CSX Transportation Historical Society

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N&WHS Beckley Convention 2023 - Touring Affinity Mine

Rail Fan Adventure --

1. N&WHS Convention Brochure 2023.
N&WHS Convention Brochure 2023.

On Saturday morning June 10 we headed from the motel down to the Affinity Mine near Sophia via caravan. A problem had developed with visiting the Itmann mine, but Affinity was a more-than-adequate substitute.

METINVEST :: What we do :: Our facilities (metinvestholding.com)

2. Due to federal safety regulations we were not allowed to actually walk around the property without extensive safety training. However Affinity’s chief engineer met us at the overlook on the hill and gave us an extensive run-down of the mine’s operation. Affinity Coal Co LLC WV.
Due to federal safety regulations we were not allowed to actually walk around the property without extensive safety training. However Affinity’s chief engineer met us at the overlook on the hill and gave us an extensive run-down of the mine’s operation. Affinity Coal Co LLC WV.

3. Stacking tube for ground storage. Affinity Coal Co LLC WV.
Stacking tube for ground storage. Affinity Coal Co LLC WV.

4. Although Eastern Associated Coal had rebuilt the old tipple into a preparation plant in the mid 1970s, MetInvest replaced that vintage plant with a more efficient one after they acquired the inactive property several years ago. They continue to use the concrete storage silos however. Affinity Coal Co LLC WV.
Although Eastern Associated Coal had rebuilt the old tipple into a preparation plant in the mid 1970s, MetInvest replaced that vintage plant with a more efficient one after they acquired the inactive property several years ago. They continue to use the concrete storage silos however. Affinity Coal Co LLC WV.

MetInvest’s United Coal division (Wellmore) is headquartered in Grundy VA and operates in Buchanan County (Big Rick prep. plant) and Pike County KY on NS. Pocahontas Coal has the inactive East Gulf preparation plant which is near Affinity. Carter Roag Coal operates in Randolph and Upshur Counties of WV. They operate the Beech Mountain Railroad which connects with CSX via Appalachian & Ohio. Carter Roag has shut down and is shipping coal out of their stock pile.

5. USGS Crab Orchard quadrangle, 1:24,000 topo for 1968 showing relationship of Affinity “tipple” to Pemberton (N&W/C&O interchange), Sophia and C&O Winding Gulf Tunnel #1. CSX now ends before the tunnel, but they also serve the Affinity mine. Crab Orchard WV, 1:24,000 quad, 1968, USGS.
USGS Crab Orchard quadrangle, 1:24,000 topo for 1968 showing relationship of Affinity “tipple” to Pemberton (N&W/C&O interchange), Sophia and C&O Winding Gulf Tunnel #1. CSX now ends before the tunnel, but they also serve the Affinity mine. Crab Orchard WV, 1:24,000 quad, 1968, USGS.

6. Aerial view from the mid 1970s. We were on the hill on the left. N&W empties are present on the left. C&O comes around the hill on the right. West Virginia & Regional History Collection. Affinity Mining Co Keystone 5.
Aerial view from the mid 1970s. We were on the hill on the left. N&W empties are present on the left. C&O comes around the hill on the right. West Virginia & Regional History Collection. Affinity Mining Co Keystone 5.

7. Affinity Brochure Image 1.
Affinity Brochure Image 1.

8. Affinity Brochure Image 2.
Affinity Brochure Image 2.

9. Affinity Brochure Image 3.
Affinity Brochure Image 3.

10. Affinity Brochure Image 4.
Affinity Brochure Image 4.

11. C&O Raleigh Southwestern & Winding Gulf (C&O RSW & WG) Subdivision looking east on 08-27-1985. Affinity.C&O Raleigh Southwestern & Winding Gulf (C&O RSW & WG) Subdivision looking east on 08-27-1985. Affinity.

