In a heavy downpour, unit train 77G has just loaded the first cut of coal and is headed to the weigh in motion scales. NS always used six engines coming from John Sevier yard, loading and taking b... (more)
Skywalking. Looking down from atop Kopper Glo's massive 8,000 ton storage and loadout silo, NS backs mtys up the hemlock shrouded steep grade in preparation for loading coal. The large prep plant ... (more)
With a group of company execs looking on, an NS crew prepares to begin loading black diamonds at the National Coal Turley loadout.
Crawling out of a sump, the first half of 77G prepares to weigh in motion at the scalehouse and then smoke it downhill for 47 miles to John Sevier yard with 52 loaded coal hoppers. Power for the s... (more)
With power for the second cut idling in the middle siding, the first half creeps forward as wheel loaders do their job to the rear.
Hoping to make the crossing in time and with an arm stuck out for extra velocity and momentum, a Jeep crosses in front of half a loaded unit train of coal pointed downhill. The coal is destined fo... (more)
Preparing to load a unit train at Kopper Glo off the Clearfork Branch, NS spots mtys under the 200 foot tall coal loadout silo which holds about 8,000 tons of cleaned and prepped coal. They load i... (more)
Let the loading begin. With 8,000 tons of coal above our heads, the first mpty is loaded from the control room at the Kopper Glo prep plant.
Loading with a wheel loader, three at a time, generally takes six hours. The unit train is cut into two halves with three motors for each half.
A venerable SD70 waits its turn for the second cut of coal at Turley. NS uses six engines from Sevier Yard and three back in each half, mainly for braking.
Sandwiched between mtys and an SD70, the first cut of 77G is being loaded by wheel loaders at Turley.
With a slight dusting of snow on the trees, NS 77G pulls another seven cars forward for the team of three wheel loaders working on the coal stockpile. The orange railed contraption on the upper tr... (more)
Under warranty. Enough said.
With the sideview mirror turned down, a motor for NS 77G idles away while working on a branch coal run.
How do you stop half a unit train worth of coal rolling downhill, roughly 6,000 tons? Close call?
