Producer: Green Frog
Locations: Williamson, Kenova, Matawan, West Virginia
Timeframe: 1996
Length: 50 minutes
Source: Rich Schied
This is Part 2. Tracks of the old Norfolk and Western. The Pocahontas Division. It ends up on Kenova rails.
A single DVD-R. Videography with live audio.
Main Chapter Menu. Location sorted. No maps or extras. Narrated by Peter Youngblood.
Coal is the dominant commodity. Variety with other freights. Assorted power.
To the Trains… 👉
A struggling coal drag has passed 2 tunnels after Roderfield. NS 5012 leads as this train stops for a red signal.
NS 6083 exits Gordon Tunnel with a Piggyback. The Pocohontas Division has 91 tunnels total.
The old coaling tower in a landmark at Iaeger. The GE Dash 9 as 9155 leads 8124. It crawls past the camera as this Coal move goes into the yard at Iaeger.
Matawan was the place where Miner’s War in the 1920s left bullet wounds in these buildings. A Hatfield and McCoy fued was also here. An Eastbound Coaler is led by 6156.
It’s a fantastic scene for Model Railroaders. Former Conrail GE is renumbered to 8484. Two tacks cross the ever-present Tug Fork River on steel truss bridges. Mountain tunnels past the bridges. North Matawan.
Branchline loading at a Coal facility is serviced by two Electromotive GP30 engines.
Alongside the Tug Fork River at Williamson. A Grain Train is hauled by this colorful 3 unit lash-up. Norfolk Southern 8078, ex: Conrail 5299 (GP38-2) and Burlington Northern 7188 travel at a slow speed into town.
A centerpiece of this tour. Williamson Yard and a surviving roundhouse/ turntable are visited. Notice the combined road and rail yard dog.
The SD60 6670 wears SOU subletters. This train is going past the depot at Williamson.
Electromotive 6156 (SD40-2) with two trailing General Electric motors haul a Grain Train out from the Big Sandy Tunnel. This is on the Kenova District.
The large bridge crosses the Ohio River. Action is at Kenova with the black and blue pair on an Auto Rack move.
Norfolk Southern Volume 5
It’s an intriguing show. The West Virginia area is one of Mountainous terrain. Valleys, tunnels, and bridges. Very railroad flavored. Fall colors throughout. Almost anywhere could be a highlight.
Videography by Schied is outstanding! He deftly provides a cornucopia of memorable shots. Top notch production by Green Frog. Soundtrack is very well done. Fine narrative by Peter Youngblood. A map or two would’ve been great. Still, the excellent imagery floats the boat to a high level.
Much more than the average mainline video. A fantastic release for both Railfans and Model Railroaders. This one is a must see program.
Rating: 5 Stars
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