1958 - N&W's Newest Tunnel Now Open for Trains

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Tue Jul 29 22:44:24 EDT 2008


Roanoke Times - July 30, 1958

N&W's Newest Tunnel Now Open for Trains

CARBO, July 29 - The first coal mined at the Clinchfield Coal
Co.'s Moss No. 3 operation in Dickenson County was moved out by rail
yesterday through the Norfolk and Western Railway's newest and longest tunnel.
The 8,220-foot tunnel through Sandy Ridge Mountain has now been
completed except for its concrete lining.
The new operation has a potential annual capacity of five million
tons and Clinchfield is building a hugh plant across the line in
Russell County to process about 15,000 tons a day.
In addition to the new tunnel, the N&W has lad about 15 miles of
new track in the area to accommodate the anticipated heavy flow of coal.
When the mine reaches full production, coal will be moved through
the tunnel to the processing plant and the out over the Clinch Valley.
Much of the coal will go to the Appalachian Power Co.'s new
450,000 kilowatt power plant near here.
The combined investment in the industrial project by the coal
company, the railway and the power firm has been estimated at about
100 million dollars.

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- Ron Davis, Roger Link




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