CSX Transportation Historical Society

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CRR, C&O, and SBD - Elkhorn Yard KY 1970s & 1980s

Rail Fan Adventure --

A new book on the Clinchfield Railroad will be coming out soon authored by Kurt Weisweber and published by Morning Sun. These shots didn’t make the cut.

These are all shots that have not been published elsewhere.

1. Precision Engineering F-7a 717 is ex-B&LE. CRR had it leased on 12-06-1970. Although the mile post 1 sign is here, it is actually less than a mile from the previous shot. CRR track charts show their beginning point as the north side of the C&O’s bridge over the Levisa Fork of the Big Sandy River.
Precision Engineering F-7a 717 is ex-B&LE. CRR had it leased on 12-06-1970. Although the mile post 1 sign is here, it is actually less than a mile from the previous shot. CRR track charts show their beginning point as the north side of the C&O’s bridge over the Levisa Fork of the Big Sandy River.

2. CRR 813-811-814-865-905 go around the north leg of the wye. 03-05-1971.
CRR 813-811-814-865-905 go around the north leg of the wye. 03-05-1971.

3. CRR 807-867-ex-SP 3489-819-815 will be heading south soon. 05-25-1971.
CRR 807-867-ex-SP 3489-819-815 will be heading south soon. 05-25-1971.

4. CRR leased ex-Southern Pacific 3489, but I don’t know from whom. 05-25-1971.
CRR leased ex-Southern Pacific 3489, but I don’t know from whom. 05-25-1971.

5. CRR 809 switches out cab 1073 for their train. The C&O’s manifest crews from Russell that laid over in Elkhorn City had assigned cabs, so you pretty much saw them every day. 09-05-1971.
CRR 809 switches out cab 1073 for their train. The C&O’s manifest crews from Russell that laid over in Elkhorn City had assigned cabs, so you pretty much saw them every day. 09-05-1971.

6. C&O freight CR92 arrives Elkhorn yard in April 1972. GP9 6136-8124-5863-6028 are pulling hard up the 1.2% grade to deliver their train. Delivery to the CRR was listed at 4:50 PM. The engines would soon turn back on 95.
C&O freight CR92 arrives Elkhorn yard in April 1972. GP9 6136-8124-5863-6028 are pulling hard up the 1.2% grade to deliver their train. Delivery to the CRR was listed at 4:50 PM. The engines would soon turn back on 95.

7. C&O 3891-3895-3913 on the “Elkhorn Shifter” have delivered loaded south coal off the Big Sandy SD and will soon return with empties. 09-10-1972.
C&O 3891-3895-3913 on the “Elkhorn Shifter” have delivered loaded south coal off the Big Sandy SD and will soon return with empties. 09-10-1972.

8. SCL C-420s were very rare in Elkhorn. This ex-SAL unit would spend her last years on L&N coal branches in Eastern Kentucky. It and its mate departed later on a coal train. 05-04-1973.
SCL C-420s were very rare in Elkhorn. This ex-SAL unit would spend her last years on L&N coal branches in Eastern Kentucky. It and its mate departed later on a coal train. 05-04-1973.

9. On a frosty 02-24-1974, 816 is getting ready to depart with southbound coal train 26.
On a frosty 02-24-1974, 816 is getting ready to depart with southbound coal train 26.

10. B&O 7415 is laying over.
B&O 7415 is laying over.

11. CRR was certainly not the Western Maryland when it came to keeping their loco fleet clean!
CRR was certainly not the Western Maryland when it came to keeping their loco fleet clean!

12. CRR had a head-on collision in Towers Tunnel, and that was the reason C&O’s Russell wreck train was in Elkhorn. C&O had acquired this entire set of equipment from the Reading hence the unusual passenger cars. 04-20-1974.
CRR had a head-on collision in Towers Tunnel, and that was the reason C&O’s Russell wreck train was in Elkhorn. C&O had acquired this entire set of equipment from the Reading hence the unusual passenger cars. 04-20-1974.

