Salisbury, North Carolina is located in the central part of North Carolina. This location is roughly halfway between Greensboro and Charlotte on I-85. This location is also just south of Norfolk Southern's large yard at Linwood and Salisbury is the junction of the NS (Ex-Southern) mainline to Atlanta and the NS (Ex-Southern) S-Line to Asheville and Knoxville.
NS #6803 leads #165 off the mainline and onto the Asheville District
The parking lot next to the depot is a good place to catch the action
Hotspot Description
Just north of the Amtrak station in downtown Salisbury is the location of the junction with the Asheville District. The NS mainline is single track CTC with passing sidings, and the Asheville District is single track TWC with ABS block signals. There are a number of locations you can sit and watch the action around Salisbury. The Amtrak depot, the gravel lot on the opposite side of the street from the depot, and the old freight depot are all good spots to watch the action.
Directions
Salisbury is easily accessed using exits from I-85. From I-85 you want to use exit #76 (Innes St.). Proceed into town on Innes Street and take a right on North Long St. Proceed three blocks and take a left onto Kerr St. You will cross the tracks at grade and the Amtrak depot will be on your left.
Typical Traffic and Volume
The S-line (Asheville District) can produce somewhere in the range of 12-14 trains in a 24 hour period, not to mention the various extra locals that work the line. The mainline can send anywhere in the neighborhood of 24-30 trains in a 24 hour period. The Asheville district sees mostly manifest and coal. The Charlotte District sees intermodal and manifest. All coal & empty hopper trains from the Asheville District head south on the wye.
Scanner Information
NS
160.590 NS Road
160.245 NS Dispatcher
160.830 NS Road #2