Elkhorn (Pocahontas Coal) – Elkhorn, West Virginia, USA | Train Spotting Location

Elkhorn’s storied curve at the foot of the old Pocahontas Coal Field delivers a front-row seat to some of Appalachia’s heaviest rail tonnage, where Norfolk Southern locomotives claw uphill through the Elkhorn Grade, exhaust echoing off hardwood-covered ridges and long coal drags roll past within arm’s reach of railfans.

🛤️ The Trainspotting Experience

A visit typically begins on the public pull-off overlooking the single main; from this raised shoulder you stand only a few yards above rail level, close enough to feel the ground vibrate as locomotives throttle up for the westbound climb toward Elkhorn Tunnel. Eastbounds drift downgrade, their dynamic brakes singing through the valley. Train length and the tight curvature mean you see head-end power, mid-train DPUs, and the rear all at different moments, giving varied perspectives without moving position. Expect horn echoes, turbo whine, and wheel flange squeal on the curve. Speeds are modest—15–25 mph westbound, 25–35 mph eastbound—providing ample time to frame photos or note car numbers. Nights are quiet and dark, but the line remains active, and headlights emerging from the tunnel portal create dramatic light trails for long-exposure photography.

🌄 Landscape, Setting and Local Atmosphere

Nestled in a narrow hollow of the Bluestone River watershed, the site sits around 2,000 ft above sea level. Steep, tree-covered slopes of oak, poplar, and pine rise immediately behind the right-of-way, giving a deep-green backdrop from late spring through early fall and a burst of reds and golds each October. In winter, bare ridges reveal more of the track’s sweeping S-curve. Fog often forms at dawn and burns off by mid-morning, adding mood to early shots. The air carries the scent of wet leaves and distant woodstoves; conversation competes only with rushing water in the creek below. Cell service is spotty, reinforcing the site’s quiet, almost timeless character.

🚂 Type and Frequency of Train Activity

Elkhorn sits on Norfolk Southern’s Pocahontas Division, still one of the busiest coal arteries in the East. On an average weekday, railfans can expect 12–18 movements:
• 6–8 loaded eastbound coal trains headed for Lambert’s Point export pier
• An equal number of empty westbounds returning to mines in Kentucky and Virginia
• 1–2 manifest freights linking Roanoke with Williamson
• Occasional intermodal or autorack trains, typically in off-peak slots
• Amtrak’s tri-weekly Cardinal passes in the early afternoon eastbound and near midnight westbound
Power is predominantly NS AC44C6Ms and ES44ACs, often in pairs with rear DPUs; older SD70ACe units are still common. Helpers are rare today since most trains are distributed-power equipped, but extra units sometimes attach ahead of the tunnel after heavy rain or snow.

📸 Best Angles for Photos and What Railfans Enjoy Most

The classic composition faces west toward the tunnel mouth: morning light illuminates eastbound locomotives while shadowed hills provide contrast. Afternoon sun favors westbounds, back-lighting coal dust clouds and highlighting the train’s length as it snakes through the curve. A short hike up the embankment—on public land—yields an elevated three-quarter view with both track and river visible below. Wide-angle lenses (24–35 mm) capture the full arc; a 200 mm zoom isolates head-end details against the tunnel portal. Photographers appreciate the minimal background clutter: no billboards, wires, or modern buildings intrude on the frame, giving images a 1950s feel.

🕰️ Historical or Cultural Relevance

The Elkhorn Grade was completed by the Norfolk & Western in 1888 to tap the high-BTU Pocahontas seams, transforming regional coal economics. The nearby Elkhorn Tunnel, once a bottleneck that required helper districts and pusher shacks, was daylighted to a larger bore in 1950 to accommodate bigger steam and later diesel power. During World War II, wartime coal demand pushed traffic here to a record 40 trains per day. Ghost foundations of company houses still peek through vegetation, reminders of the coal camps that grew around the line. Railfans occasionally find cinder blocks stamped “N&W Ry” near the drainage ditches—small artifacts of the steam era.

🧭 What Makes This Spot Different from Others

Unlike sprawling multi-track junctions, Elkhorn offers intimate proximity: one track, one curve, no fences, and terrain that boxes sound into a natural amphitheater. The combination of slow, heavy coal trains and a dramatic mountain setting means every passage feels cinematic. Few locations allow you to watch a train emerge from a tunnel, fight gravity around a horseshoe bend, and fade into forest within the span of a hundred seconds—all without changing your footing.

📚 Additional Resources

Appalachian Railroad Heritage Initiative
Norfolk Southern Pocahontas Division Operating Plan
Railfan & Railroad Magazine – Pocahontas Coal Route Feature"