mike.wilson1294
IMG_1996
Norfolk Southern AC44C6M #4270 and four other units bring up the tail end of an enormous coal train conquering Elkhorn Grade and entering Elkhorn Tunnel outside of Maybeury, WV on February 20, 2021. This section of railroad was developed by the Norfolk & Western beginning in the late 1940s as part of a massive realignment project to create a more efficient flow of traffic over Elkhorn Mountain to and from Bluefield, WV. Before 1950, when this massive realignment was completed, all trains east and west were routed through the old Coaldale Tunnel which was single track and essentially acted as a bottleneck for all rail traffic east and west. The difference in the flow of eastbound traffic was immediately noticed in 1950 upon completion of Elkhorn Tunnel and the new Elkhorn Grade with export coal increasing 14% as compared to 1949.
IMG_1996
Norfolk Southern AC44C6M #4270 and four other units bring up the tail end of an enormous coal train conquering Elkhorn Grade and entering Elkhorn Tunnel outside of Maybeury, WV on February 20, 2021. This section of railroad was developed by the Norfolk & Western beginning in the late 1940s as part of a massive realignment project to create a more efficient flow of traffic over Elkhorn Mountain to and from Bluefield, WV. Before 1950, when this massive realignment was completed, all trains east and west were routed through the old Coaldale Tunnel which was single track and essentially acted as a bottleneck for all rail traffic east and west. The difference in the flow of eastbound traffic was immediately noticed in 1950 upon completion of Elkhorn Tunnel and the new Elkhorn Grade with export coal increasing 14% as compared to 1949.