614T at Milton, WV
During several weeks in January and February 1985 Chesapeake and Ohio 614 ran on the C&O mainline between Huntington and Hinton, WV. The 614 was renumbered to 614T with the "T" signifying Test as it was being used as a testbed for technology and performance measuring diagnostics supporting a proposed new generation of coal-burning steam locomotives. American Coal Enterprises was looking at developing a modern coal-fired steam locomotive to be used as an alternative to rising oil costs, known as the ACE 3000 Project. The 4-8-4 Class J3a Greenbrier was the last commercially produced steam locomotive sold in the US. Built by Lima in June 1948 for the C&O it was retired in 1952.
I was a college student at West Virginia University in 1985 and traveled down to the C&O to catch the 614T with another student the weekend of January 18-20, which just happened to be during one of the most intense arctic outbreaks of the 20th century which occurred January 18-22, 1985. Extremely cold temperatures affected every state east of the Rockies with three new state record lows established: -34° at Mt. Mitchell, NC, -19° at Caesar's Head, SC; and -30° at Mountain Lake, VA. According to newspaper reports at least 165 fatalities were attributed to the weather. The inauguration parade for President Reagan's second term was canceled with wind chills in Washington DC colder than -10° F.
The trip got off to a start by stopping to take night shots of helpers at Burnsville, WV on the B&O on the way in absolutly frigid conditions:
The next day we heard that 614T would be returning from Hinton with the test train after dropping off coal loads but had little other information. Hours in the cold waiting east of Charleston was no fun but we did finally get it and chased it to Huntington. Here we see the 614T at Milton, WV at -17° F. It was absolutly amazing to watch the 614T run fast over the C&O in the artic air.
614T at Milton, WV
During several weeks in January and February 1985 Chesapeake and Ohio 614 ran on the C&O mainline between Huntington and Hinton, WV. The 614 was renumbered to 614T with the "T" signifying Test as it was being used as a testbed for technology and performance measuring diagnostics supporting a proposed new generation of coal-burning steam locomotives. American Coal Enterprises was looking at developing a modern coal-fired steam locomotive to be used as an alternative to rising oil costs, known as the ACE 3000 Project. The 4-8-4 Class J3a Greenbrier was the last commercially produced steam locomotive sold in the US. Built by Lima in June 1948 for the C&O it was retired in 1952.
I was a college student at West Virginia University in 1985 and traveled down to the C&O to catch the 614T with another student the weekend of January 18-20, which just happened to be during one of the most intense arctic outbreaks of the 20th century which occurred January 18-22, 1985. Extremely cold temperatures affected every state east of the Rockies with three new state record lows established: -34° at Mt. Mitchell, NC, -19° at Caesar's Head, SC; and -30° at Mountain Lake, VA. According to newspaper reports at least 165 fatalities were attributed to the weather. The inauguration parade for President Reagan's second term was canceled with wind chills in Washington DC colder than -10° F.
The trip got off to a start by stopping to take night shots of helpers at Burnsville, WV on the B&O on the way in absolutly frigid conditions:
The next day we heard that 614T would be returning from Hinton with the test train after dropping off coal loads but had little other information. Hours in the cold waiting east of Charleston was no fun but we did finally get it and chased it to Huntington. Here we see the 614T at Milton, WV at -17° F. It was absolutly amazing to watch the 614T run fast over the C&O in the artic air.