I had a buddy in the Army.... name was Paul Altizer... his family lived there and we used to drive up from Ft. Bragg on weekends... I've made out a few times in Breaks Interstate Park!!
His daddy used to ride coal trains down the mountain from the loading tipple... using hand brakes!! No locomotive!!! (this was in the early 60's).
Neighbor! I grew up in the New River Valley. Am in Richmond now.