CSX Transportation Historical Society

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CSX Big Sandy SD - 2024 more late Summer

Rail Fan Adventure --

1. UP 6066-8331-5880 are parked in Shelby Yard on E444-06 (Haile FL to Pardee mine WV) with 82 empty CSX hoppers. Haile FL is west of Gainesville. From Google Earth I see a quarry there that gets rail service but no coal handling facility. 09-11-2024.
UP 6066-8331-5880 are parked in Shelby Yard on E444-06 (Haile FL to Pardee mine WV) with 82 empty CSX hoppers. Haile FL is west of Gainesville. From Google Earth I see a quarry there that gets rail service but no coal handling facility. 09-11-2024.

2. UP AC4400CW 6066 has had a rough life. Shelby KY.
UP AC4400CW 6066 has had a rough life. Shelby KY.

3. UP 8331 is a SD70ACe. Shelby KY.
UP 8331 is a SD70ACe. Shelby KY.

4. UP C44ACCTE 5880 appears to have been through a war also. Shelby KY.
UP C44ACCTE 5880 appears to have been through a war also. Shelby KY.

5. E444-06 rolls west near Pikeville. Many year ago there was a flag stop sign here for “Titan Siding.” 09-11-2024. UP 6066-8331-5880. Shelby KY.
E444-06 rolls west near Pikeville. Many year ago there was a flag stop sign here for “Titan Siding.” 09-11-2024. UP 6066-8331-5880. Shelby KY.

6. E444 passes the inactive load-out at Ivel. Work is underway to use this facility again. UP 6066-8331-5880.
E444 passes the inactive load-out at Ivel. Work is underway to use this facility again. UP 6066-8331-5880.

7. CN 3381-2763 pass Coal Run Jct. on the siding with ethanol train B669-12 (Clearing Yard Chicago to Wadesboro NC Winston Salem Southbound RR). 09-13-2024.
CN 3381-2763 pass Coal Run Jct. on the siding with ethanol train B669-12 (Clearing Yard Chicago to Wadesboro NC Winston Salem Southbound RR). 09-13-2024.

8. CN 3381 is ex-GECX or BNSF. It is now an “AC44C6M” having been rebuilt from a C44-9W with DC traction motors. Wabtec is rebuilding NS’s DC units to the same model designation, so maybe they are doing the work. Coal Run Jct.
CN 3381 is ex-GECX or BNSF. It is now an “AC44C6M” having been rebuilt from a C44-9W with DC traction motors. Wabtec is rebuilding NS’s DC units to the same model designation, so maybe they are doing the work. Coal Run Jct.

9. CN 2763 is an ex-CREX ES44AC. We will see these units again on their return trip north. 09-13-2024. Coal Run Jct.
CN 2763 is an ex-CREX ES44AC. We will see these units again on their return trip north. 09-13-2024. Coal Run Jct.

10. We shot R243 going from Shelby to Martin on Friday, 09-2022, with 110 DKPX MTYs. On Sunday, 09-2022, the R280 job has picked up the loaded train at Martin and is returning to Shelby. The train loaded at one of the mines in the EK coal district (L&N). R280 has just left Martin Yard on the Big Sandy Extension (fka E&BV SD). CSX 1900-7384-7233. Arkansas.
We shot R243 going from Shelby to Martin on Friday, 09-2022, with 110 DKPX MTYs. On Sunday, 09-2022, the R280 job has picked up the loaded train at Martin and is returning to Shelby. The train loaded at one of the mines in the EK coal district (L&N). R280 has just left Martin Yard on the Big Sandy Extension (fka E&BV SD). CSX 1900-7384-7233. Arkansas.

11. Arkansas is the CTC signal at the west end of Martin Yard. CSX Big Sandy Extension #1. 07-01-2017.
Arkansas is the CTC signal at the west end of Martin Yard. CSX Big Sandy Extension #1. 07-01-2017.

12. At Beaver Jct. R280 has an approach signal coming off the Extension. Westbound M652 has an approach medium signal on No. 1.
At Beaver Jct. R280 has an approach signal coming off the Extension. Westbound M652 has an approach medium signal on No. 1.

