Yadkin Valley Railroad
The Yadkin Valley Railroad is big time railroading on a small scale. It is representative of modern operations with shippers receiving carloads in bulk yet conveyed in an atmosphere unlike its Class I big brothers. What differentiates the YVRR is the setting in which it operates -- there still exists the feel of a branch line railroad from a generation or more ago. Operating in a predominately rural setting with older EMD power, the railroad is picturesque in the valleys of the Yadkin and Ararat and dotted with the small town charms of locations such as Rural Hall and Elkin. The railroad is photogenic and for the most part, accessible. Any season is a good time to visit for a weekday outing but the fall splendor would be the pinnacle.
The Yadkin Valley Railroad operates shortline freight service in the foothill counties of North Carolina's northwestern Piedmont region. The road makes use of two branch lines originating in Rural Hall: One branch runs 63 miles west to Elkin and North Wilkesboro; a second line runs 30 miles north to Mount Airy. The company began operations in 1989 after leasing these two lines from Norfolk Southern as a part of the "Thoroughbred Leasing Program." Since 1994, the company has been a part of the Gulf & Ohio Railways shortline operating group. Locomotives are stored and serviced at Rural Hall, Donnaha, and Elkin. An office is maintained in Rural Hall, and interchange is with the Norfolk Southern in their yard in north Winston-Salem. Yadkin Valley serves 16 customers and averages over 11,000 carloads annually, including poultry feed ingredients, wood products, steel, plastics, propane, ethanol, and rail car storage.
YVRR route map / SPV Railroad Atlas
Rural Hall, NC / Mar 2018 / RWH
HawkinsRails thanks railfan friend Ben Wells for use of his YVRR photos for this collection
Motive Power
Yadkin Valley #2392
Rural Hall, NC / Mar 2018 / RWH
Yadkin Valley #2392
to Gulf & Ohio Railways
RWH
Rural Hall, NC / Mar 2018 / RWH
RWH
Rural Hall, NC / Mar 2018 / RWH
RWH
RWH
Rural Hall, NC / Mar 2018 / RWH
RWH
Rural Hall, NC / Mar 2018 / RWH
Rural Hall, NC / Mar 2018 / RWH
Rural Hall, NC / Apr 2019 / RWH
Rural Hall, NC / Apr 2019 / RWH
Rural Hall, NC / Apr 2019 / RWH
Yadkin Valley #3616
Rural Hall, NC / Ben Wells
Yadkin Valley #3616
to CSX Transportation #2026
to Conecuh Valley #3616
to Yadkin Valley #3616
Yadkin Valley #3617
Rural Hall, NC / Ben Wells
Yadkin Valley #3617
to Helm Leasing #3617
to Carolina Southern
to Yadkin Valley #3617
Rural Hall, NC / Ben Wells
Rural Hall, NC / Ben Wells
Rural Hall, NC / Ben Wells
Yadkin Valley #3819
Rural Hall, NC / Mar 2018 / RWH
Yadkin Valley #3819
to Norfolk Southern #5364
to Helm Leasing #3819
to Lancaster & Chester #3819
to Yadkin Valley #3819
Rural Hall, NC / Mar 2018 / RWH
Rural Hall, NC / Mar 2018 / RWH
Yadkin Valley #6001
Elkin, NC / Mar 2018 / RWH
Yadkin Valley #6001
to Knoxville Locomotive Works #6001
to Yadkin Valley #6001
Elkin, NC / Mar 2018 / RWH
RWH
RWH
Elkin, NC / Mar 2018 / RWH
Yadkin Valley #6003
Donnaha, NC / Ben Wells
Yadkin Valley #6003
to Union Pacific #2922
to Knoxville Locomtive Works #6003
to Yadkin Valley #6003
Donnaha, NC / Ben Wells
Elkin, NC / Mar 2018 / RWH
Elkin, NC / Mar 2018 / RWH
Elkin, NC / Mar 2018 / RWH
RWH
RWH
Elkin, NC / Mar 2018 / RWH
Elkin, NC / Mar 2018 / RWH
Elkin, NC / Mar 2018 / RWH
Elkin, NC / Mar 2018 / RWH
Yadkin Valley #7092
Donnaha, NC / Apr 2019 / RWH
Yadkin Valley #7092
RWH
Donnaha, NC / Apr 2019 / RWH
Donnaha, NC / Apr 2019 / RWH
Donnaha, NC / Apr 2019 / RWH
Yadkin Valley #9554
Rural Hall, NC / Ben Wells
Yadkin Valley #9554
to Wiregrass Central #9554
to Yadkin Valley #9554
Rural Hall, NC / Ben Wells
CSX Transportation #8783
Donnaha, NC / Apr 2019 / RWH
CSK Transportation #8783
to CSK Transportation #8783
Knoxville Locomotive Works #3200
The KLW SE32C is the largest, heaviest, and highest horsepower model offered by KLW. Utilizing six-axle EMD and GE cores, the SE32C is ballasted up to 420,000 lb and fitted with an MTU engine, ZF gearbox, TMV wheelslip prevention system, and other modern technology. Consequently, the KLW SE32C offers the lowest emissions profile available in its horsepower class without aftertreatment while providing tractive effort performance that meets the needs of the most demanding operations, such as large switching yards.
