Mainline hopper movements

[NW Mailing List]

I believe Robert Slavy has just posted some pictures of the area under
discussion in  Fans Of The Norfolk & Western And Virginian Railway
<https://www.facebook.com/groups/385531704968799/>   on Facebook.  There is
one that quite possibly shows the holding tracks (sidings) at the start of
the branch.  These were made around 1980 which I believe would have been
very close to the end of operations.  Does anyone know when the tracks were
removed?
Jim Cochran

On Mon, Dec 1, 2025 at 7:17 AM NW Mailing List <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>
wrote:

> 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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