13. CSX 1900-7384-7233. Beaver Jct.
CSX 1900-7384-7233. Beaver Jct.

14. R280 will pull the train past the eastbound signal in the distance. CSX 1900-7384-7233. Beaver Jct.
R280 will pull the train past the eastbound signal in the distance. CSX 1900-7384-7233. Beaver Jct.

15. At EM Cabin (Emma KY) M652 rolls westbound on No. 1 behind CSX 136-5371.
At EM Cabin (Emma KY) M652 rolls westbound on No. 1 behind CSX 136-5371.

16. CSX Big Sandy SD emp. tt. #1, 07-01-2017. Ivel siding and the Middle Creek SD have been removed.
CSX Big Sandy SD emp. tt. #1, 07-01-2017. Ivel siding and the Middle Creek SD have been removed.

17. R280 will cross from No. 2 to No. 1 and return east to their train. CSX 1900-7384-7233. EM Cabin.
R280 will cross from No. 2 to No. 1 and return east to their train. CSX 1900-7384-7233. EM Cabin.

18. R280 heads east on No. 1 at EM Cabin. CSX 7233-7384-1900.
R280 heads east on No. 1 at EM Cabin. CSX 7233-7384-1900.

19. Ready to couple up at Beaver Jct. CSX 1900.
Ready to couple up at Beaver Jct. CSX 1900.

20. Westbound M852 approaches with CSX 5408-3169.
Westbound M852 approaches with CSX 5408-3169.

21. The conductor inspects M852. CSX 7233. Beaver Jct.
The conductor inspects M852. CSX 7233. Beaver Jct.

22. The track inspector’s work is very important. CSX 7233. Beaver Jct.
The track inspector’s work is very important. CSX 7233. Beaver Jct.

23. Medium clear signal at Beaver Jct. to cross from No. 2 to No. 1 and proceed to Shelby. CSX 7233. Beaver Jct.
Medium clear signal at Beaver Jct. to cross from No. 2 to No. 1 and proceed to Shelby. CSX 7233. Beaver Jct.

24. Can’t get enough of this beautiful unit. Shelby ready track on 09-23-2024. CSX 1900 stayed around for a few days on mine runs. Shelby.
Can’t get enough of this beautiful unit. Shelby ready track on 09-23-2024. CSX 1900 stayed around for a few days on mine runs. Shelby.

25. Remember B669 shot at Coal Run Jct. on 09-2013? Here the CN power return on 09-2023 as B670 (Wadesboro NC WSSB to Clearing Yard Chicago). Winston Salem Southbound was jointly owned by ACL and N&W. It is now owned by CSX and NS. In steam they had an ex-N&W 2-6-6-2, 4-8-0s, and ACL 2-8-2s. WSSB later got four GP9s. CN 2763 CSX 70-3381. Shelby.
Remember B669 shot at Coal Run Jct. on 09-2013? Here the CN power return on 09-2023 as B670 (Wadesboro NC WSSB to Clearing Yard Chicago). Winston Salem Southbound was jointly owned by ACL and N&W. It is now owned by CSX and NS. In steam they had an ex-N&W 2-6-6-2, 4-8-0s, and ACL 2-8-2s. WSSB later got four GP9s. CN 2763 CSX 70-3381. Shelby.

26. CN ES44AC 2763 is ex-CREX (Citicorp Railmark). Shelby.
CN ES44AC 2763 is ex-CREX (Citicorp Railmark). Shelby.

27. B670 departs off the main at Shelby. CN 2763 CSX 742. Shelby.
B670 departs off the main at Shelby. CN 2763 CSX 742. Shelby.

28. B670 has 92 empties including two buffers. I’m not crazy about seeing CNs on the old Illinois Central, but their paint scheme is a classic especially when fresh. 09-23-2024. CN 2763 - CSX 70 - CN 3381. Shelby.
B670 has 92 empties including two buffers. I’m not crazy about seeing CNs on the old Illinois Central, but their paint scheme is a classic especially when fresh. 09-23-2024. CN 2763 - CSX 70 - CN 3381. Shelby.

All for now.

Train images used by permission of Everett N Young