CSX Transportation Historical Society

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CSX Big Sandy and Branches - Spring and Summer 2023

Rail Fan Adventure --

I found a box of slides in my desk drawer that I had taken in 2014 just prior to switching to digital. I’ll start off with those.

1. BNSF 6937-7909 lead s/b ethanol train K431-31 at Levisa Jct. KY on 04-06-2014. Foreign power was not as common then as it later became. Much has changed. McVicker Mine became inactive, and the sidings have been removed. The Levisa Spur (fka Levisa Subdivision) became inactive after 2015 after CSX severed the Clinchfield route south, and the shipper lost its customer. Only a small portion as you see here remains to park work equipment. Trees have grown up, so you couldn’t take this shot anyway. Lately ethanol trains have decreased in frequency, and foreign power has disappeared.
BNSF 6937-7909 lead s/b ethanol train K431-31 at Levisa Jct. KY on 04-06-2014. Foreign power was not as common then as it later became. Much has changed. McVicker Mine became inactive, and the sidings have been removed. The Levisa Spur (fka Levisa Subdivision) became inactive after 2015 after CSX severed the Clinchfield route south, and the shipper lost its customer. Only a small portion as you see here remains to park work equipment. Trees have grown up, so you couldn’t take this shot anyway. Lately ethanol trains have decreased in frequency, and foreign power has disappeared.

2. Manned pusher F810 with CSX 7642-368 shove K431-31. Manned pushers have been replaced by DPUs, and conventional cab C40-8s are long gone.
Manned pusher F810 with CSX 7642-368 shove K431-31. Manned pushers have been replaced by DPUs, and conventional cab C40-8s are long gone.

3. Shot off the new bridge at Draffin. BNSF 6937-7909 K431-31.
Shot off the new bridge at Draffin. BNSF 6937-7909 K431-31.

4. Passing “Federal” and approaching Elkhorn City. K431-31 has 80 loaded tankers and two buffers. The new US 460 bridge construction is now in the background. BNSF 6937-7909. 04-06-2014.
Passing “Federal” and approaching Elkhorn City. K431-31 has 80 loaded tankers and two buffers. The new US 460 bridge construction is now in the background. BNSF 6937-7909. 04-06-2014.

5. CSX 58 leads a w/b empty SCWX coal train at Betsy Layne on 03-21-2014. Behind it are OFOX 2707 and 8040. 03-21-2014.
CSX 58 leads a w/b empty SCWX coal train at Betsy Layne on 03-21-2014. Behind it are OFOX 2707 and 8040. 03-21-2014.

6. OFOX is Residco, a rail equipment leasing company. No. 2787 is a “SD40-2” rebuilt by NRE 03-1999. It is ex-CITX but originally a UP SD45. See Railcar Leasing & Sales | Residco. Now they appear to concentrate on rolling stock. 03-21-2014.
OFOX is Residco, a rail equipment leasing company. No. 2787 is a “SD40-2” rebuilt by NRE 03-1999. It is ex-CITX but originally a UP SD45. See Railcar Leasing & Sales | Residco. Now they appear to concentrate on rolling stock. 03-21-2014.

7. CSX 439 is lettered “Spirit of Birmingham.” Shelby on 05-06-2023.
CSX 439 is lettered “Spirit of Birmingham.” Shelby on 05-06-2023.

8. CSX 439 Spirit of B-ham. Closeup. Shelby.
CSX 439 Spirit of B-ham. Closeup. Shelby.

9. CSX “CM44AC” 7013 is the upgraded former AC44 no. 20. Shelby on 05-06-2023.
CSX “CM44AC” 7013 is the upgraded former AC44 no. 20. Shelby on 05-06-2023.

10. CSX 5230 is a ES44DC built in 2005. Looks it! 05-06-2023.
CSX 5230 is a ES44DC built in 2005. Looks it! 05-06-2023.

11. CSX 7245-596 head west with a clear signal off double track at EM Cabin with C501-10 (Scotts Branch mine to Toledo Dock) on 05-11-2023.
CSX 7245-596 head west with a clear signal off double track at EM Cabin with C501-10 (Scotts Branch mine to Toledo Dock) on 05-11-2023.

12. My real quest is R240-11. This is a Shelby crew that is taking a SCWX empty train to Martin, a rarity these days. CSX 570-3020 have cut away from their train on the #2 track at Beaver Jct. and are running around it at Emma. 05-11-2023.
My real quest is R240-11. This is a Shelby crew that is taking a SCWX empty train to Martin, a rarity these days. CSX 570-3020 have cut away from their train on the #2 track at Beaver Jct. and are running around it at Emma. 05-11-2023.

13. R240-11 is looking at the signals at EM Cabin. CSX 570-3020.
R240-11 is looking at the signals at EM Cabin. CSX 570-3020.

14. R240 has the “approach medium” signal at EM to go back east on #1 approaching the Beaver Jct. signal at medium speed preparing to cross over. CSX 570-3029. EM Cabin.
R240 has the “approach medium” signal at EM to go back east on #1 approaching the Beaver Jct. signal at medium speed preparing to cross over. CSX 570-3029. EM Cabin.

15. CSX 570-3020. EM Cabin.
CSX 570-3020. EM Cabin.

16. R240 is back on his train on #2 and will soon proceed east on the Big Sandy Extension to Martin. MofW go west on #1 at Beaver Jct. CSX 570-3020. Beaver Jct.
R240 is back on his train on #2 and will soon proceed east on the Big Sandy Extension to Martin. MofW go west on #1 at Beaver Jct. CSX 570-3020. Beaver Jct.

