Tidewater Rails
North Carolina and Virginia RR Gallery

Introducing new colors, NCVA GP38 5142 (ex-CSXT 2141; exx-SBD 6232; nee-L&N 4011)
is shown at Boykins, VA., 14 Sep 96.
The NCVA was created by Railtex to take over the operation of former Seaboard Coast Line branches running from Boykins, Va. to Tunis, N.C. on November 1st, 1987.  The branches are remnants of the Atlantic Coast Line Rocky Mount, N.C. to Portsmouth, Va. line (Kelford to Tunis) and Seaboard Air Line Boykins to Kelford.  Now operated by RailAmerica, this line embodies what is possible when a shortline takes over a line... a line that not only survives but thrives.  To view the RailAmerica map for the NCVA, .

Common to many shortlines (more so on Railtex lines than most) the NCVA has had a variety of both color and power since its inception, though under RailAmerica standardization is becoming more of the norm.  With traffic up it continues to be a line worth railfanning, even though Railtex's interest in the Missouri and Northern Arkansas red, gray and white has made the line a little less colorful.  Thankfully, because of Railtex seeing potential for the branches, they remains a viable part of the railroad system.

Russell Underwood has been photographing this line and its equipment since the beginning and these photos serve to document not only the power of the NCVA but the changes that the line underwent.  All photos are indexed by date.  All photos © 2004 by Russell Underwood, used by permission.

If you would like to learn more about railroading in the Tidewater region of North Carolina and Virginia then check out the Tidewater Rails List at Yahoo Groups.  If you would like to learn more about RailAmerica then check out the RailAmerica List at Yahoo Groups.

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I am proud that the Tidewater Rails pages are a part of the Virginia and Carolina Southern website.  To visit the homepage of the V&CS site just click the F-units below...


Images are indexed by date. Click on the thumbnail to view the image.

  With the line only a month-and-a-half old, NCVA EMD GP9s 6439 and 6244 are shown passing
  through Severn, N.C., 13 Dec 87.





  NCVA 6244 and 6439 are shown pulling hard on their train at Conway, N.C., 13 Dec 87.






  Former C&O EMD GP9s 6244 and 6439 are shown at Ahoskie, N.C., 30 Dec 87.






  NCVA 6244 and 6439 at Ahoskie, N.C., 30 Dec 87.






  NCVA 6244 and 6439 at Ahoskie, N.C., 30 Dec 87.






  NCVA 6439 and 6244 at Ahoskie, N.C., 30 Dec 87.






  NCVA 6244 shows off its heavily worn C&O blue paint scheme at Ahoskie, N.C., 30 Dec 87.






  With the NCVA office behind them the GP9s prepare to haul their train out of town, Ahoskie,
  N.C., 30 Dec 87.





  The well-weathered paint on the other side of the GPs still show a bit of their heritage.






  NCVA 6439 and 6244 are shown picking up cars at Boykins, Va., 23 Jan 88.






  With fresh paint as bright as the line's future, NCVA 6244 is shown with borrowed CSXT/
  Chessie System EMD GP40 6841 at Ahoskie, N.C., 2 OCT 88.





  NCVA 6244 in fresh paint, Ahoskie, N.C., 2 Oct 88.  Not visible is the smiley face painted on
  top of the dynamic brake fan.





  NCVA 6244, Ahoskie, N.C., 25 Nov 88.






  Although 6244 had received new paint by fall of '88, NCVA 6439 had only received a patched
  relettering.  They are shown together at Ahoskie, N.C., 25 Nov 88.





  NCVA 6439, Ahoskie, N.C., 25 Nov 88.






  Unaffraid to try different units in service, Railtex sent one of the South Carolina Central's
  former-C&O EMD SD18s (7309) to the NCVA for testing.  The unit didn't work out because of
  the ALCO trucks. Ahoskie, N.C., 25 Nov 88.




  NCVA 6244, Ahoskie, N.C., 13 May 89.






