Mainline hopper movements

[NW Mailing List]

Jim C., Grant, Jimmy L., et al.

It would probably be a lot of work, but I think in addition to Mike's
suggestion about a track plan/chart, maybe looking at the information set
out in this thread, this could be a fine article for the *Arrow.  *Including
some information as to changes in the overall process over the years, with
the change in motive power, equipment, rules, etc.  I suspect  a lot of
people would appreciate the information even if they're not modeling that
area specifically.

Frank Bongiovanni

On Sun, Nov 30, 2025 at 6:48 PM NW Mailing List <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>
wrote:

> Jim C, you know what this message thread needs?  A dad-burned track chart
> - that's what.
> Some of us young ignorant types are doing our best to follow along.
> Grant, this is very interesting stuff.
>
> Mike Rector
>
> On Sat, Nov 29, 2025 at 8:01 PM NW Mailing List <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>
> wrote:
>
>> The Elkhorn pool run has filled both the Elk Ridge Storage track and the
>> North Fork Storage track, grabbed its cab and headed West to turn and pick
>> up loads.  Now, a mine run gets dispatched from Eckman bound for the North
>> fork branch.  What class locomotive?  Did it have a cab?  Was it facing
>> forward (East)?  When it arrived at North fork and signed onto the branch,
>> Would it pull all the empties from both storage tracks at Elk Ridge or a
>> lesser number prior to heading further up the holler to Algoma?
>> Jim Cochran
>>
>> On Fri, Nov 28, 2025 at 6:23 PM NW Mailing List <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> Maybe less pie and more nap – (2) edits below:
>>>
>>> Grant Carpenter
>>>
>>> On 11/28/2025 1:36 PM, NW Mailing List wrote:
>>>
>>> Hello Jim,
>>>
>>> There were six to ten crews assigned to the Elkhorn Pool out of
>>> Bluefield. They rotated first-in, first-out with eight hours of rest. They
>>> handled full-length mainline trains, that was 80 loads eastbound upgrade,
>>> which required a 2100 and a pusher.
>>>
>>> Specifically, the Elkhorn run to North Fork left Bluefield running
>>> forward with empties behind and a cab on the rear. A clarification from
>>> earlier where I stated this job would turn on the table at Eckman and
>>> pickup east loads there for the return trip to Bluefield: Farm became the
>>> turning point when the Eckman table was taken out of service. If so, this
>>> crew continued west, possibly picking up *east* loads along the WB
>>> main, turned, filled out tonnage at some point, met a pusher, and started
>>> back to Bluefield.
>>>
>>> Depending on the date, they called the operator or the dispatcher to
>>> unlock the switch at the branch junction with the WB main. Extra movements
>>> would have to register on, so the box should have been near that switch.
>>>
>>> If you are still referring to the Elkhorn crew, it was a trailing-point
>>> move to back empties into the Elk Ridge Storage track, yes, formally formerly
>>> the oven track, then into the North Fork Storage track, formally formerly
>>> the main track before a new main track was laid next to it. They would not
>>> have delivered Algoma – that was first on the mine run's agenda.
>>>
>>> Grant Carpenter
>>>
>>> On 11/27/2025 7:10 PM, NW Mailing List wrote:
>>>
>>> Hope everyone is full of turkey and pie and got at least one nap this
>>> afternoon,
>>> Had I been and engineer in Bluefield assigned to the Elkhorn pool (were
>>> crew assigned to the pools?), and drew the North Fork run, what class loco
>>> would I have had under me (a 2000?).  Would I be running forward or
>>> reverse?  Would the empties be in front of me or behind me?  Would there be
>>> a cab, and if so, where?
>>> When I get to North Fork, do I need to sign the book showing I am
>>> occupying the branch, and if so, where was the book kept (in the
>>> station?)?  After being cleared for the branch, and depending upon the
>>> loco's facing, I would start to either push or pull those empties around
>>> the hill where the Elk Ridge coke ovens used to be and head up the holler
>>> to make my first drop off at Algoma?
>>> Can I pack any more questions into one short message, time will tell,
>>> Jim Cochran
>>>
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