CSX Transportation Historical Society

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Lynch KY and Coal Through the Years - 1

Rail Fan Adventure --

The history of Lynch KY, and the United States Steel mine there is a favorite subject of mine. I’ll put on more contemporary images later, but here are some I dug up or have in my collection. Lynch was far and away the biggest coal shipper on the Louisville & Nashville railroad in Eastern Kentucky.

1. Welcome To Lynch and Portal 31.
Welcome To Lynch and Portal 31.
2. USS Lynch. In 1917.....
USS Lynch. In 1917.....
3. Temporary tipple in 1918. USC&C. Lynch KY.
Temporary tipple in 1918. USC&C. Lynch KY.

4. Construction of mine portal circa 1918. USC&C. Lynch KY.
Construction of mine portal circa 1918. USC&C. Lynch KY.

5. Construction of machine shop circa 1918. USC&C. Lynch KY.
Construction of machine shop circa 1918. USC&C. Lynch KY.
6. L&N owned the depot, but U. S. Steel owed the property. Dig those camp cars above the depot. Bath house on left. Lynch KY.
L&N owned the depot, but U. S. Steel owed the property. Dig those camp cars above the depot. Bath house on left. Lynch KY.
7. USS Lynch. Railroad station information poster.
USS Lynch. Railroad station information poster.

8. The south portal is still there as well as the school although both are abandoned. Greek Catholic Church. United supply Co Store. Lynch KY.
The south portal is still there as well as the school although both are abandoned. Greek Catholic Church. United supply Co Store. Lynch KY.

9. All of this is still there, although the plant and tipple haven’t been used in many years. USS sold to Arch Mineral in the 1980s, but Harlan County Fiscal Court owns all of this now.
All of this is still there, although the plant and tipple haven’t been used in many years. USS sold to Arch Mineral in the 1980s, but Harlan County Fiscal Court owns all of this now.
10. Looking south toward the tipple with Black Mountain in the background. The track within USS’s property is the Looney Creek Railroad. All track gone now. Lynch KY.
Looking south toward the tipple with Black Mountain in the background. The track within USS’s property is the Looney Creek Railroad. All track gone now. Lynch KY.
11. The east branch store is still there having been used as a church most recently. Lynch KY.
The east branch store is still there having been used as a church most recently. Lynch KY.

12. Postcard. Lynch KY.
Postcard. Lynch KY.

13. Boarded up and abandoned. Probably one of if not the largest “company store” in the country. Lynch KY.
Boarded up and abandoned. Probably one of if not the largest “company store” in the country. Lynch KY.
14. The 31 portal is where the mine tour is now. The mine was exhausted years ago, although 31’s haul way was used by mines in other seams until the end. Lynch KY.
The 31 portal is where the mine tour is now. The mine was exhausted years ago, although 31’s haul way was used by mines in other seams until the end. Lynch KY.

15. Souvenier Folder cover. LynchKY.
Souvenier Folder cover. LynchKY.
16. USS used paper “scrip”, but they may have used metal scrip also when giving change. Not sure. I have not seen any. Lynch KY.
USS used paper “scrip”, but they may have used metal scrip also when giving change. Not sure. I have not seen any. Lynch KY.
17. Coupon book instructions. Lynch KY.
Coupon book instructions. Lynch KY.
18. Coupons. Lynch KY.
Coupons. Lynch KY.

19. Later the upper, metal portion of the tipple was removed. Raw coal was then sent to USS’s new preparation plant in Corbin KY.. adjacent to the L&N yard. USC&C tipple. Lynch KY. Oct 20, 1920. Hoppers in lower right.
Later the upper, metal portion of the tipple was removed. Raw coal was then sent to USS’s new preparation plant in Corbin KY.. adjacent to the L&N yard. USC&C tipple. Lynch KY. Oct 20, 1920. Hoppers in lower right.
20. The concrete bin was constructed in later years. Lynch KY Coal Tipple information sign.
The concrete bin was constructed in later years. Lynch KY Coal Tipple information sign.