  SCRF EMD GP9 6555 (ex-B&O) is shown at Ahoskie, N.C., 9 Nov 90 with its homemade
  chopped nose (with Railtex the shifting of units from line to line was fairly common,
  especially so if a line was power short).




  Wearing a fairly new chopped nose and in the company of South Carolina Central EMD GP9
  6555, NCVA 6224 is shown at Boykins, Va., 4 Jan 91.





  A better view of 6244 and its chopped nose, Boykins, Va., 4 Jan 91.






  NCVA 6244, Ahoskie, N.C. 31 Jan 91.






  NCVA 6515, Boykins, Va., 30 Aug 91.






  NCVA 6515, Boykins, VA., 17 Jul 94.  Unlike 6244, 6515 never received NCVA lettering on its
  hood and was later scrapped on-line (see photos below).





  NCVA 6244 working the CSX interchange at Boykins, VA., 25 Feb 95.






  Indiana Southern B23-7 3977 (ex-NS/SOU) on NCVA at Boykins, VA., 28 Jan 96.  The unit was
  not popular with the crew and ended up going elsewhere.





  Shining in its new paint, NCVA GP38 5142 (ex-CSXT 2141, exx-SBD 6232, nee-L&N 4011) is
  shown at Boykins, VA., 14 Sep 96.  This unit would later be renumbered 3843.





  NCVA GP38 5142, Ahoskie, N.C., 14 Sep 96.






  NCVA 5142, Boykins, VA., 14 Sep 96.










  NCVA 6515, Ahoskie, N.C., 2 Feb 97.






  NCVA GP7u 1326 (ex-AT&SF 1326, nee-2793), Boykins, VA., 30 Dec 99.






  NCVA 1326, Boykins, VA., 30 Dec 99.






  NCVA GP7u 1326 and GP9 6244 are shown at Boykins, VA., 28 Oct 00.  1326 and slug 4120 had
  previously operated on the Virginia Southern before coming to the NCVA.





  NCVA GP38-3 3808 and GP9 6244 at Ahoskie, N.C., 5 May 01.






  NCVA GP38-3 3808 (ex-NS/SOU 2718), Ahoskie, N.C., 5 May 01.






  Displaying minimal relettering, NCVA Slug 4120 (ex-AT&SF 1120/120, nee-EMD NW2 2407/
  2357) still shows traces of its Texas & New Mexico lettering as it sits at Ahoskie, N.C., 5 May
  01.




  NCVA GP7u 1326 and GP38-3 3801 at Kelford, N.C., 5 May 01.






  NCVA GP7u 1326 and company at Rich Square, N.C., 5 May 01.






  Here is the other end of the train at Rich Square, N.C., 5 May 01.






  NCVA GP7u 1326 and 3801 at Roxobel, N.C., 5 May 01.






  GSWR GP38 3813 (ex-CSX 2078, C&O 3878) on NCVA at Ahoskie, N.C., 27 May 01.  This unit
  previously had operated on the Georgia Southwestern carrying the numbers 3813, 5027
  and 2078, the same number it had wore on the Virginia Southern.




  GSWR G.E. Road Mate 4167 (ex-CSX/SBD 5223, nee-SCL 3223) came with parent 3813, at
  Ahoskie, N.C., 27 May 01.  Originally built as a double-ended unit, it has since been
  converted to take power from only one end.




  NCVA 1326 and 3808 are point of the Perdue grain train, shown at Kelford, N.C., 27 May 01.






  NCVA 1326, 4120 and 6244 are at Kelford, N.C., 3 Jun 01.






  NCVA 1326, 3801 and 3808 are at Severn, N.C., 2 Sep 01.






  NCVA GP9 6244 is shown out of service at Conway, N.C., 27 Dec 02.






  NCVA GP38 3813 is shown leading Mate 4167 and GP38 3808 at Severn, N.C., 20 Jan 02.






  Here the train is shown moving through Conway, N.C., 20 Jan 02.






