Eastern Railroad Discussion > P87's final weeks hauling woodchips

With the news that the Canton mill (Pactiv) will be shutting down late in the 2nd quarter of 2023 I decided to head out and document the NS local that supplies woodchips to said mill.  I've photographed this local probably thousands of times, so...why not a few more.

Photo #1:  P87 accelerates through the signals at the 107 near Old Fort.

Photo #2:  P87 passes stored spine cars in the Old Fort siding.

Photo #3:  P87 passes through Jarrett's Tunnel.

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Photo #4:  P87 passing through Old Fort (eastbound) with empty chips and car for Auria in Old Fort on the head end.

Photo #5:  Snow falls on the highest ridge tops of the Blue Ridge as P87 climbs the loops.

Thanks for looking!

Grady McKinley
Asheville, NC

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Grady, great shots on another move we used to take for granted.  Jarrett Tunnel is a good photo location.  Years ago, I got ahead of 66E(?) chip train, was able to park the car and ran to the top of tunnel just in time to peel off a bunch of slides.

Nice shots!!

Thanks for the awesome set of pics.  Chips and pulpwood were long a good part of the Asheville line's traffic.

Terrific bunch, these angles prove you know the territory well...

JG

Good stuff, I’ve always wanted to fan that area.

Had I known about the rail operations when I was in the military down south during the mid 90’s I definitely would’ve checked it out.

Dan

Posted from iPhone

One thing to add to this post, would be to take a ride through the Hendersonville, NC area.  Most of Blue idge Southern sidings are filled with empty chip hopers.  I wonder what will become of them after the plant is closed for good.

Bob