Right at Unaka Springs in Unicoi County, 140 miles south of Elkhorn City. Just behind me is the bridge over the Nolichucky River (36.09812, -82.44180).
140 Miles Down
Photography by Bob Lawrence
Early Morning at Frisco Yard
Right on the border of Tennessee and Virginia at 36.353509, -82/375406. This is an N&S yard.
Skaggs Hole Tunnel Trestle
This is looking north out of the CSX Skaggs Hole Tunnel (37.256522, -82.327300). The trestle goes over the Russell Fork River. There’s a deep pool in the river off to the right about 30′ down.
Trestle Into Pounding Mill Tunnel
This is the trestle leading into the Pounding Mill Tunnel #1 in Tazewell VA (at 37.07660, -81.71674). Norfolk and Western (after 1980 Norfolk and Southern) ran this line through to the coal fields between 1887 and 1890. One abutment dates to 1930 and the other to 1941, so a bit of work has been done on this trestle. I originally posted Pounding Mill Tunnel #1 on October 1, 2012, which was a view from the opposite side, complete with signage.
Coal Mine Tram
We saw this old mine tram from an abandoned family mine near Dwina VA.
The Other Sandy Ridge Tunnel
This is the other Clinchfield Sandy Ridge Tunnel, opened in 1958 and went out of service a few decades later. This is the south portal at 37.014059, -82.196190. The north portal is about 8,000′ away at 37.035718, -82.190781
The Twins
Looking north through these two short (this one is 308′, the yonder one is 236′) tunnels crossing a bend in the Clinch River (36.709679N, 82.646909W) in Scott County VA. As I’ve mentioned before, the date there is when this tunnel was faced up. The line blasted through in the early 1900s. About a mile up the track, at Starnes Bend, is Starnes Tunnel. If you backtrack for about seven miles, you’ll hit the Clinchport Tunnel in the Town of Clinchport.
Unfaced Tunnel
This is an old tunnel (36.715900 N , 83.671831 W) on an unused line between Pineville and Middlesboro KY. This is the unfaced south portal. The tunnel is a little over 600′ in length. The north portal was faced up in 1944, but this shows how the road gang blew through the stone. I think this tunnel was opened in the early 1900s by the L&N.
Devon Tunnel
I’ve posted this before, but I’ve got a bit more information. This is looking out of the north portal of the Devon Tunnel (37.52763N, 82.04658W). It’s in Virginia, but that’s West Virginia your seeing, across the Tug Fork River. This is an old line. It began as a narrow gauge road for Shay engines.
Operation Lifesaver
In 2014, CSX 900020 was in and around Seneca IL. In 2016, it showed up here in Kingsport. It’s been in Kingsport yard and out by Eastman since then, but it’s in pretty bad shape now. Operation Live Saver was up and running in the early 2000s for this CSX area (that’s where I got this pin). Operation Red Block was something entirely different.
The Teddy Bear in Miller Yard
There is a bear in Miller Yard.
A small teddy bear
Strapped tightly to a brake stick pole.
Little bear is grimy and balding in spots.
But it keeps watch.
Bristol VA Yard
This is the yard looking NNE from the Mary Street bridge (36.6001, -82.1760) in Bristol VA. That’s an active locomotive on the left.
This is looking SSW.
Wes Davis Greenway
I’ve gone by this many times. I always thought “I’ll get a picture of that next time I go by.”
So, I did. A passenger car (the Bristol) and a Southern caboose on the Wes Davis Greenway in Bristol TN.
Appalachia VA
Taken from an overpass in Appalachia 36.9020, -82.7873. There was once a tunnel here. It was opened up (daylighted) to provide room for the extra tracks.
Bluefield Rail Yard
Nestled in the southwest corner of West Virginia is Bluefield, gateway to the Pocahontas coalfield. This yard was a huge part of Norfolk & Western’s activities in this area. It was, as of 2010, when this was taken, one of the busiest yards in the system. Coordinates are 37.2723, -81.2163. Bluefield’s commercial area is located just a step or two from this yard.
Yuma Yard – Smith
This is Norfolk Southern’s Yuma yard looking east (top photo) with the Smith signal unit to the left. Bottom photo is looking west. This yard, 3 miles west of Frisco yard, is mostly used for storage now. It is .86 mile long with seven tracks. Thanks to the CSX Transportation Historical Society website for information on this yard.
Kingsport Yard 2011
This was taken in June, 2011, showing the freight building and loading dock still fairly intact (for modern times). I believe the Kingsport Convention and Visitors Bureau was in the freight building at the time. To the left, ‘way down the tracks, are the silos that once held ingredients for Penn-Dixie’s cement.
The picture was taken looking west from Cherokee Street.
Up in West Virginia
This gives an idea of how massively these railroad companies built when they needed to. I took this under a double track trestle over the Bluestone River- and an out-of-service single rail line- in West Virginia at 37.32335, -81.32700. Just behind me is Pocahontas Avenue north of Pocahontas VA. The trestle above is about 665’ in length.
Twixt Appalachia and Big Stone
I’ve posted this before. It’s an out-of-service trestle between Appalachia VA and Big Stone Gap and is part of a pleasant walking trail. You can access the trail in Appalachia, just off the highway and walk along the old L&N tracks past Bee Rock Tunnel and on along the trail. Bee Rock Tunnel is the third shortest tunnel in the United States. Second is the tunnel I mentioned in Gallatin TN. Shortest is Backbone Ridge at 20′, plus or minus, in Shady Valley TN. After Bee Rock Tunnel is Callahan’s Nose Tunnel, then this trestle and on to Big Stone Gap. This should be a fine walk in fall.
Rotary Dump
They’re demolishing Moss #3, but it’s still a photo target-rich area. This is the control room for the rotary dump…TV, microwave, refrigerator. Anything to make the job easier…
This is the dump structure.
Looking through the rotary dump. My buddy standing there for scale.
Mine Railway, Retired
These were all pulled out of a small-scale commercial coal mine in Kentucky, about a mile from Line Fork. We had talked with the owners and were shown the location of the mine, now closed. These rails and mine cars had been used in the mine. The sheep were merely bystanders.
Blogging the Railroad Tunnels 