12. C&O looking west. 08-27-1985. C&O RSW & WG. Affinity.
C&O looking west. 08-27-1985. C&O RSW & WG. Affinity.

13. Inactive Keystone 5 preparation plant on 08-27-1985. C&O RSW & WG. Affinity.
Inactive Keystone 5 preparation plant on 08-27-1985. C&O RSW & WG. Affinity.

14. C&O 3862-4156-4428 on the “Gulf man” with 60 loads at dusk on 08-26-1985. He has a pusher. C&O RSW & WG. Affinity.
C&O 3862-4156-4428 on the “Gulf man” with 60 loads at dusk on 08-26-1985. He has a pusher. C&O RSW & WG. Affinity.

15. 90 percent of what happens on the railroad is later than sooner than expected. Such was the case when U23Bs 2311-2304 came by Affinity late in the day on 10-28-1985. Tunnel Siding on right. C&O RSW & WG. Affinity.
90 percent of what happens on the railroad is later than sooner than expected. Such was the case when U23Bs 2311-2304 came by Affinity late in the day on 10-28-1985. Tunnel Siding on right. C&O RSW & WG. Affinity.

16. C&O “Gulf Man” 2311 passing Tunnel Siding with cab 903568. 10-28-1985. C&O RSW & WG.C&O “Gulf Man” 2311 passing Tunnel Siding with cab 903568. 10-28-1985. C&O RSW & WG.

17. The loaded siding at the old Affinity mine has 20 NS Tidewater loads, 20 Conrail, plus 1 empty hopper. 10-26-1985. NS Affinity.
The loaded siding at the old Affinity mine has 20 NS Tidewater loads, 20 Conrail, plus 1 empty hopper. 10-26-1985. NS Affinity.

18. NS shifter U93 passes Affinity on 10-26-1985. They had delivered covered hoppers of explosives to Sullivan just past Pemberton. They paused at Affinity to pick up 40 loads that CSX had deposited which – I think – came from the Crab Orchard mine which was considered joint. That was the first time I saw a brake stick in action. CSX soon adopted them. Affinity could process cleaner coal from other mines. That’s the car shaker in the foreground. NS 8716-8673. Affinity.
NS shifter U93 passes Affinity on 10-26-1985. They had delivered covered hoppers of explosives to Sullivan just past Pemberton. They paused at Affinity to pick up 40 loads that CSX had deposited which – I think – came from the Crab Orchard mine which was considered joint. That was the first time I saw a brake stick in action. CSX soon adopted them. Affinity could process cleaner coal from other mines. That’s the car shaker in the foreground. NS 8716-8673. Affinity.

19. NS 8716-8673 on U93, the “Piney Turn”, heads to Elmore with 40 loads, 1 empty hopper, and an empty BN covered hopper picked up at Sullivan. Affinity.
NS 8716-8673 on U93, the “Piney Turn”, heads to Elmore with 40 loads, 1 empty hopper, and an empty BN covered hopper picked up at Sullivan. Affinity.

20. Lillybrook Coal Co. Affinity Mine, June 1954. C&OHS CSPR neg. 10057-C11. The VGN Winding Gulf Br. is in the foreground. C&O is next to the hill.
Lillybrook Coal Co. Affinity Mine, June 1954. C&OHS CSPR neg. 10057-C11. The VGN Winding Gulf Br. is in the foreground. C&O is next to the hill.

Affinity was a slope mine reaching down to the 42” Pocahontas No. 4 seam. Preparation equipment included a washery, vibrator and shaker screens, picking tables and loading booms. Sizes made included 7” lump, egg, nut, pea, slack and stove. Affinity mine at that time had 22 mine locomotives, 350 steel mine cars running on 6 miles of track having a gauge of 44 inches. The production was 386,109 in 1953. The mine employed 150 men on two shifts. The capacity was 800 tons/day. Tonnage shipped via C&O or VGN was not broken down.

All for now.

Train images used by permission of Everett N Young