Norfolk Southern’s Pocahontas Division is one of the most challenging areas of railroading in the United States. The division is host to several coal trains a day between Bluefield and Williamson, W.Va. The Pocahontas Division is one of the last manned helper districts, and the tonnage moved on the railroad is something to behold. Be sure to pick up a copy of Locomotive 2014 and see more great photos and read the rest of the story about NS’s Pocahontas Division.
Norfolk Southern ES40DC No. 7633 leads a westbound empty coal train by the absolute signals at Clinch Valley Junction on NS’s Pocahontas District in Bluefield, Va., on March 28, 2014. The train is en route from NS’s Bluefield Terminal to the former Norfolk & Western coalfields of McDowell County.
Norfolk Southern ES44AC No. 8040 leads a string of westbound empty hoppers out of Bluefield Yard on April 7, 2012, as an additional empty hopper train (far left) is seen departing the terminal after receiving a new crew. Coal is still quite prominent on the Pocahontas Division. On the far right, an eastbound train and its helpers are tied down on the main line.
NS SD70ACe No. 1082 reverses into position to spot for loading at NS’s Arcelor Mittal Roadfork loadout on its South Fork Branch loadout in Monson, W.Va. on Jan. 10, 2014. The 110-car capacity loadout represents one of the southernmost loadouts along NS’s Tug Fork branch line (and its respective branches). Once loaded, the train will return to Wilcoe Yard (south of Welch, W.Va.) and eventually onto the Pocahontas District main line.
NS C44-9W No. 8904 leads a westbound NS I3Q (second section No. 233 through downtown Welch, W.Va. on a damp and cold Jan. 11, 2014. The high priority container train is en route from Bluefield, W.Va. along the Pocahontas District to Williamson, W.Va.
NS C40-9W No. 9595 leads eastbound coal loads NS 85K through the coal town of Northfork, W.Va. on Feb. 12, 2014, during a late evening snow squall. The export coal drag is en route from the coal fields of McDowell County, W.Va., to the costal ports of Virginia.
