CSX Transportation Historical Society

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Coal Car Cornucopia - 12-11-2018

Rail Fan Adventure --

Here are some recent hoppers and gons I’ve shot in various places.

1. Herzog Contracting (HZGX) hopper 6649 on ballast train at Shelby KY on 03-17-2018. 203,750 load limit, 2200 cu ft volume, blt 05-1977.
Herzog Contracting (HZGX) hopper 6649 on ballast train at Shelby KY on 03-17-2018. 203,750 load limit, 2200 cu ft volume, blt 05-1977.

2. HZGX hopper 6633 is 203,300 load limit, 2200 cu ft and also built 05-1977 by Greenville Steel Car Co. Shelby KY.
HZGX hopper 6633 is 203,300 load limit, 2200 cu ft and also built 05-1977 by Greenville Steel Car Co. Shelby KY.

3. HZGX 6633 Builder Image. Shelby KY.
HZGX 6633 Builder Image. Shelby KY.

4. R. J. Corman Cleveland Line (RJCC) hopper 330406 is ex-Lake Erie, Franklin & Clarion 3965. Dover OH on 06-23-2018.
R. J. Corman Cleveland Line (RJCC) hopper 330406 is ex-Lake Erie, Franklin & Clarion 3965. Dover OH on 06-23-2018.

5. RJCC 330366 at Dover OH on 06-23-2018. Evidently used in ballast or stone service. Note plate extending over part of slope sheet on left end.
RJCC 330366 at Dover OH on 06-23-2018. Evidently used in ballast or stone service. Note plate extending over part of slope sheet on left end.

6. Wells Fargo Rail (FURX), fka First Union Rail, tub 960450. 4358 cu ft, 241,800 load limit, build 03-1995. Shelby KY 08-12-2018.
Wells Fargo Rail (FURX), fka First Union Rail, tub 960450. 4358 cu ft, 241,800 load limit, build 03-1995. Shelby KY 08-12-2018.

7. FURX gon 963686 is 4437 cu ft, 242,200 load limit, built 02-1994, Shelby KY.
FURX gon 963686 is 4437 cu ft, 242,200 load limit, built 02-1994, Shelby KY.

8. ROKX hopper 8417 belongs now to CP&L dba Progress Energy Carolinas Inc. I detect a slanting “E” on the side which means it was formally Electric Fuels, a subsidiary of merger partner Florida Power. Kellysville WV.
ROKX hopper 8417 belongs now to CP&L dba Progress Energy Carolinas Inc. I detect a slanting “E” on the side which means it was formally Electric Fuels, a subsidiary of merger partner Florida Power. Kellysville WV.

9. ROKX hopper 8437 is also 213,100 load limit, 3283 cu ft and built 11-1984. This southbound unit stone train is parked on the former VGN at Kellysville WV. It was loaded by Boxley in Princeton yard and is going to the Hyco NC power plant for use in scrubbers.
ROKX hopper 8437 is also 213,100 load limit, 3283 cu ft and built 11-1984. This southbound unit stone train is parked on the former VGN at Kellysville WV. It was loaded by Boxley in Princeton yard and is going to the Hyco NC power plant for use in scrubbers.

10. Reading, Blue Mountain & Northern (RBMN) hopper 8267 is 204,600 load limit, 3418 cu ft and built 07-1975. Seen at Lynchburg VA on 08-2015, it is loaded with anthracite coal from Good Spring PA and bound for Kinder-Morgan’s terminal in Charleston SC. I wonder if this car didn’t come from Pennsylvania Power & Light (PPLX) which had cars of 3418 volume and built around the same time.
Reading, Blue Mountain & Northern (RBMN) hopper 8267 is 204,600 load limit, 3418 cu ft and built 07-1975. Seen at Lynchburg VA on 08-2015, it is loaded with anthracite coal from Good Spring PA and bound for Kinder-Morgan’s terminal in Charleston SC. I wonder if this car didn’t come from Pennsylvania Power & Light (PPLX) which had cars of 3418 volume and built around the same time.

11. RBMN hopper 7553 is 201,400 load limit and built 12-1977. Lynchburg VA.
RBMN hopper 7553 is 201,400 load limit and built 12-1977. Lynchburg VA.

