CSX Transportation Historical Society

-->

CSX - Short Line SD - 10-06-2023

Rail Fan Adventure --

On my way to Cumberland to see former C&O 1309 I visited with Chris Strogen in Clarksburg for a couple of days. It was also an occasion to attend and present slides at the annual “Mon Con” event, an informal gathering of railfans to view slides and visit old friends and make new ones. On Friday, Oct. 6th, Chris, Roy Ward, Aaron Snow and I spent the day on CSX’s Short Line and Bridgeport Subs. Although the weather was lousy, the results were good. Chris was an excellent guide!

1. Westbound manifest M317 (Cumberland to Cincinnati via Grafton, Brooklyn Jct, Parkersburg, Huntington and Russell) was leaving Clarksburg, but we were able to get ahead of him for this great shot at Dawson WV (aka Dawmont). We turned off WV 20 down the “Old Dawson Mine” road. CSX 3235-879-439.
Westbound manifest M317 (Cumberland to Cincinnati via Grafton, Brooklyn Jct, Parkersburg, Huntington and Russell) was leaving Clarksburg, but we were able to get ahead of him for this great shot at Dawson WV (aka Dawmont). We turned off WV 20 down the “Old Dawson Mine” road. CSX 3235-879-439.

2. USGS Clarksburg quad, 1996, 1:24,000 scale. Note the MR Sub. on the east bank of the West Fork River has been ripped up between Clarksburg and Fairmont. Clarksburg, WV, 1:24,000 quad, 1996, USGS.
USGS Clarksburg quad, 1996, 1:24,000 scale. Note the MR Sub. on the east bank of the West Fork River has been ripped up between Clarksburg and Fairmont. Clarksburg, WV, 1:24,000 quad, 1996, USGS.

3. M317 behind CSX 3235-879-439 rumbles through Lumberport WV with 70 cars. Mon Power’s coal fired Harrison Power Plant is in the background. To the left is the Heywood Industrial Track that leads to the power plant and Consol’s Robinson Run Mine (No. 95). Previously it was a connecting track between the MR and the SL Subs. Consol feeds coal directly from the mine to the plant by conveyor, but they also load trains on CSX for other customers. B&O used EM-1s from Fairmont to Benwood over the MR and SL lines.
M317 behind CSX 3235-879-439 rumbles through Lumberport WV with 70 cars. Mon Power’s coal fired Harrison Power Plant is in the background. To the left is the Heywood Industrial Track that leads to the power plant and Consol’s Robinson Run Mine (No. 95). Previously it was a connecting track between the MR and the SL Subs. Consol feeds coal directly from the mine to the plant by conveyor, but they also load trains on CSX for other customers. B&O used EM-1s from Fairmont to Benwood over the MR and SL lines.

4. USGS Shinston quad, 1:24,000 scale, 2019. The junction in the previous shot is at the end of Florence St. off WV 20. The power plant is just above the word “Haywood.” The mine is out of the view to the north. Best view all of this on Google Earth. It is easy to get confused here. Shinnston, WV, 1:24,000 quad, 2023, USGS. Click here for a larger image.
USGS Shinston quad, 1:24,000 scale, 2019. The junction in the previous shot is at the end of Florence St. off WV 20. The power plant is just above the word “Haywood.” The mine is out of the view to the north. Best view all of this on Google Earth. It is easy to get confused here. Shinnston, WV, 1:24,000 quad, 2023, USGS.

5. USGS Clarksburg quad, 1982, 1:100,000 scale. Clarksburg, WV, 1:100,000 quad, 1982, USGS. Click here for a larger image.
USGS Clarksburg quad, 1982, 1:100,000 scale. Clarksburg, WV, 1:100,000 quad, 1982, USGS

6. Over winding and rain slick roads we got ahead of M371 for this shot passing the east end of Irving Siding at Wallace WV. CSX 3235-879-439. EE Irving sdg.
Over winding and rain slick roads we got ahead of M371 for this shot passing the east end of Irving Siding at Wallace WV. CSX 3235-879-439. EE Irving sdg.

7. W080-29 with 556 was waiting in the siding with a welded rail train for M317 to pass. No. 439 is lettered “Spirit of Birmingham.” CSX 3235 556. EE Irving sdg. Wallace WV.
W080-29 with 556 was waiting in the siding with a welded rail train for M317 to pass. No. 439 is lettered “Spirit of Birmingham.” CSX 3235 556. EE Irving sdg. Wallace WV.