17. R240-11 with CSX 570-3020 approaches Martin Yard limits at Arkansas KY on the Big Sandy Extension. 05-11-2023.
R240-11 with CSX 570-3020 approaches Martin Yard limits at Arkansas KY on the Big Sandy Extension. 05-11-2023.

18. Blackhawk Mining’s Spurlock prep. plant at Salisbury on the Long Fork SD has resumed operation, but I couldn’t determine from the condition of the rail if they had loaded any trains. R240’s train may have been going there. Blackhawk Mining, Salisbury KY. 05-11-2023.
Blackhawk Mining’s Spurlock prep. plant at Salisbury on the Long Fork SD has resumed operation, but I couldn’t determine from the condition of the rail if they had loaded any trains. R240’s train may have been going there. Blackhawk Mining, Salisbury KY. 05-11-2023.

19. CSX 3080-3234-5280 have pulled through the yard and now pause at the east end of the Thoroughfare Track. The Russell crew exchanges information with the outbound Kingsport crew. M653-13 (Russell to Rocky Mount, NC) has 26 loads and 42 empties, weighs 4,582 tons and is 4,000 feet in length. Shelby KY.
CSX 3080-3234-5280 have pulled through the yard and now pause at the east end of the Thoroughfare Track. The Russell crew exchanges information with the outbound Kingsport crew. M653-13 (Russell to Rocky Mount, NC) has 26 loads and 42 empties, weighs 4,582 tons and is 4,000 feet in length. Shelby KY.

20. CSX signal flashing medium clear on the dwarf to leave off the Thoroughfare. Shelby KY.
CSX signal flashing medium clear on the dwarf to leave off the Thoroughfare. Shelby KY.

21. M653 leaves for Kingsport. CSX 3080-3234-5280. Shelby KY.
M653 leaves for Kingsport. CSX 3080-3234-5280. Shelby KY.

22. CSX 57-5262 head up the Coal Run SD at Meta with R240-31. I shot this from US 119. 08-31-2023. Meta KY.
CSX 57-5262 head up the Coal Run SD at Meta with R240-31. I shot this from US 119. 08-31-2023. Meta KY.

23. R240-31 is about to pass the Bevins Branch Mine KY. Bevins Branch has been idle for several years but is projected to start loading again. This was also shot off US 119 at the KY 194 exit for Kimper. CSX 57-5262. 08-31-2023.
R240-31 is about to pass the Bevins Branch Mine KY. Bevins Branch has been idle for several years but is projected to start loading again. This was also shot off US 119 at the KY 194 exit for Kimper. CSX 57-5262. 08-31-2023.

24. R240-31 passes the east end Sawmill storage yard at MP 20.9. As you can see one track has been removed, and the other is covered over with weeds. Most recently covered hoppers were stored here. R240 has 89 empty tubs for the Goff mine. CSX 57-5262. Sawmill KY.
R240-31 passes the east end Sawmill storage yard at MP 20.9. As you can see one track has been removed, and the other is covered over with weeds. Most recently covered hoppers were stored here. R240 has 89 empty tubs for the Goff mine. CSX 57-5262. Sawmill KY.

25. R240 will supply Goff Mine tracks, but another crew will load the train. CSX 57-5262. Sawmill KY.
R240 will supply Goff Mine tracks, but another crew will load the train. CSX 57-5262. Sawmill KY.

26. The track is out of service beyond Goff, MP 22. CSX Coal Run Htg #1, 01-01-2016.
The track is out of service beyond Goff, MP 22. CSX Coal Run Htg #1, 01-01-2016.

27. CSX Coal Run procedures part 1.
CSX Coal Run procedures part 1.

28. This procedure is the same these days except the dispatcher will give the crew authority on a form EC-1 instead of blocks. An EC-1 can be customized to specific mile posts. Returning from the mine the crew will contact the Coal Run Yardmaster (at Peach Creek) for yarding instructions. The Coal Run clerk position and building have been eliminated. CSX Coal Run procedures part 2.
This procedure is the same these days except the dispatcher will give the crew authority on a form EC-1 instead of blocks. An EC-1 can be customized to specific mile posts. Returning from the mine the crew will contact the Coal Run Yardmaster (at Peach Creek) for yarding instructions. The Coal Run clerk position and building have been eliminated. CSX Coal Run procedures part 2.

29. Notice they have given the siding capacities for tubs or DEEX gons. Detroit Edison trains haven’t been seen around here in decades. Most of their coal comes from out west. CSX Coal Run procedures part 4.
Notice they have given the siding capacities for tubs or DEEX gons. Detroit Edison trains haven’t been seen around here in decades. Most of their coal comes from out west. CSX Coal Run procedures part 4.

30. Doubling the hill is normal, as there is seldom – if ever – a second crew operating on the branch. CSX Coal Run procedures part 3.
Doubling the hill is normal, as there is seldom – if ever – a second crew operating on the branch. CSX Coal Run procedures part 3.

31. Star Ridge Land LLC stockpile at the Goff siding mine. Kimper KY.
Star Ridge Land LLC stockpile at the Goff siding mine. Kimper KY.

32. Star Ridge Land LLC preparation plant beside KY 194 near Kimper KY.
Star Ridge Land LLC preparation plant beside KY 194 near Kimper KY.

All for now.

Train images used by permission of Everett N Young