Heritage and Honor Fleet Cornucopia - 01-10-2025
1. On 09-19-2024 Christian learned that M692 would have 911, the “Honoring Our First Responders” unit would be leading. We went to Elkhorn Yard and walked up to the north portal of Pool Point Tunnel. This tunnel is on a curve, and you have to walk in a way before you can see light from the other portal. At MP 2.31 this tunnel is 642 feet in length.
2. Looking north toward Elkhorn City and Shelby. CSX Pool Point Tunnel.
3. CSX medium clear signal at the south end of Elkhorn. “Medium speed through turnouts, crossovers, sidings and over power operated switches; then proceed.” Elkhorn SE.
4. As luck would have it, the sun went over the mountain a few minutes before CSX 911-3386 shoved a blast of cool air in our faces. Pool Point Tunnel.
5. CSX 911-3386. Pool Point Tunnel.
6. CSX 911-3386. Elkhorn SE.
7. By the time we got to Shelby more railfans showed up. M692 had 53 cars. CSX 911.
8. CSX 911. Shelby.
9. CSX 911 is an ES44AH, and it is not renumbered. Shelby.
10.Darkness falls as M692 awaits a new crew in front of the Shelby yard office. 09-19-2024. CSX 911.
11. CSX Huntington Div. West emp. tt. #1, 01-01-2016. Note the configuration of the switch at the south end of Elkhorn City. M692 diverts to the main line (left), but he will get a clear at the north end of Elkhorn City. Kingsport SD.
12. Early in the morning of 09-20-2024, the Seaboard Air Line heritage ES44AH 1900 led Shelby-Martin shifter R243-20 with 110 DKPX empties. It is passing through Betsy Layne. CSX 1900-7384-7233.
13. CSX 1900-7384-7233. Betsy Layne.
14. CSX 1900-7384-7233 prepare to cut off at Emma KY and run around the train.
15. CSX “SAL” 1900 is the most colorful Heritage unit I’ve seen yet. Emma KY.
16. CSX 1900. Emma KY.
17. Now they are heading west to EM Cabin to cross over to No. 1 main. CSX 1900-7384-7233. Emma KY.
18. R243 is ready to couple to the rear of the DKPX empties at Beaver Jct. CSX 1900.
19. CSX Big Sandy SD #1, 07-01-2017.
20. R243-20 passes the Allen public golf course on the Big Sandy Extension. CSX 7233-7384-1900. Allen KY.
21. R243 approaches Arkansas, the west end of Martin Yard. CSX 7233-7384-1900. Arkansas.
22. CSX 7233-7384-1900. Arkansas.
23. CSX Big Sandy #1. Extension. 07-01-2017.
24. CSX 7233-7384-1900 pull into Martin Yard. 09-20-2024.
25. CSX 1900. Martin.
26. CSX 1900. Martin. View 2.
27. The R243 crew would taxi back to Shelby. A Hazard crew would take the train to the Leatherwood, Yellow Creek or Typo mine later. It will be back in Martin in a couple of days. CSX 7233-7384-1900. Martin.
All for now.
Train images used by permission of Everett N Young