CSX Transportation Historical Society

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CSX - R614 on the CV Subdivision

Rail Fan Adventure --

On Thursday, March 20, 2025, Christian Lowe and I received information via the railfan grapevine that the CSX Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac "heritage" engine would be used on a southbound mine from Corbin to the Lynch 3 mine at Cumberland KY. Railfanning on the old L&N Cumberland Valley Division doesn't take much persuasion, so off we went.

1. Our friends Tim and Micah Turner tipped us that R614-19 had passed Pineville, so we decided to intercept it at Wilhoit KY. Wilhoit is the north end of a siding extending 2.6 miles from Loyall yard.
Our friends Tim and Micah Turner tipped us that R614-19 had passed Pineville, so we decided to intercept it at Wilhoit KY. Wilhoit is the north end of a siding extending 2.6 miles from Loyall yard.

2. Wilhoit (aka Dayhoit) had a tipple in this view on the right in years past.
Wilhoit (aka Dayhoit) had a tipple in this view on the right in years past.

3. The northward control point signal blinked red for a few minutes after the train passed.
The northward control point signal blinked red for a few minutes after the train passed.

4. Main track #1 was recently removed from Baxter to Harlan Jct. The conductor aligns the switch to pass the former crossover. In years past Baxter had a leverman to work the switches, as train orders were obtained just up around the curve at Loyall yard office.
Main track #1 was recently removed from Baxter to Harlan Jct. The conductor aligns the switch to pass the former crossover. In years past Baxter had a leverman to work the switches, as train orders were obtained just up around the curve at Loyall yard office.

5. Now the conductor aligns the switch from the main line (old track #2) to the Poor Fork Branch.
Now the conductor aligns the switch from the main line (old track #2) to the Poor Fork Branch.

6. The main line points to Hagans switchback and Big Stone Gap VA. R614 is now on the Poor Fork Br.
The main line points to Hagans switchback and Big Stone Gap VA. R614 is now on the Poor Fork Br.

7. USGS Middlesboro quad, 1977, 100,000 scale. New highway US 119 isn't shown. Old 119 is now KY 522.
USGS Middlesboro quad, 1977, 100,000 scale. New highway US 119 isn't shown. Old 119 is now KY 522.

8. R614-19 moves briskly parallel to US 119 just south of Rhea tunnel. R614 had 110 empty tubs.
R614-19 moves briskly parallel to US 119 just south of Rhea tunnel. R614 had 110 empty tubs.

9. R614 passes the Harlan-Cumberland Coal Co. preparation plant at Totz. The plant is sporadically used, if at all. Unit coal trains are loaded at the NRG loadout just to the south at Dione.
R614 passes the Harlan-Cumberland Coal Co. preparation plant at Totz. The plant is sporadically used, if at all. Unit coal trains are loaded at the NRG loadout just to the south at Dione.

10. R614 has just passed the former junction with the line to downtown Cumberland, Scotia and Lynch. He is starting up a steep Clover Lick Spur to the mine. U. S. Steel may have owned this spur when it was built to their Lynch #2 mine in the 1970s.
R614 has just passed the former junction with the line to downtown Cumberland, Scotia and Lynch. He is starting up a steep Clover Lick Spur to the mine. U. S. Steel may have owned this spur when it was built to their Lynch #2 mine in the 1970s.

11. R614 crosses the Poor Fork of the Cumberland River beside US 119 on the Clover Lick Spur.
R614 crosses the Poor Fork of the Cumberland River beside US 119 on the Clover Lick Spur.

12. Tim and Micah have beaten the train to Lynch #3. U. S. Steel built the concrete stacking tubes and silo as Lynch #2.
Tim and Micah have beaten the train to Lynch #3. U. S. Steel built the concrete stacking tubes and silo as Lynch #2.

13. USGS Middlesboro quad 1977, 100,000 scale.
USGS Middlesboro quad 1977, 100,000 scale.

More on loading the train at Lynch 3 later.

Train images used by permission of Everett N Young