June 2nd & 3rd, 2023.
Footage along Norfolk Southern's Pulaski District (former Norfolk & Western between Radford and Bristol) along the I-81 corridor of southwest Virginia between Pulaski, Wytheville, and Rural Retreat during two days in early June.
The former N&W Pulaski District provides many photogenic locations as it crosses the Blue Ridge Highlands southwest of Roanoke. This video starts on Friday evening with some night scenes from downtown Pulaski, then features some of those scenic locations near Rural Retreat, Wytheville, and Max Meadows the next day.
Although many north/south freight trains come through this area (including 13Z and 14Z) the line is considered timetable east/west, so train directions in this video are listed by timetable direction.
Train symbol and location timestamps in this video:
6/2:
Wytheville:
00:19 - NS 279 - westbound intermodal
Pulaski:
04:09 - NS 13Z - westbound manifest
07:52 - NS V37 - westbound local (SD40-2s)
09:23 - NS 14Z - eastbound manifest
13:23 - NS 278 - eastbound intermodal
6/3:
NS 289 - westbound intermodal
16:23 - Wytheville
17:52 - Rural Retreat
NS 126 - eastbound manifest
21:10 - Duncan (Rural Retreat)
24:35 - Max Meadows