web
Knoxville Locomotive Works #3200
Donnaha, NC / Jun 2017 / Ben Wells
Knoxville Locomotive Works #3200
Donnaha, NC / Jun 2017 / Ben Wells
Donnaha, NC / Jun 2017 / Ben Wells
Locations
Rural Hall
YVRR yard area / Google Maps
Click to see the Rural Hall yard area plotted on a Google Maps page
Rural Hall, NC / Mar 2018 / RWH
Rural Hall, NC / Mar 2018 / RWH
Rural Hall, NC / Mar 2018 / RWH
Rural Hall, NC / Mar 2018 / RWH
Rural Hall, NC / Mar 2018 / RWH
Rural Hall, NC / Mar 2018 / RWH
Rural Hall depot
The Rural Hall Depot is a historic train station located at Rural Hall, Forsyth County, North Carolina. It was built in 1888 for the Cape Fear & Yadkin Valley Railway. It is a one-story rectangular frame building sheathed in German siding. It measures 23 feet wide and 78 feet long. The interior consists of waiting rooms for white and "colored" passengers and a station master's office. Passenger service ceased in 1955, but the depot continued to provide services and facilities to freight trains until its closing in 1980. The building was moved to its present site in March 1980, and serves as a local railroad museum.
Rural Hall, NC / Mar 2018 / RWH
Rural Hall, NC / Mar 2018 / RWH
Rural Hall, NC / Mar 2018 / RWH
Rural Hall, NC / Mar 2018 / RWH
Norfolk & Western #530345
Rural Hall, NC / Mar 2018 / RWH
Rural Hall, NC / Mar 2018 / RWH
Rural Hall, NC / Mar 2018 / RWH
Rural Hall, NC / Mar 2018 / RWH
Rural Hall, NC / Mar 2018 / RWH
Rural Hall, NC / Mar 2018 / RWH
Rural Hall, NC / Ben Wells
Rural Hall, NC / Ben Wells
Donnaha
YVRR locomotive facility / Google Maps
Click to see the YVRR locomotive area plotted on a Google Maps page
Donnaha, NC / Jun 2017 / Ben Wells
Donnaha, NC / Jun 2017 / Ben Wells
Donnaha, NC / Jun 2017 / Ben Wells
Donnaha, NC / Jun 2017 / Ben Wells
Donnaha, NC / Jun 2017 / Ben Wells
Donnaha, NC / Jun 2017 / Ben Wells
Donnaha, NC / Apr 2019 / RWH
Donnaha, NC / Apr 2019 / RWH
Donnaha, NC / Apr 2019 / RWH
Donnaha, NC / Apr 2019 / RWH
Donnaha, NC / Apr 2019 / RWH
Donnaha, NC / Apr 2019 / RWH
Donnaha, NC / Apr 2019 / RWH
Elkin
The Elkin area offers some of the best places to bike, hike and drive to see the color display. The nearby Blue Ridge Parkway, considered the nation’s most scenic byway, draws thousands of visitors to our region each year during winter, spring, summer and autumn. The Yadkin River Blue Trail which borders our historic downtown, offers kayaking adventures for all ages. Elkin is also centrally located in The Yadkin Valley Wine Region (AVA), and offers numerous town hiking and biking trails to explore. Live music fills the air most weekends in Elkin, so come for the fun, and you just might decide to stay for a lifetime.
Google Maps
Click to see the downtown Elkin railroad area plotted on a Google Maps page
Elkin, NC / Mar 2018 / RWH
Elkin, NC / Mar 2018 / RWH
Elkin, NC / Mar 2018 / RWH
Elkin, NC / Mar 2018 / RWH
Elkin, NC / Mar 2018 / RWH
Elkin, NC / Mar 2018 / RWH
Elkin, NC / Mar 2018 / RWH
Elkin, NC / Mar 2018 / RWH
Winston-Salem
The Yadkin Valley Railroad enters Norfolk Southern's North Winston Yard via trackage rights between the yard and Rural Hall.
Winston-Salem, NC / Jun 2017 / Ben Wells
Winston-Salem, NC / Jun 2017 / Ben Wells
Winston-Salem, NC / Jun 2017 / Ben Wells
Click to see the North Winston yard area plotted on a Google Maps page
Lagniappe
Choose Your Path
Elkin, NC / Mar 2018 / RWH
Send Me Back Home
Rural Hall, NC / Mar 2018 / RWH
The Right Direction
Rural Hall, NC / Mar 2018 / RWH
Oh, the Places You Will Go
Elkin, NC / Mar 2018 / RWH
Gone But Not Forgotten
Rural Hall, NC / Mar 2018 / RWH
Over Troubled Waters
Elkin, NC / Mar 2018 / RWH
Knoxville and Holston River
Rural Hall, NC / Mar 2018 / RWH
Your Slip Is Showing
Donnaha, NC / Apr 2019 / RWH
Wide Cab In Waiting
Rural Hall, NC / Mar 2018 / RWH
Yadkin Valley Sun Day
Rural Hall, NC / Mar 2018 / RWH
Give Us a Call
Elkin, NC / Mar 2018 / RWH
Donnaha, NC / Apr 2019 / Ben Wells
Links / Sources
- Gulf & Ohio Railways
- Gulf & Ohio Railways Yadkin Valley page
- Wikipedia article for Yadkin Valley Railroad
- Diesel Shop roster for Yadkin Valley
- West Virginia and North Carolina Rails
- Railway Association of North Carolina
- Edward A. Lewis, American Shortline Railway Guide - Fifth Edition (Kalmbach, 1996) 344