At the junction at JD Cabin (MP 229.4), with a metal box on the south side, where the speed limit is 35 mph, the single track North Mountain line turns northeast and the double track James River line turns away south, Yard Limits, Automatic Block Signals, current-of-traffic (Rule 251), maximum speed 25 mph at the junction, rising to 35 mph at MP 229.3, along the west/south bank of the river, past the end of Yard Limits at MP 228.7, and the start of single track, CTC (Rule 261) at Iron Gate (MP 227.6), turning around to the west-northwest, following the river, with a slide fence from MP 225.1 to MP 224.5, south-southwest, past Glen Wilton, west-northwest to Baldwin, south, briding across the river to its north/east bank, past a detector at MP 221.8, curvily south-southeast, past the 7.720 ft north-side siding, from West Haden (MP 219.8), past MP 218.4, where the maximum speed drops to 30 mph, to East Haden (MP 218.3), west-southwest, with a slide fence from MP 218.1 to MP 217.9, where the maximum speed returns to 35 mph, south past Bessemer, where an erstwhile branch from New Castle trailed in from the west, and south-southeast, past the 9,530 ft. north-side siding, from West Eagle Rock (MP 213.5) to East Eagle Rock (MP 211.6), still along the north/east bank of the river.
The line turns west-northwest, with a 30 mph speed restriction, from MP 210.7 to MP 210.4, curvily south-southeast, curvily just north of due east, with a 25 mph speed restriction, from MP 207.8 to MP 207.2, through Bell's Tunnel (MP 207.6 to MP 207.5), northeast and then sharply south, with a 30 mph speed restriction, from MP 207.2 to MP 204.6 and a slide fence from MP 205.0 to MP 204.6, southwest, south with a 25 mph speed restriction, from Lyle (MP 202.3) to MP 202.0, east, across the river and south through Little Tunnel (MP 201.9 to MP 201.8) and across the river again, past a detector at MP 200.9, a slide fence from MP 200.6 to MP 200.3, the start of double track, current-of-traffic (Rule 251) at JN Cabin (MP 200.2), and WAS Springwood (MP 198.9), turning curvily east-southeast, to the return to single track, CTC, at East Buchanan (MP 195.2), and then very curvily northeast, still following the north bank of the river, with the Norfolk Southern Riverton Junction to Roanoke line on the other side of the river.
There is a slide fence from MP 193.2 to Wasp Rock Tunnel (MP 192.7 to MP 192.6), with more slide fence at the latter, Dillon, a 25 mph speed restriction, from MP 191.3 to MP 189.9, a slide fence from MP 190.2 to MP 188.9, Indian Rock, a 30 mph speed restriction, from MP 189.8 to MP 189.4, Rocky Point, a 30 mph speed restriction, from MP 186.5 to MP 185.7, a slide fence from MP 186.0 to MP 185.65, and the 7,920 ft. south-side siding, from West Alpine (MP 185.6) to East Alpine (MP 184.1), before the severe curving back and forth lessens and the line continues ncurvily along the north side of the river, generally east-northeast, past Gilmore Mills, a detector at MP 179.9, and the start of Two Main Tracks at Natural Bridge (MP 178.2), with Track 1 CTC and Track 2 current-of-traffic (Rule 251) eastward, wehre the NS line bridges the river and bridges overhead as the river and CSX line turns curvily east, past K Cabin (MP 175.3), the wye junction on the north side with the Glasgow Industrial Track at Balcony Falls (MP 175.0), and a turn to the south.
Single track, CTC, resumes at SD Cabin (MP 173.7), and the line turns curvily east, to Snowden, curvily just east of due south, past a bridge over the river to the south bank, Major (MP 167.3), Big Island, and the 6,750 ft. north-side siding, from West Waugh (MP 165.0) to East Waugh (MP 163.6), very curvily east, with a 30 mph speed restriction, from MP 164.5 to MP 161.8, past a detector at MP 163.0, a slide fence at MP 162.2, a slide fence at MP 161.4, the 10,030 ft. north-side siding, from West Pearch (MP 160.2) to East Pearch (MP 158.2), a slide fence from MP 160.5 to MP 159.9, within the siding, a slide fence from MP 157.2 to MP 156.8, GW Cabin, a slide fence from MP 156.4 to MP 156.3, a slide fence from MP 155.6 to MP 155.4, a sharp turn southwest, with a 30 mph speed restriction, from MP 155.6 to MP 154.8, a turn southeast, with a slide fence from MP 154.1 to MP 153.8, east with a slide fence from MP 152.8 to MP 151.7, south past Judith Dam and a detector at MP 150.8, and south-southeast, still along the south bank of the river, past the 5,250 ft. north-side siding, from West Reusens (MP 150.6) to East Reusens (MP 149.5).
