Joseph Bowman's photography captures the evolving railroads of Western North Carolina, from mainline freight to rare steam excursions and historic final runs.

Photographer Joseph Bowman engages readers with a visual tour of the railroads of Western North Carolina. Enjoy scenes of busy mainline action on Norfolk Southern and CSX mainlines including unit coal and manifest freight action on the once busy Old Fort Loops. Joseph also documents several short line railroads which play a vital role in the local economies. Steam enthusiasts will not be disappointed, as multiple tourist railroads and mainline steam excursions are covered. Joseph has been photographing trains since 2005 and has photographed many unique events including the last train to Lenoir, NC, along with the last excursions that Norfolk Southern allowed to be operated to Asheville, NC. The most featured section of railroad covered in the book has also experienced quite a few changes in recent years, and Joseph shares with us many scenes that haven't taken place in years, and as of being published, are not likely to happen any time in the near future, if ever again.