CSX Transportation Historical Society

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CSX - Gauley Trolley, 4-5-2013

Rail Fan Adventure --
Ron Piskor and I set out from Hawks Nest State Park at Ansted, W.Va., for a day of railfanning.  Our first order was to drive down the crooked mountain on US 60 to see if anything was about to happen out of Gauley Bridge (CSX) or Alloy (NS).  Nothing was imminent, so we decided to drove on down toward Montgomery.  Soon we heard a train on the scanner coming eastbound on CSX.  Sounded like the crew identified their engine as “1325.”  Now that would be a Genset, and I knew that CSX based a couple in South Charleston.  We pulled over on the side of US 60 and waited a few minutes to confirm.  Sure ‘nuff, it was Genset no. 1325 on the “Gauley Trolley” local. 
 
1. H876 quickly got a track warrant from NS’s P-D Dispatcher to use the Vaco Branch and Deepwater District to get across the river to Alloy.
H876 quickly got a track warrant from NS’s P-D Dispatcher to use the Vaco Branch and Deepwater District to get across the river to Alloy.
 
2. H876 delivers and pulls cars for the metals plant.  That’s US 60 on the right. 
H876 delivers and pulls cars for the metals plant. That’s US 60 on the right. 
 
3. A NS coal train is parked in Alloy Yard awaiting a crew to go east to Elmore.
A NS coal train is parked in Alloy Yard awaiting a crew to go east to Elmore.
 
4. A NS coal train is parked in Alloy Yard awaiting a crew to go east to Elmore. view 2.
A NS coal train is parked in Alloy Yard awaiting a crew to go east to Elmore. view 2.
 
5. The brakeman resets the derail.
The brakeman resets the derail.
 
6. This crew got their work done quickly.  Caboose 904124 brings up the rear.  This was the end of the old Virginian. 
This crew got their work done quickly. Caboose 904124 brings up the rear. This was the end of the old Virginian. 
 
7. U. S. Rail GP49 no. 2803 is used by Periama Handling LLC at the rail-to-barge transfer behind the metals plant. 
U. S. Rail GP49 no. 2803 is used by Periama Handling LLC at the rail-to-barge transfer behind the metals plant. 
 
8. This former Alaska Railroad GP49 was built in 1983 and sold in 2006.  It has 2,800 h.p.  Note how the plow has been recessed into the frame which has been cut away. 
This former Alaska Railroad GP49 was built in 1983 and sold in 2006. It has 2,800 h.p. Note how the plow has been recessed into the frame which has been cut away. 
 
9. H876 hustles west at Mt. Carbon with three cars. 
H876 hustles west at Mt. Carbon with three cars. 
 
10. H876 hustles west at Mt. Carbon with three cars.  View 2.
H876 hustles west at Mt. Carbon with three cars. View 2.
 

Train images used by permission of Everett N Young

last update - 10 Jan 2014