The James River Trestle carrying the Southern Main Line bridges overhead, and the line turns further south, still along the river bank, past the junction with an erstwhile N&W line trailing in from the west (X Tower), ND Tower, west end of the erstwhile N&W Island Yard and a continuing erstwhile N&W line, and the connector to the NS (former Southern) Main Line on the west side at Southern Crossing/NC Cabin (MP 147.4), where double track starts (MP 147.3), current-of-traffic (Rule 251), with a 25 mph speed restriction, from MP 146.9 to MP 146.3, past Lynchburg (MP 146.1), turning sharply north, past Sandy Hook Yard, southeast, past the resumption of single track, CTC, at Tyree (MP 143.1), to Kelly, north, east-southeast, past a spur on the south side to a power plant, east across the river on Nine-Mile Bridge, and then very curvily northeast, along the north side of the river, past the 7,100 ft. south side siding from West Joshua Falls (MP 136.6) to East Joshua Falls (MP 135.1).
The curvature reduces, with the line still heading northeast, at Galt's Mill, past a detector at MP 131.0, Stapleton, a short stretch of curvature past the start of double track, current-of-traffic (Rule 251), at Walkerford (MP 126.0) and another at Riverville, to West Gladstone, turning east-southeast past a crossover at Gladstone (MP 119.2), and curvily north within a siding on the south side, from MP 119.1 to MP 117.3, where the maximum speed rises to 40 mph for passenger trains and freight trains 14,000 tons or less, past the resumption of single track at Greenway (MP 114.1), Buffalo Station, and a detector at MP 109.1, east past the 7,270 ft. north-side siding, from West Norwood (MP 108.7) to East Norwood (MP 107.3), very curvily north-northeast, past Midway, Warminster, and the 11,980 ft. north-side siding, from West Howardsville (MP 91.0) to East Howardsville (MP 88.6), and just north of due east, past Warren, where an erstwhile spur from Esmont once trailed in on the north side, a detector at MP 85.2, and Hatton.
There is a sharp curve around a river bend, north to an east-facing spur on the south side at Scottsville (MP 79.4) and then south-southeast, past Nicholas, just south of due east, past Hardware, the start of Two Main Tracks, CTC, at Shores (MP 70.4), two dual-ended extra tracks on the north side, from West Strathmore (MP 69.7) to MP 69.3, the former junction with an erstwhile line north to Lindsay, near Gordonsville, a crossover at Strathmore (MP 68.4), a connection on the south side to the Buckingham Branch railroad south to Dillwyn, and resumption of single track, CTC, at Bremo (MP 66.4), a detector at MP 66.2, and Agnes (MP 64.6), turning northeast, past Stearnes to the 7,260 ft. north-side siding, from West Columbia (MP 56.6) to East Columbia (MP 55.2), east-southeast, past Island and Elk Hill, south, east-southeast, past the 8,790 ft. north side siding, from West Pemberton (MP 48.1) to East Pemberton (MP 46.4), Stokes, West View, a detector at MP 42.2, and Rock Castle.
The line turns northeast, north-northwest, north-northeast, and then curvily east-southeast, still following the north bank of the river, past the start of Two Main Tracks, CTC, at Irwin (MP 33.8), the reduction of maximum speed to 35 mph for all trains, at MP 32.3, and the resumption of single track, CTC, at Maidens (MP 29.7), just east of due south at State Farm to Lee, just north of due east, and curvily east-southeast again, past the return of the 40 mph maximum speed for passenger trains and lighter freights at MP 23.4, the 11,550 ft. south-side siding, from West Sabot (MP 21.0) to East Sabot (MP 18.6), Boscobel, two dual-ended extra tracks on the north side, from West Switch Luck (MP 18.4/18.3) to East Switch Luck (MP 17.0/16.8), a detector at MP 18.2, Vinita, Lorraine, where an erstwhile shortline once trailed in from the north, Bosher, a detector at MP 9.9, a 35 mph speed restriction for passenger and lighter freight trains, from MP 8.8 to MP 8.6, and the start of Two Main Tracks, CTC, at Westham (MP 7.5), turning south to Korah, and then south-southeast, still along the north bank of the river, past the bridge carrying the former Atlantic Coast Line main line south across the line, the river, and a former Southern line on the south side, , curving around to the east, past the return to 35 mph for all trains at MP 3.9, east-northeast, past a reduction of maximum speed for all trains to 30 mph at MP 1.7 and DX Cabin (MP 1.4), where an erstwhile line to 12th & Canal Street Station departed on the north side, and east-southeast, past the location where an erstwhile ACL line crossed on its way to 8th & Byrd Streets Station, a bridge carrying the former Southern line over the river and overhead, which then curves back to bridge overhead again at the same location where the former Seaboard Air Line south from Main Street Station also bridges overhead (the famous "triple crossing"), and Rivanna Junction (MP 0.0/84.5), where the former C&O line down the hill from Main Street Station trails in on the north side.