ON THE COVER
Rolling southward on its 1,115-mile journey between Potomac Yard, Va., and New Orleans, La., Southern freight train No.153 crosses James River Bridge north of Lynchburg, Va.
Before this trip is over, the train's engines will consume more than 9,000 gallons of fuel oil, seven different train and engine crews will have control of the train over their respective divisions, and four intermediate classification yards will handle its cars.
Ties rode along on a recent trip of No.153 to bring you a detailed account of what happens on a typical day's run of one of the Southern's fleet of freight trains which provide efficient, rapid and pratctical answers to the need for mass transportation of goods.