Locomotives

Although owned by the Southern Railway, the A&Y maintained a lease agreement for a core fleet of roughly sixteen steam locomotives for most of its independent operating life. These locomotives were stenciled for the A&Y, though their numbers were rarely altered from the Southern's scheme. Beyond the leased fleet, the A&Y rented additional power from the Southern on a daily basis during peak seasons — spring planting and fertilizer traffic were the principal drivers.

The A&Y trackage was built with light 60-lb. rail, and nothing larger than a Consolidation (2-8-0) was rostered through the steam era. Freight was handled primarily by H, J, and K class Consolidations in the later years. The K class were likely confined to Greensboro, Pomona Yard, and the belt-line serving the Proximity and White Oak mills, though some evidence places them as far north as Walnut Cove. Passenger and mixed service was handled by Ten Wheelers (4-6-0) of Classes F and F-1, acquired secondhand from the Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac in late 1929.

Documentation is sparse before roughly 1924. For much of the period from 1899 to 1916 the Southern operated the A&Y as little more than an internal division; the early CF&YV-inherited Classes B and E were almost certainly retained as assigned Southern power rather than distinctly A&Y locomotives. The lease agreement system that defines the A&Y's well-documented fleet came into clearer focus after the road entered receivership in 1924 and operated with greater independence through 1950.

Complete Roster