OLD FORT, N.C. — After a lengthy repair and rebuild period, Norfolk Southern ran the first freight train up the Old Fort Loops west to Asheville, N.C. on Saturday, April 18.
The first freight move since Hurricane Helene in September 2024 follows a run by Norfolk Southern’s track geometry train on April 7 [see “Norfolk Southern track geometry train …,” April 8, 2026].
Making the trip was westbound extra manifest train 107 from Oyama Yard in Hickory, N.C., with a General Electric C44-9W and AC44C6M along with a total of 59 cars…