This detailed account chronicles a five-day railfanning trip through the CSX CV Subdivision and surrounding coal country in Appalachia, highlighting train operations, historic sites, and the decline of coal traffic. The journey covers key locations in Eastern Kentucky, Northern Tennessee, and Southwest Virginia, featuring unique railroad infrastructure, active and abandoned coal loadouts, and personal encounters with railroad crews and enthusiasts.
Every year after Christmas, a railfanning trip is planned to explore unique railroad operations. This year, the journey took us north into the heart of Appalachia and coal country, focusing on the CSX CV, KD, and CC subdivisions from December 26th through the 31st. Over five days, we explored Eastern Kentucky, Northern Tennessee, and Southwest Virginia, witnessing the operations and history of railroading in this coal-rich region.
The trip began with a brief stop in Crandall, Georgia, paralleling the Etowah subdivision along US 411. Here, we caught a rare southbound intermodal train, X198, running as an extra due to the Christmas shutdown the day before. This was a fortunate start, as this train usually passes at midnight.
Our main focus was the CV subdivision, a 122.4-mile route winding through the Appalachian Mountains from Corbin, Kentucky, to Big Stone Gap, Virginia. Trains continue from Big Stone Gap onto the Norfolk Southern Appalachian District to Kingsport, Tennessee, via trackage rights. Unfortunately, the CV subdivision sees far less traffic than in its heyday, a decline we would explore throughout the trip.
Arriving in Corbin late, we rested for an early start. By 6:00 a.m., we were on the road to catch the empty mine run R614, which had departed Corbin headed east about 45 minutes earlier. The CV's maximum track speed is 35 mph, making it relatively easy to chase trains using US Highways 25E and 119.
We caught up with R614 near Blackmont, Kentucky, at milepost OCV 223.2. Here, we observed the removal of many double-track sections by CSX, leaving only access points to abandoned branch lines like the Puckett's Creek branch, which has not seen a train since the early 2000s.
R614 was led by a flared radiator SD70MAC, an uncommon sight in coal country due to crews' preferences and historical incidents involving SD70s losing brakes and causing derailments.
Continuing east, we followed R614 past the old Blanton loadout, which, although inactive, remains in good condition. We then reached Wilhoit, the start of the double track to Loyal yard, though one main track has been out of service for years.
At Loyal, R614 stopped at Baxter Tower, one of the few remaining interlocking towers in the United States. From here, trains can continue east or take the Poor Fork branch to mines like Lynch, about 20 miles away.
Built in 1921 by the Louisville & Nashville Railroad (L&N), Loyal yard once had 17 tracks, a nine-stall roundhouse, and a 100-ft turntable. It was a bustling hub during the coal industry's peak, handling 60 to 70 trains daily. However, environmental regulations and competition led to mine closures in the late 1990s and early 2000s, drastically reducing traffic. CSX demolished most structures in 2006, and today, Loyal yard is a shadow of its former self, used mainly for coal hopper storage.
The Poor Fork branch has a maximum speed of 25 mph, making it even easier to chase trains. We caught R614 near Lynch, the busiest active loadout on the CV, loading export coal trains bound for Newport News, Virginia. The loading process takes about four hours for a 100-car consist.
Nearby, the NRG loadout is the oldest operating loadout on the CSX system but sees infrequent traffic.
The day started slowly, but we soon caught empty coal train E979 arriving from Cincinnati on the CC subdivision. This train, carrying over 10,000 feet of empty coal hoppers, was destined to become another R614 for Lynch.
We then traveled east to Pennington Gap, Virginia, to intercept EO90, a 90-car empty coal train heading west towards Loyal. Pennington Gap is notable for the recently reopened Pocket Branch, serving mines at Mayflower and Benedict.
At Hagan, Virginia, we witnessed the famous Hagan switchback, the last operational mainline switchback in the United States. This engineering marvel, built in 1930, allows trains to navigate steep mountainous terrain efficiently by reversing direction and pushing trains into coal fields. The switchback replaced an indirect and inefficient original CV route, which was abandoned by the 1980s.
We met CSX veteran conductor Al Sargent, who shared stories of the line's busy past, including up to 300 coal trains loaded monthly in 2003. Today, only a handful of workers remain, reflecting the industry's decline.
We visited several loadouts and branch lines, many of which have been inactive for years due to the coal industry's downturn. Notable sites include:
Back in Corbin, we observed yard operations including the arrival and departure of coal trains like R614 and E738. We also documented historic signals and infrastructure, such as original L&N searchlights and the Corbin Railroad Museum's L&N 0-8-0 steam engine number 2132, a restored locomotive built in 1922.
Nighttime railfanning was challenging due to limited lighting, but we managed to capture trains like R614 and WO11 at various locations, including Coldiron and Rockholds, Kentucky.
This trip through the CSX CV Subdivision and surrounding coal country offered a rich blend of railroading history, current operations, and the stark realities of the coal industry's decline. From historic interlocking towers and switchbacks to active and abandoned loadouts, the journey highlighted the enduring legacy and changing landscape of Appalachian railroading.
We extend thanks to local railfans and crews who shared their stories and knowledge, enriching the experience. While the future of coal rail traffic in the region remains uncertain, the history and spirit of these mountains and their railroads continue to captivate.
Until next time, this is a salute to the heart of Appalachia and its railroading heritage.
This article is based on a detailed railfanning trip video documenting CSX operations in coal country during late December 2025.
