CSX Transportation Historical Society

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CSX - New River SD - Meadow Creek, Stone Cliff - 11-17-2024

Rail Fan Adventure --

On my return from the C&OHS Convention in Clifton Forge I made a couple of detours to see what was happening on the railroad. As I got off the exit at Sandstone a coal train was hurrying east toward Hinton. The scanner revealed another eastbound was following.

1. It wasn’t long before this eastbound freight came by. Nos. 3149-793 had 123 cars. I didn’t understand the train designation, but it had a lot of detoured cars that came from the Big Sandy. 11-17-2024. Meadow Creek EE.
It wasn’t long before this eastbound freight came by. Nos. 3149-793 had 123 cars. I didn’t understand the train designation, but it had a lot of detoured cars that came from the Big Sandy. 11-17-2024. Meadow Creek EE.

2. Ready to knock down the signal on Track 2 at the East End of Meadow Creek. CSX 3149-793. Meadow Creek EE.
Ready to knock down the signal on Track 2 at the East End of Meadow Creek. CSX 3149-793. Meadow Creek EE.

3. CSX Huntington Div. East timetable #1, 01-01-2016. CSX Htg Div East #1 1-1-16. New River.
CSX Huntington Div. East timetable #1, 01-01-2016. CSX Htg Div East #1 1-1-16. New River.

4. USGS Meadow Creek quad, 1996, 1:24,000 scale. Meadow Creek, WV, 1:24,000 quad, 1996, USGS.
USGS Meadow Creek quad, 1996, 1:24,000 scale. Meadow Creek, WV, 1:24,000 quad, 1996, USGS.

5. At 11:25 AM Amtrak #50 whizzed by on track 1. Amtrak engine 59 is a P42DC from a group built by GE 1996-97. Meadow Creek EE.
At 11:25 AM Amtrak #50 whizzed by on track 1. Amtrak engine 59 is a P42DC from a group built by GE 1996-97. Meadow Creek EE.

6. Amtrak 59 P050 is more or less on time this day. He’s on track 1 for the station stop at Hinton. Meadow Creek EE.
Amtrak 59 P050 is more or less on time this day. He’s on track 1 for the station stop at Hinton. Meadow Creek EE.

7. With markers lit, this DOTX (Federal Railroad Administration/U. S. Dept. of Transportation) car brought up the rear. Meadow Creek EE.
With markers lit, this DOTX (Federal Railroad Administration/U. S. Dept. of Transportation) car brought up the rear. Meadow Creek EE.

8. I followed R. J. Corman’s ex-C&O branch from Pax to Thurmond with hopes of finding their two SD70Ms. RJCC (R J Corman Central Kentucky Lines) MW ballast car 953275 was parked at Harvey where RJC maintains an office trailer. This car has a load limit of 171,800 lbs., and a volume of 2,200 cubic feet. I understand that it was originally built or rebuilt by CB&Q in the 1950s. Harvey WV.
I followed R. J. Corman’s ex-C&O branch from Pax to Thurmond with hopes of finding their two SD70Ms. RJCC (R J Corman Central Kentucky Lines) MW ballast car 953275 was parked at Harvey where RJC maintains an office trailer. This car has a load limit of 171,800 lbs., and a volume of 2,200 cubic feet. I understand that it was originally built or rebuilt by CB&Q in the 1950s. Harvey WV.

9. At South Side Jct. I found my target. RJC SD70Ms 2598-2648 came from NS where they had the same number. Thurmond WV.
At South Side Jct. I found my target. RJC SD70Ms 2598-2648 came from NS where they had the same number. Thurmond WV.

10. These two replaced three SD40-2s that were used as helpers. RJC uses the CSX road power. RJC 2598 SD70M. Thurmond WV.
These two replaced three SD40-2s that were used as helpers. RJC uses the CSX road power. RJC 2598 SD70M. Thurmond WV.

11. RJC 2648 SD70M. Thurmond WV.
RJC 2648 SD70M. Thurmond WV.

12. RJC 2598 SD70M. Thurmond WV.
RJC 2598 SD70M. Thurmond WV.

13. After hanging around Thurmond for a while, I headed up the river to check out Claremont WV. This is the east end of double track looking east toward Prince. CSX.
After hanging around Thurmond for a while, I headed up the river to check out Claremont WV. This is the east end of double track looking east toward Prince. CSX.

14. That’s more like it. The westbound signal is green! CSX. Claremont WV.
That’s more like it. The westbound signal is green! CSX. Claremont WV.

15. In a short while CSX 787-5205-??39 rounds the curve at Stone Cliff WV with w/b G628-15 (grain empties from Rocky Mount NC to Parsons Yard in Columbus). He had a very long train!
In a short while CSX 787-5205-??39 rounds the curve at Stone Cliff WV with w/b G628-15 (grain empties from Rocky Mount NC to Parsons Yard in Columbus). He had a very long train!

16. CSX 787-5205. Stone Cliff WV.
CSX 787-5205. Stone Cliff WV.

17. Thurmond yard commenced down around the curve before it was abandoned. CSX 787-5205. Stone Cliff WV.
Thurmond yard commenced down around the curve before it was abandoned. CSX 787-5205. Stone Cliff WV.

18. CSX Huntington Div. East timetable #1, 01-01-2016. New River.
CSX Huntington Div. East timetable #1, 01-01-2016. New River.

19. Under the bridge are these remains of the coke ovens operated by Stone Cliff Coal & Coke. The West Virginia Department of Mines Annual Report says there were 60 ovens here in 1916.
Under the bridge are these remains of the coke ovens operated by Stone Cliff Coal & Coke. The West Virginia Department of Mines Annual Report says there were 60 ovens here in 1916.

20. USGS Beckley quad, 1929, 62,500 scale reveals a community at Claremont. Beckley, WV, 1:62,500 quad, 1929, USGS.
USGS Beckley quad, 1929, 62,500 scale reveals a community at Claremont. Beckley, WV, 1:62,500 quad, 1929, USGS.

21. USGS Thurmond quad, 1969 photo-revised 1976, 24,000 scale. Royal Coal had a plant at Claremont in the 1970s, but it is long gone. Thurmond, WV, 1:24,000 quad, 1969, USGS.
USGS Thurmond quad, 1969 photo-revised 1976, 24,000 scale. Royal Coal had a plant at Claremont in the 1970s, but it is long gone. Thurmond, WV, 1:24,000 quad, 1969, USGS.

22. USGS Thurmond quad, 2016, 24,000 scale. Nothing around Claremont now except silence. Thurmond, WV, 1:24,000 quad, 2016, USGS.
USGS Thurmond quad, 2016, 24,000 scale. Nothing around Claremont now except silence. Thurmond, WV, 1:24,000 quad, 2016, USGS.

All for now.

Train images used by permission of Everett N Young