Train robbery: Armed men rob CSX train in Hampton County town of Estill. Suspects at large.

Southern Hampton County witnessed a good old fashioned train robbery Friday − but with new techniques and new loot.

Local and state police responded to locations along U.S. Highway 321 near Estill for reports of armed men robbing cargo from from a CSX Transportation train.

The train robbery suspects were still at large as of Saturday morning, according to Sheriff Anthony Russell. He said local and state police continue to investigate.

Russell said via text message around 8 p.m. Friday that no arrests have been made. It is unclear if police have any suspects.

The event was sparked by the sighting of an armed man at approximately 12:44 p.m. Friday, when the Hampton County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call regarding a man with a gun standing on the railroad tracks near Steep Bottom Road and Highway 321 in Estill. Traffic on that highway was stopped between the town of Estill and the town of Scotia, said H.C. Emergency Management Division Director Susanne Peeples.

The call was made by a CSX train conductor. According to the conductor, a suspect described as an "armed gunman" was seen standing on the tracks near the train. It appears to the caller that this was an attempt to get the train to stop and possibly gain access to the cargoes

At 1:46 p.m. the HCSO posted on its Facebook page that "there is a gunman on the loose in the area near and around Canfor Southern Pine in Estill. Hwy 321 near this area and Steep Bottom Road is blocked off. Please avoid this area!"