Flanary-WalnutCove train BlackwoodVA 5-26-86
On May 26, 1986, NS was just implementing some new operating procedures on the former Interstate Railroad. Coal did indeed move upgrade from Andover to Norton, even the steam days, but not to this extent. At least a portion of bituminous was routed to Miller Yard, Va., where it was interchanged with the Clinchfield for delivery to consignees in the Carolinas primarily. The creation of Norfolk Southern (and, CSX) changed the calculus on what the best routes might be to get maximum tonnage from A to B with (1) fewer crews, (2) less mileage, (3) faster velocity, and (4) lower operational costs.
One example is shown here as a unit coal train for Walnut Cove, N.C. (on the N&W's Roanoke-Winston Salem line) requires the services of six EMD six-motor hoods of both Southern and N&W prior ownership blasts through Blackwood, Va. I had climbed to the top of a single hopper spotted on the spur for a better photo angle (nothing I would recommend, but I was exactly half my current age at the time.
The going is actually easy here, but from Josephine to the top of the hill at Norton the grade will briefly reach nearly 3 percent at the top. The trotting speed at this point will be down to a literal crawl on the last quarter mile to the top. The use of pushers on the former Interstate was a new thing--a favorite train handling technique of the N&W that influenced operations on the new system.
Flanary-WalnutCove train BlackwoodVA 5-26-86
On May 26, 1986, NS was just implementing some new operating procedures on the former Interstate Railroad. Coal did indeed move upgrade from Andover to Norton, even the steam days, but not to this extent. At least a portion of bituminous was routed to Miller Yard, Va., where it was interchanged with the Clinchfield for delivery to consignees in the Carolinas primarily. The creation of Norfolk Southern (and, CSX) changed the calculus on what the best routes might be to get maximum tonnage from A to B with (1) fewer crews, (2) less mileage, (3) faster velocity, and (4) lower operational costs.
One example is shown here as a unit coal train for Walnut Cove, N.C. (on the N&W's Roanoke-Winston Salem line) requires the services of six EMD six-motor hoods of both Southern and N&W prior ownership blasts through Blackwood, Va. I had climbed to the top of a single hopper spotted on the spur for a better photo angle (nothing I would recommend, but I was exactly half my current age at the time.
The going is actually easy here, but from Josephine to the top of the hill at Norton the grade will briefly reach nearly 3 percent at the top. The trotting speed at this point will be down to a literal crawl on the last quarter mile to the top. The use of pushers on the former Interstate was a new thing--a favorite train handling technique of the N&W that influenced operations on the new system.