CO0219
First, please accept my apologies for the poor quality of this image. That said, I thought that it may be of interest to some. The date is Aug. 25, 1973 and we are in the Solite Corp. plant near Arvonia, VA on C&O's Dillwyn Branch, now the Buckingham Branch RR. The plant heated slate to make light weight aggregate. Slate pops like popcorn when heated. The result is a light weight aggregate that maintains its strength, while reducing the weight. It is most commonly used to make light weight concrete block. One kiln can be seen in the background, and if I recall correctly, there were three. My guess is that they shipped 10-20 cars a day. Note the conductor, waybills stuffed in his back pocket, conversing with a plant employee. A search on Google Maps indicates that there is little, if anything left of the plant today.
CO0219
First, please accept my apologies for the poor quality of this image. That said, I thought that it may be of interest to some. The date is Aug. 25, 1973 and we are in the Solite Corp. plant near Arvonia, VA on C&O's Dillwyn Branch, now the Buckingham Branch RR. The plant heated slate to make light weight aggregate. Slate pops like popcorn when heated. The result is a light weight aggregate that maintains its strength, while reducing the weight. It is most commonly used to make light weight concrete block. One kiln can be seen in the background, and if I recall correctly, there were three. My guess is that they shipped 10-20 cars a day. Note the conductor, waybills stuffed in his back pocket, conversing with a plant employee. A search on Google Maps indicates that there is little, if anything left of the plant today.