It looks like this unit has been here (37.20723, -81.562866 near Bishop VA) for several years. It wasn’t here in 2012, but was in 2015 (the available Google Earth images). The locomotive is unlocked but hasn’t been terribly vandalized.
Here’s the glamour shot:
Reblogged this on By the Mighty Mumford and commented:
SIGN OF A DEPRESSED COAL ECONOMY? 😦
I use to operate that locomotive
Thank you for your comment! It must be a heck of a feeling to be able to command and control that amount of tonnage!
I have a photo of it from 3/27/2013 parked in that spot (running on that date). I just took more photos 2 weeks ago. The windows have been shot up. The lighted road number plate on the right is missing, the one on the left is cracked. I didn’t inspect the whole thing though.
Thank you very much for the update. It’s a shame it’s been vandalized, though.
You’re welcome! I’ve been photographing the coal towns in S. Wv and a few in S.W. Va for around 10 years now. I can remember seeing it in 2013 as if it was yesterday. It seemed so unusual to me to see tracks just end like that. I have also been photographing all the old N&W rolling stock that I can find down there. Numerous cabooses, but no locomotives so far. Would you have any recommendations on where I might find bits and pieces of N(W history down there?
Actually, there’s stock all over the place. I’ll sort through my pix and get back to you.