  Old meets new as NCVA GP38 3813 and its train passes NCVA 1326 at Conway, N.C., 20 Jan
  02.





  Woodland, N.C., 20 Jan 02.






  NCVA 3813, 4167 and 3808, Pendleton, N.C., 20 Jan 02.






  Passing through Rich Square, N.C., 20 Jan 02.






  Roxobel, N.C., 20 Jan 02.






  LLPX/NCVA 2003 is working as the Northend Switcher in the photo, taken at Conway, N.C.,
  27 Dec 02.  Hard to believe that this is ex-NS/SOU 2722.





  LLPX/NCVA 2003, Conway, N.C., 27 Dec 02.  Only a few scars remain on the end where the
  bell has been removed and relocated.





  NCVA GP9 6244 and slug 4120 are at Conway, N.C., 27 Dec 02.






  NCVA GP38-3 3801 is shown leading G.E. Mate 4167, GP38 3813 and GP38 3808 at Boykins,
  VA., 27 Dec 02.





  NCVA GP38-3 3801 and company, Boykins, VA., 27 Dec 02.






  NCVA GP38-3 3801 (ex-NS/SOU 2741), Boykins, VA 27 Dec 02.






  NCVA GP38-3 3801 and company at Severn, N.C., 27 Dec 02.






  NCVA GP38-3 3801 and company at Pendleton, N.C., 27 Dec 02.






  NCVA GP38-3 3801 and company at Rich Square, N.C., 27 Dec 02.






  NCVA 6244 and slug 4120 Conway, N.C., 27 Dec 02.






  NCVA 6244 is parked at Conway, N.C., 27 Dec 02.






  The end has come for NCVA GP9 6515 as it is being dismantled at Ahoskie, N.C., 5 May 03.






  NCVA is shown in semi-retirement at Ahoskie, N.C., 13 May 03.






  LLPX/NCVA GP38 2003 and company are shown switching Perdue at Cofield, N.C., 13 May
  03.





  LLPX/NCVA 2003, Cofield, N.C., 13 May 03.






  The train now lead by NCVA GP38-3 3801 is shown heading through Ahoskie, N.C.,
  on its way to NUCOR13 May 03.





  The scrapping of NCVA 6515 has progressed slowly, Ahoskie, N.C., 24 Aug 03.






  NCVA 3808, 3813, 4167 and 3803 are shown leading a NUCOR train at Ahoskie, N.C., 24 Aug
  03.





  ARZC GP38m 3803 is shown starting its switching at Boykins while the other units wait, 24
  Aug03.  Before going to work for the AZCR, the unit had worked for a number of years
  as a GATX leaser 3724, after being rebuilt (deturboed) by GATX from B&O GP40 3724.




  ARZC GP40m 3803 on NCVA at Boykins, VA., 24 Aug 03.






  ARZC GP40m 3803 switching cars at Boykins, VA., 24 Aug 03.






  With switching complete the 3803 has rejoined the other units and prepares to leave.






  ARZC GP40 3803 and its train is shown ready to depart at Boykins, VA., 24 Aug 03.










  Departing Boykin.






  ARZC GP40m 3803 is shown southbound through Woodland, N.C., 24 Aug 03.






  With its ditchlights flashing, LLPX/NCVA 2003, 3808, 3803 and 3801 prepare to cross state
  road 461 at Cofield, N.C., 13 May 03, en route to Purdue.





  LLPX/NCVA 2003 and its train prepares to leave Cofield, with the Purdue cars now spotted
  for unloading.





  One of the downsides of railroading has always been derailments and NCVA has not been
  immuned... ARZC 3803 is shown passing the scene of a derailment near Rich Square, N.C.,
  24 Aug 03.




  Here is another of the derailed cars, laying on its side.






  One of the derailed cars from another angle.








Photos © 2004 Russell Underwood. Used by permission.
"Click here" RPO © 2003, 2004 J.M. LaBoda