) WHITETHORNE (West) VPI Farm
Whitethorne is the base for pushers that assist eastbound trains up the grade from the New River to Merrimac Tunnel.

Train 17M NS 9385 NS 2721
Train 17M rolls downgrade in October 2006, with a kudsu covered tree casting shadows on the bridge over Toms Creek. Then on two different clear winter days in March 2007, train 753 with a trio of GEs, and train 17M with an SD70M-2 leading a six-locomotive consist, run against the usual eastbound flow of traffic. Maintenance of Way work curfews on the Christiansburg District were the reason for the unusual routing each day.

Meet at Whitethorne 8838 CSXT 7765
Train 17M rolls west on the siding with its 'flasher flashing', while a crew member of train 184 gives it a rollby inspection. The tipsy SD70M on the far right is the Whitethorne pusher parked on the house track. After 17M clears, train 184 finally starts up the hill with an odd consist of CSXT and CP locomotives after having waited at Whitethorne for three westbound trains. A February 2006 snowstorm a day after a major derailment on the Christiansburg District provides the winter wonderland setting.

NS 8838 NS 8838
NS 9682 NS 9682
Top Hat 8838 was on the point of an eastbound loaded coal train on a gray winter's day in January 2003. 9223 and 9682 were shoving on the rear.

Coal Hollow Road (East) WHITETHORNE (West) VPI Farm
New River Districts Home Christiansburg District Whitethorne District Pulaski District

Last update: Saturday, 02-Jun-2007 02:24:18 EDT
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