CSX S&C Branch & New Pictures

[bbrant]

Not a whole of anything new is happening on the S&C. Looks like work is still being done on the siding at Wilson Creek. Haven't seen any new narrow gauge hoppers (or any other new cars from Freightcar America) come through lately.

I was able to get a photo of D733 last weekend sitting in the old B&O yard in Somerset. Here's a link to the photos if anyone is interested. Just look for the "new" pictures.

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/archivethumbs.aspx?id=4123

Saw a short ballast train in the siding off the Keystone Sub at Rockwood. Had SD45-2 #8954 on the point. I have some pictures of it too.

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/archivethumbs.aspx?id=4347

I'll hopefully be adding some more soon.

Brian

[bbrant]

I spoke too soon when I said there wasn't a whole lot happening on the S&C. Today I was able to catch a CSX work train reversing direction on the wye at the connection with the Keystone Sub in Rockwood. The work train even had a couple of old 40' boxcars in the consist.

On the point of the work train was a SD70AC widecab (I believe the road # was 4822). I always mentioned that it'd be something to see a widecab on the S&C and today - on my birthday no less - I got my wish, even though it was only there for a short bit of time.

Got some photos of it & the 40' boxcars so when I get them processed I'll post them online.

Brian

[Modelcar]

...There was an engineer on here a year or so ago, maybe longer and commenting of having a pair, I believe it was of 6 axle units down the S&C some years back to haul a coal drag up out of there and they may have been wide cab units....

[csxengineer98]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Modelcar

...There was an engineer on here a year or so ago, maybe longer and commenting of having a pair, I believe it was of 6 axle units down the S&C some years back to haul a coal drag up out of there and they may have been wide cab units....

yea.. they did it...and more then once.... when thier use to be coal trains off of one of the branches up on the S&C.... but... keep this in mind.... they where 6 axles..but they where the sterable truck 6 axles.... a rigged truck 6 axle such as an SD40 is prohibited on anything more then the wye tracts at rockwood....
csx engineer

[bbrant]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Modelcar

...There was an engineer on here a year or so ago, maybe longer and commenting of having a pair, I believe it was of 6 axle units down the S&C some years back to haul a coal drag up out of there and they may have been wide cab units....

Wow! Wide cabs and coal. Now that would've been something to see!

[bbrant]

QUOTE: Originally posted by csxengineer98

QUOTE: Originally posted by Modelcar

...There was an engineer on here a year or so ago, maybe longer and commenting of having a pair, I believe it was of 6 axle units down the S&C some years back to haul a coal drag up out of there and they may have been wide cab units....

yea.. they did it...and more then once.... when thier use to be coal trains off of one of the branches up on the S&C.... but... keep this in mind.... they where 6 axles..but they where the sterable truck 6 axles.... a rigged truck 6 axle such as an SD40 is prohibited on anything more then the wye tracts at rockwood....
csx engineer

Makes sense that they'd use the steerable truck 6 axles for a branch line. Did they have any problems pulling the coal loads up the branch or did they require helpers?

[Modelcar]

...Interesting when one thinks about the above situaltion...that is, with the steerable trucks, etc...as back in the steam days there was plenty of Malley engines worked that line clear down towards Johnstown to help get the coal drags back up and over the grade and on to rockwood to the Keystone Sub....But I understand some of the drive wheels did not have flanges so they were able to negoticate the curves, etc....Boy the power of the newer steerable truck 6 axle units would sure have been a blessing to have when that line was saturated with coal hauling every day back during WWII and some years after....Only trouble is they weren't even on the drawing boards yet...

[bbrant]

You know, to be honest I never really gave much thought to what type of steam engines were used for freight and/or passanger service before diesels came along. I'm used to the 4-axel diesels running the line. What type of steam engines did the B&O use?

The only time I ever saw a steam engine on the line was back in the late 70's or early 80's when the Chessie Steam Special was brought up the line to Somerset. My little league baseball coach was a railroad employee and offered to let me ride but my parents said no. D'OH!!

I remember seeing the Chessie Steam Special, I want to say around 1977 or 1978 in Rockwood at the wye. A year or 2 later it was brought to the yard in Somerset. Not sure if that's as far as it went on the S&C or if it continued on to Johnstown. Seeing the steam engine in Chessie blue/orange/yellow was really a sight to see!