8. USGS Clarksburg quad, 1956, 1:250,000 scale showing the Short Line SD from Wallace to Brooklyn Jct. (New Martinsville). Clarksburg, WV-OH-PA, 1:250,000 quad, 1956, USGS. Click here for a largr image.
USGS Clarksburg quad, 1956, 1:250,000 scale showing the Short Line SD from Wallace to Brooklyn Jct. (New Martinsville). Clarksburg, WV-OH-PA, 1:250,000 quad, 1956, USGS.

9. The Heywood Industrial Track is not shown at MP BNA 48.5 which is Lumberport. CSX Hunt-East #1. Short Line SD. 01-01-2016.
The Heywood Industrial Track is not shown at MP BNA 48.5 which is Lumberport. CSX Hunt-East #1. Short Line SD. 01-01-2016.

10. M317 crosses WV 20 at Folsom WV. Note the B&O Capital monogram in the concrete. CSX3235-879-439.
M317 crosses WV 20 at Folsom WV. Note the B&O Capital monogram in the concrete. CSX3235-879-439.

11. USGS Folsom quad, 1:24,000 scale, 1961 photo, revised 1976. Tunnel No. 3 is that long bore between Rinehart and Folsom. The overpass is circled in red. Folsom, WV, 1:24,000 quad, 1961, USGS.
USGS Folsom quad, 1:24,000 scale, 1961 photo, revised 1976. Tunnel No. 3 is that long bore between Rinehart and Folsom. The overpass is circled in red. Folsom, WV, 1:24,000 quad, 1961, USGS.

12. M317 churned right along at 25 MPH, so it took some distance to get ahead. Local freight L140, the Galmish Turn, with GP40-2 6132 operates from Brooklyn Jct. as far east as Smithfield. It is switching the liquefied petroleum gas plant on Consol Gas Road at Galmish. CSX 3235 6132. Galmish WV.
M317 churned right along at 25 MPH, so it took some distance to get ahead. Local freight L140, the Galmish Turn, with GP40-2 6132 operates from Brooklyn Jct. as far east as Smithfield. It is switching the liquefied petroleum gas plant on Consol Gas Road at Galmish. CSX 3235 6132. Galmish WV.

13. CSX 3235 6132. Galmish WV. View 2.
CSX 3235 6132. Galmish WV. View 2.

14. USGS Pine Grove quad, 2023, 1:24,000 scale. Pine Grove, WV, 1:24,000 quad, 2023, USGS.
USGS Pine Grove quad, 2023, 1:24,000 scale. Pine Grove, WV, 1:24,000 quad, 2023, USGS.

15. M317 had a meet with M316 at either Allen or Jacksonburg. We continued on west to catch M317 rolling out of Tunnel #1 just east of Porter’s Falls. It is still raining. CSX 3235-879-439. No. 1 Tunnel. Porters Falls aka Twin Tunnels.
M317 had a meet with M316 at either Allen or Jacksonburg. We continued on west to catch M317 rolling out of Tunnel #1 just east of Porter’s Falls. It is still raining. CSX 3235-879-439. No. 1 Tunnel. Porters Falls aka Twin Tunnels.

16. After working Brooklyn Jct. yard, it didn’t sound like 317 was going to make it to Parkersburg, and a relief crew was ordered. CSX 3235-879-439. No. 1 Tunnel. Porters Falls aka Twin Tunnels.
After working Brooklyn Jct. yard, it didn’t sound like 317 was going to make it to Parkersburg, and a relief crew was ordered. CSX 3235-879-439. No. 1 Tunnel. Porters Falls aka Twin Tunnels.

17. USGS Porters Falls quad, 1960, 1:24,000 scale. Tunnels 1 and 2 are also called the Twin Tunnels. Porters Falls, WV, 1:24,000 quad, 1960, USGS.
USGS Porters Falls quad, 1960, 1:24,000 scale. Tunnels 1 and 2 are also called the Twin Tunnels. Porters Falls, WV, 1:24,000 quad, 1960, USGS.

With M317 in the hole for the meet, we had shot M316 earlier further west at Minnie, a short distance out of Brooklyn Jct. Now we raced back east on WV 20 to catch up with M316. To be continued.

Train images used by permission of Everett N Young