12. RBMN hopper 7553. View 2. Lynchburg VA.
RBMN hopper 7553. View 2. Lynchburg VA.

13. RBMN 7553. Logo. Lynchburg VA.
RBMN 7553. Logo. Lynchburg VA.

14. Metal Management Inc (MLMX) gon 373 is passing through NS’s Montview yard at Lynchburg VA on 08-25-2018. Looks like an old “Coalveyor” design.
Metal Management Inc (MLMX) gon 373 is passing through NS’s Montview yard at Lynchburg VA on 08-25-2018. Looks like an old “Coalveyor” design.

15. Note the Metal Management Logo. MLMX gon 374. Lynchburg VA.
Note the Metal Management Logo. MLMX gon 374. Lynchburg VA.

16. Simsmetal East LLC gon SHNX 101084 has a Sims Metal Management logo. Evidently these two firms are affiliated. Lynchburg VA.
Simsmetal East LLC gon SHNX 101084 has a Sims Metal Management logo. Evidently these two firms are affiliated. Lynchburg VA.

17. Trinity Industries Inc. (TILX) gon 43360 arriving Shelby KY today, 12-11-2018. It has escaped the graffiti artists! Same dimensions as 42722 below.
Trinity Industries Inc. (TILX) gon 43360 arriving Shelby KY today, 12-11-2018. It has escaped the graffiti artists! Same dimensions as 42722 below.

18. TILX gon 42722 was built by Trinity Industries for their lease fleet 10-2008. 4402 cubic feet, 244,300 load limit. By the way, the old water tank in the background will soon come down. That is the last steam-era support structure left at Shelby KY.
TILX gon 42722 was built by Trinity Industries for their lease fleet 10-2008. 4402 cubic feet, 244,300 load limit. By the way, the old water tank in the background will soon come down. That is the last steam-era support structure left at Shelby KY.

19. ICXX is Indiantown Cogeneration LP. It was the southern-most coal-fired power plant that CSX served being on the old SAL north of Miami. Florida Power & Light acquired the plant in 2016 and planned to shut it down by 2019. The coal plant was deemed uneconomical to operate and is being replaced by solar and gas generation. Unit trains of these used to pass through here. Arriving Shelby this morning, 12-11-2018, the train was doubled to the shortest tracks on the west side meaning it will go up the Sandy Valley to Myra or Rob Fork. ICXX hopper 500092. Shelby KY.
ICXX is Indiantown Cogeneration LP. It was the southern-most coal-fired power plant that CSX served being on the old SAL north of Miami. Florida Power & Light acquired the plant in 2016 and planned to shut it down by 2019. The coal plant was deemed uneconomical to operate and is being replaced by solar and gas generation. Unit trains of these used to pass through here. Arriving Shelby this morning, 12-11-2018, the train was doubled to the shortest tracks on the west side meaning it will go up the Sandy Valley to Myra or Rob Fork. ICXX hopper 500092. Shelby KY.

20. Built in Freight Car America’s Roanoke VA shop (former N&W/NS) 03-2006, this car has 237,100 load limit and a volume of 4200 cubic feet. It is suited for varied customer destinations by being equipped with rotary couplers and rapid discharge hopper doors. ICXX hopper 500092. View 2. Shelby KY.
Built in Freight Car America’s Roanoke VA shop (former N&W/NS) 03-2006, this car has 237,100 load limit and a volume of 4200 cubic feet. It is suited for varied customer destinations by being equipped with rotary couplers and rapid discharge hopper doors. ICXX hopper 500092. View 2. Shelby KY.

21. WFRX gon 973623 now belongs to Wells Fargo Rail. Arriving Shelby KY this morning 12-11-2018.
WFRX gon 973623 now belongs to Wells Fargo Rail. Arriving Shelby KY this morning 12-11-2018.

22. Wells Fargo Rail evidently acquired some of the other leasing companies. They recently acquired First Union Rail. WFRX gon 973601. Shelby KY.
Wells Fargo Rail evidently acquired some of the other leasing companies. They recently acquired First Union Rail. WFRX gon 973601. Shelby KY.
This is on the Wells Fargo Rail web site:
Dedicated to helping your business succeed for the long haul.
Wells Fargo Rail is the largest and most diverse rail equipment operating lessor in North America, with more than 175,000 railcars and 1,800 locomotives. Based in Rosemont, IL, Wells Fargo Rail has the largest fleet of any rail operating lessor in North America, serving the North American market for rail equipment with customers in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico

All for now,

Train images used by permission of Everett N Young