CSX Transportation Historical Society

C&O Russell Yard - 1976-77

I was scanning a few shots of RU Cabin and decided I would scan a few more taken in the years 1976 and 1977.

1. C&O GP30 3048 and a mate arrive at RU Cabin with a short eastbound. Perhaps it is a local. 06-27-1976. Russell '76-77.

2. A couple of SD18s shove loads over the coal hump and scales. Note the tall signals which evidently communicate their movements across the hump. 06-27-1976. Russell '76-77.

3. SD18 7301 working in the eastbound (Big Four) yard. The paint on SD18s seemed to hold up well. Perhaps this is because they seldom got out on the road. Russell '76-77.

4. GP38 3892 awaits a call to take a train out of the center of the C&O. The variety of locomotive models is unimaginable today. That sand car on the far right catches my attention now. 06-25-1977. Russell '76-77.

5. That water column sees little use, but remember 1977 is only 20 years post steam! To the 26-year-old photographer, steam locomotives were in the prehistoric era. Now – 40 years hence – this line-up seems prehistoric! Russell '76-77.

6. SD18s 7318-7310-7311 slowly shove freight cars across the westbound manifest hump. It must be a boring job, but the crew works a regular shift and gets paid well. The Fitzpatrick hump was later leveled, and the yard is now used for tank car storage. That outhouse is located in a convenient location! Russell '76-77.

7. SD18s 7318-7310-7311. Wish I had shot the B&O boxcar. 08-27-1977. View 2. Russell '76-77.

8. 7309 waits for a yard crew at the eastbound yard. 08-27-1977. Russell '76-77.

9. Having just turned No. 97 from Elkhorn City over to a yard crew, Junior checks his grip. I think this was the day J Smith and I rode with Jr. Soon he and I would start our careers with C&O/CSX and Kentucky Power (we were obviously unemployed at the time). 11-10-1977. Russell '76-77.

10. RU Cabin at the east end of Russell Yard. Those piggybacks are on No. 97 which has just arrived from Elkhorn City. RU Cabin.

11. View from RU Cabin as a westbound manifest arrives and 7303 switches the eastbound yard. 11-10-1977. RU Cabin.

12. 7303 switches the eastbound (“Big Four”) yard. Note the position light switching signal. 11-10-1977. RU Cabin.

13. The coal hump SD18s pull by. RU Cabin.

14. The coal hump SD18s pull by. View 2. RU Cabin.

15. Having retrieved a extended-cupola caboose, they head back into the yard. Note the dwarf hanging on the cantilever bracket in front of the depot. Dwarfs, semaphores, position light and color light signals – Russell had them all at the east end. 11-10-1977. RU Cabin.