CSX - Coal Run SD - Winter 2024-25
News was circulating that Excel Mining's Scotts Branch would be shutting down efore the end of 2024. Because of that, Christian and I made an effort to photograph what we thought would be the last trains. This hasn't happened; Scotts Branch is still loading 2-3 trains a week. We hope this doesn't happen, as it would have a severe employment and economic impact on the area.
1. CSX 764-279 on mine run R279 spot up to load at Star Ridge Land LLC's Goff loadout on 12-09-2024. This train will leave Coal Run as C122 for Newport News. Goff and Scotts Branch are the only active mines on the Coal Run Subdivision.
2. On 02-07-2025 we caught up with 3427-7209 at Scotts Branch mine. They had finished supplying the empty rapid discharge hoppers of E854 (Gaston AL to Coal Run).
3. This train was composed of JHMX and APOX (Alabama Power), DEGX (Mississippi Power), RWSX (Georgia Power ex Sherer Electric Generating Facility), and NDYX (Wells Fargo Rail Corp.). The E. C. Gaston generating plant is owned by Alabama Power, a subsidiary of Southern Company. Units #1-4 were converted to burn gas, but unit #5 still burns coal. However, it is slated to be retired in 2028. Plant Gaston is located at Wilsonville in Shelby County, Alabama. Oddly enough, the plant is located on NS.!
4. Loading view 2.
5. The next afternoon, we found that E854 had been loaded. Excel uses this re-engined ALCo switcher to move cuts of cars. 02-08-2025.
6. Looking west on the Coal Run SD. JDNX 2001 is parked on the tail track.
7. Looking east on the Coal Run SD with the end of the mine siding tail track on the left.
8. Looking back west near the end of the tail track.
9. JDNX 2001 in the distance.
10. JDNX 2001 closer.
11. CSX shoves in the empties over this switch.
12. Scotts Branch track layout.
13. A R279-08 crew was taxied over from Shelby and boarded the engines that were parked overnight.
14. Sometimes the "dinkey" would be parked on this stub siding.
15. R279-08 marches up the 1.2% grade up Miller's Creek as darkness falls. Conductor Riddle is bringing 41 cars on the first run to Coal Run yard. They will go back for the remaining 49 a little later. Two ACs can normally handle 55 cars on this grade. This was the location of the original Ramsey mine siding layout; however, the tipple was never built, and the sidings were subsequently removed.
"Ramsey" was about MP 5. The switches at Scotts Branch mine are around MP 9.
All for now.
Train images used by permission of Everett N Young