CSX - Maintenance of Way Are Us - Fall 2024
I'm calling this MofW, but really, W092 is one of the several rip-rap trains running down to the Nolechucky Gorge to put a road bed back in place after the disastrous flood of September 2024. As of today, the Blue Ridge SD is not yet open.
1. UP 8413-5665 are ready to leave Shelby with W092-15 on 11-19-2024. W092 has 88 loads of rip-rap stone weighing 13,178 tons.
2. UP 8413 is a SD70ACe.
3. BLMX is Aggregates Equipment LLC. I couldn't find anything on Beelman. BLMX 1620 has a load limit of 234,400 lbs., a volume of 2518 cubic feet, and was built by Freight Car America in 06-2016 at NS's former Roanoke car shop.
4. 1610 is a much cleaner car.
5. BLMX is a newer car.
6. Uniform-sized cars make a nice-looking train.
7. BLMX 1690 is 234,200 and 2,517. It was built by Freight Car America at their new Castanos, Mexico plant in 05-2023. It is branded as an "AGON" aggregates gon. Note the clean-out door on the right, one of four. FCA has shuttered Danville IL, Roanoke VA, and Johnstown PA in favor of Mexico. They need to change their name to "Freight Car Mexico"! Maybe Trump's tariffs will force production back to the U.S.
8. UP 8413-5665 crosses the Russell Fork of the Big Sandy River at Elkhorn City with W092-15. He will hit the steep grade up the former Clinchfield at the end of the bridge. He is on the former C&O here.
9. UP 6036-9578 and CSX 5409 are the DPU. 11-19-2024.
10. The day wasn't over yet! Back at Shelby track geometry train W001-19 arrived behind SD40-2 8052. 11-19-2024.
11. TGC2, a former C&O coach, brings up the rear.
12. CSX 994368 "Detroit" is now part of the track geometry train, although I'm unsure of its function or history.
13. W001 was parked overnight at Shelby and probably went on to Kingsport the next day. 11-19-2024.
All for now.
Train images used by permission of Everett N Young