21. This is not Wisconsin Steel (International Harvester) but United States Coal & Coke (U. S. Steel) tipple. Lynch KY.
This is not Wisconsin Steel (International Harvester) but United States Coal & Coke (U. S. Steel) tipple. Lynch KY.
22. The depot was built in 1925, but I don’t see it in this view. The main office and wash room and locker room is on the left. Hoppers in lower right. USS scene. Lynch KY.
The depot was built in 1925, but I don’t see it in this view. The main office and wash room and locker room is on the left. Hoppers in lower right. USS scene. Lynch KY.
23. L&N yard at Chad KY, which is just north of Cumberland. The Wisconsin Steel hoppers would have been loaded at Benham, a community that bordered Lynch on the north. Wisconsin Steel was owned by International Harvester. L&N didn’t base anything at Chad to my knowledge. I’m not sure if L&N based any mine run crews at Lynch-Benham-Cumberland.
L&N yard at Chad KY, which is just north of Cumberland. The Wisconsin Steel hoppers would have been loaded at Benham, a community that bordered Lynch on the north. Wisconsin Steel was owned by International Harvester. L&N didn’t base anything at Chad to my knowledge. I’m not sure if L&N based any mine run crews at Lynch-Benham-Cumberland.
24. These longitudinal dumping hoppers were similar to cars built for Inland Steel (Bettendorf Co.) and Buffalo & Susquehanna (Pressed Steel Car.) around the same time. I don’t have any more information. USS shipped the coal (for the most part) to Gary IN, where it was coked for the steel mill there. These cars would have travelled over the L&N, PRR and or NYC. Wisconsin Steel, however, had coke ovens in Benham. USCX hopper 982. Lynch KY.
These longitudinal dumping hoppers were similar to cars built for Inland Steel (Bettendorf Co.) and Buffalo & Susquehanna (Pressed Steel Car.) around the same time. I don’t have any more information. USS shipped the coal (for the most part) to Gary IN, where it was coked for the steel mill there. These cars would have travelled over the L&N, PRR and or NYC. Wisconsin Steel, however, had coke ovens in Benham. USCX hopper 982. Lynch KY.
25. Looking out Portal 31 with tipple, power house and blending building in in background. Circa World War II. USS Mine. Lynch KY.
Looking out Portal 31 with tipple, power house and blending building in in background. Circa World War II. USS Mine. Lynch KY.
26. L&N 2-8-0 no. 1031 was one of the 200 class H-23 built from 1903 until 1907. In later years L&N used Mikes and the 2-8-4 “Big Emmas.” Lynch KY.
L&N 2-8-0 no. 1031 was one of the 200 class H-23 built from 1903 until 1907. In later years L&N used Mikes and the 2-8-4 “Big Emmas.” Lynch KY.
27. That’s a very steep grade up Looney Creek into Lynch. L&N Poor Fork track chart.
That’s a very steep grade up Looney Creek into Lynch. L&N Poor Fork track chart.
28. L&N CV Div, Poor Fork Br 1950.
L&N CV Div, Poor Fork Br 1950.
29. L&N CV Div map 1950.
L&N CV Div map 1950.
30. L&N CV main, northward.
L&N CV main, northward.
31. L&N CV main south ward. I don’t know if trains 43, 44, 45 and 46 operated as turns out of Corbin or exchanged crews at Loyall.
L&N CV main south ward. I don’t know if trains 43, 44, 45 and 46 operated as turns out of Corbin or exchanged crews at Loyall.
32. L&N passenger timetable 1930. Cover.
L&N passenger timetable 1930. Cover.

33. L&N passenger timetable 1930.
L&N passenger timetable 1930.
34. L&N passenger timetable 1954. Cover.
L&N passenger timetable 1954. Cover.

35. L&N passenger timetable 1954.
L&N passenger timetable 1954.
There are various websites where you can read about the history of Lynch. More on this subject later.

Images and train images used by permission of Everett N Young