The song "Don't Be Late" by Michael Kiwanuka came to mind recently as I realized I was too late. Last weekend my wife dragged me off to a Swiss-oriented festival deep in the WV mountains at "Helvetia". On our way over hill and dale we came upon a RR crossing sign (sweet !) The crossing ID sign said it was for the Beech Mountain RR, but no trains in sight. Later research revealed the shortline was being shutdown as of May 2023 ! As a coal hauler was it the victim of declining demand for coal, oh no, this mine produced high-quality metallurgical coal, that was still in demand, world-wide. In fact this spur served the Star Bridge coal prep plant, supplied with coal mined from the Carter-Roag Coal Co's Morgan Camp Mine. The coal seams had just played out. Interesting world politics in the hills of WV had this coal company's owner (United Coal) owned by a Ukrainian firm , Metinvest, who needed the coal for their huge Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol, Ukraine. When this plant was bombed in 2022, the owners allowed the coal to be sold on the open market, of course, until the mine played out. The Beech Mountain RR was a recent home to some Alco survivors, #113 an S2 and #114 an S4. Thankfully some videoclips have been recorded by others - who weren't "too late".
So you'll never know what you'll find around the next bend ! Don't be late ! 
Rich in WV