13. Elkhorn engine terminal was a colorful place. SCL SD45s like 2014 were regulars. 04-28-1974.
Elkhorn engine terminal was a colorful place. SCL SD45s like 2014 were regulars. 04-28-1974.

14. C&O 5711 and a pair of GP9s idle as the crew of this Elkhorn Shifter confer in the CRR yard office. C&O ran one and sometimes two Elkhorn Shifters depending on the loads available to interchange. 06-01-1974.
C&O 5711 and a pair of GP9s idle as the crew of this Elkhorn Shifter confer in the CRR yard office. C&O ran one and sometimes two Elkhorn Shifters depending on the loads available to interchange. 06-01-1974.

15. CRR 805-900-3007 await their next call. 805 was originally a F-7, but after being wrecked it was rebuilt as a F-9. Notice the “F9” plate beside the cab door. 04-21-1974.
CRR 805-900-3007 await their next call. 805 was originally a F-7, but after being wrecked it was rebuilt as a F-9. Notice the “F9” plate beside the cab door. 04-21-1974.

16. Don’t wear your good shoes when walking around engine terminals!
Don’t wear your good shoes when walking around engine terminals!

17. 805 again this time with 3616-3010 on 11-10-1974.
805 again this time with 3616-3010 on 11-10-1974.

18. CRR GP7 914, C&O U30C 3303 and CRR GP38 2002 on 03-09-1975. Switch lamps would soon disappear, but we thought nothing of such mundane stuff then.
CRR GP7 914, C&O U30C 3303 and CRR GP38 2002 on 03-09-1975. Switch lamps would soon disappear, but we thought nothing of such mundane stuff then.

19. CRR GP7 914, C&O U30C 3303 and CRR GP38 2002 on 03-09-1975. View 2.
CRR GP7 914, C&O U30C 3303 and CRR GP38 2002 on 03-09-1975. View 2.

20. CRR 3000 brakes heavy down the 1.2% grade with coal. Northbound manifests pulled in on the two long sidings on the right. 11-20-1977.
CRR 3000 brakes heavy down the 1.2% grade with coal. Northbound manifests pulled in on the two long sidings on the right. 11-20-1977.

21. Santa Fe style cab 1062 has been uncoupled. These cabs came from AC&F in 1942. 11-20-1977.
Santa Fe style cab 1062 has been uncoupled. These cabs came from AC&F in 1942. 11-20-1977.

22. Santa Fe style cab 1062. View 2.
Santa Fe style cab 1062. View 2.

23. It is 01-18-1981, and that messy fueling track has been upgraded with concrete and collection pans. In fact upgrades were made at Dante, Shelby, Loyall and Hazard at this time. B&O 3825-4018 ease out of the yard with empties for Shelby. CRR 2002-6002-2008 have the new Family Lines paint scheme.
It is 01-18-1981, and that messy fueling track has been upgraded with concrete and collection pans. In fact upgrades were made at Dante, Shelby, Loyall and Hazard at this time. B&O 3825-4018 ease out of the yard with empties for Shelby. CRR 2002-6002-2008 have the new Family Lines paint scheme.

24. The CSX merger has taken place and Elkhorn Yard has been closed. Crews now originate or terminate at C&O’s Shelby Yard, 15 miles north. Former CRR GP38-2 6000 leads 8033-8237-6274-8285-8132-8084 on a s/b “Shelby Turn” (Dante to Shelby and back). The modernized engine terminal was short-lived. 12-31-1983.
The CSX merger has taken place and Elkhorn Yard has been closed. Crews now originate or terminate at C&O’s Shelby Yard, 15 miles north. Former CRR GP38-2 6000 leads 8033-8237-6274-8285-8132-8084 on a s/b “Shelby Turn” (Dante to Shelby and back). The modernized engine terminal was short-lived. 12-31-1983.

25. Camp cars 1714 and 1728 are parked on the north leg of the wye, as it was no longer used for turning engines. 12-31-1983.
Camp cars 1714 and 1728 are parked on the north leg of the wye, as it was no longer used for turning engines. 12-31-1983.

All for now. Pool Point and the main line south will be next.

Train images used by permission of Everett N Young