Lambert's Point, located in Norfolk, VA is the Eastern Terminus of the Norfolk Southern. It is located on the Elizabeth River and is only a few nautical
miles from the Atlantic Ocean. It is the home of the largest coal transloading facility in the world.
The Lambert's Point facility includes Coal Pier #6, three coal storage and marshalling yards and a break bulk cargo facility.
Bridge #5 crosses the eastern branch of the Elizabeth River. It is a double tracked bascule bridge. There is a second bridge, with a single track, adajecent to Bridge #5.
I believe the single track bridge is out of service.
Colonna's Shipyard, the location of O. Winston Link's photo of the J class and the tug being repaired on land was shot next to this location.
South Norfolk Station is the juction between the Old Norfolk & Western and the Virginian. Then the city where the juction is located was named South Norfolk. Forty years
later, the NS retained the N&W as the mainline. The Virginian mainline to the east has become the Sewells Point branch of the NS and the Virginian mainline to the west has been
abandoned. The city of South Norfolk has become the city of Chesapeake. Now the South Norfolk Tower is closed.
The Norfolk Portsmouth Belt Line is a small railroad that operations in Tidewater area to interchange between what was once many railroads in the area. Today there are just
two, CSX and NS. At this station the NPBL interchanged with the N&W then NS.
Today, then is just the crossing; the interchange has been ripped up, but is still visiable in the south-east corner of the crossing.
Bridge #7 is where the NS mainline crosses the Southern Branch of the Elizabeth River and heads west-southwest on tangent track to Suffolk, VA. Like Bridge #5, Bridge #7 is a
two track bascale bridge.
Gilmerton is the Western end of the Norfolk Terminal.
Gilmerton is also the location of the Dominion Power Cheseapeake Power Plant, which is served by the NS. The power plant is located on the south side of the NS mainline. It
is served by a large loop that allows the trains to turn around within the plant property without backing. It appears that a rotary dumper is used to empty the coal cars.
Suffolk, VA is the junction of the Norfolk and Franklin Districts. It is the location of a small yard which serves as the interchange between the two
districts.
Suffolk is also the first station west of the Great Dismal Swamp.
Mayberry is the location of a famous (at least to N&W/NS fans) bridge which crosses US Route 52 and the Elkhorn Creek. For
railfans who have drive route 52 north, this is the first time the mainline has been visable since Bluefield.
Welch, WV is the Western end of the Pocahontas District. It is one of the larger cities in southern West Virginia. One of the unique features of this location, is the
mainline tunnel through the mountain that seperates the eastern side of town from the western. In addition to this tunnel, there used to be a siding, which looped around the
mountain to serve the town's station.
Kenova is a city along the Ohio River. It is at the point where Kentucky, Ohio and West Virginia meet, hence its name. It is also where the NS mainline crosses the Ohio river
and continues on the Ohio side to Portsmouth, OH.
Portsmouth, OH is the Western end of the Pocahontas Division. It is the location of a large classification yard where trains are seperated based on Columbus or Cincinnati as
their destination.
Keystone #1 is an older prep plant located along the NS mainline in the Pocahontas District. It is noteworthly because it is one of the few plants located on the NS mainline, and
because of one of the last operationg themal dryers for processing the coal.
Superior is an older prep plant located along the NS mainline in the Pocahontas District near Welch, WV. It is noteworthy because it is one of the last prep plants that loads
cars directly underneath the prep plant. Most plants now have conveyors to large storage silos and a second set of conveyors to dediciated loading facilities.
Sprouse Creek Prep Plant is located near Mateawan, WV off the Alma Branch in the Thacker I District. It is noteworthy beacuase it is one of the largest loaders served by the NS
and because it is right next to a county road which allows for very good photography of the plant.
Dominion Power Cheseapeake Power Plant is located at the Gilmerton Station in Chesapeake, VA. The power plant is located on the south side of the NS mainline. It
is served by a large loop that allows the trains to turn around within the plant property without backing. It appears that a rotary dumper is used to empty the coal cars.