KNWA Coal Loads on the Princeton-Deepwater District: Deep Water to Mullens, WV - 3/8/2023
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- Опубліковано 27 бер 2023
- March 8, 2023.
Southbound coal loads on the former Virginian Railway "Princeton-Deepwater District" between Deep Water and Mullens, West Virginia.
This portion of the Princeton-Deepwater District was purchased by the Kanawha River Railroad (KNWA) from Norfolk Southern in 2016. KNWA crews operate NS coal drags between Dickinson Yard along the Kanawha River, and the NS interchange at Elmore Yard in Mullens. From Deep Water to Mullens, southbound loaded coal drags require additional helpers. KNWA uses a total of 6 ex-NS SD60s (2 upfront and 4 on the rear) to climb the steep grade away from the Kanawha River Valley - a unique operation in the 21st century.
The coal drag in this video (likely symbolled KN-33) originated at the Mammoth Coal Processing Plant along the Kanawha River east of London, WV (near Montgomery). The loads were heading to the Lamberts Point coal piers in Norfolk, VA for export. Norfolk Southern mothballed the former Virginian Railway Princeton-Deepwater District between Mullens and Princeton, so KNWA and Winding Gulf coal traffic now take the former Virginian "Guyandotte River Branch" from Mullens to the former Norfolk & Western in Gilbert. From nearby Wharncliffe, the loads then head east on the Pocahontas Division (former N&W mainline) towards Bluefield, Roanoke, and Norfolk.
I documented this coal drag at various locations along the former Virginian from Deep Water to Mullens. The loads departed from the coal loadout around 3:00 in the afternoon, so by the time they reached Mullens, it was after dark. Once they reached Elmore Yard in Mullens, the KNWA SD60s tied down for the night, and an NS crew took the coal loads west to Gilbert the next morning. - Авто та транспорт
Thanks for sharing this video
I like to Railfan up there to when I’m with family
Thank you so very much Crescent Limited Productions for an excellent video, Blessings to you and your family.
Thank you, I appreciate it.
That was a great video. 8 Locos on the pull. Fantastic.
Thanks. Definitely true mountain railroading.
Very nice video. As information my grandfather was a freight conductor for the Virginian between the years 1917 to 1933. He was tragically killed in a rail accident at Page that year. When my family and I lived in Nitro, WV during the 1950s and 60s, we traveled to Page each fall to tend to the cemetery plot we still have to this day. In fact my wife and I were at Page a month ago. I have also done several blogs on my website about the former Virginian. One small correction; the KNWA leases the former Virginian and former NYC. In fact the lease was renewed recently.
Also, I like your logo. I began working for Southern Railway in 1973 and retired from NS in 2003. I worked 29 years in the Bridge Department.
Hey when does this line usually run and when should I go to see a train go though Princeton?
I thought the Deepwater through Princeton was embargoed. Is it back in operation? We were down to see family a couple of years ago and didn't catch a single train. Thanks for any info.👍😊
The Princeton-Deepwater District was embargoed between Mullens (Elmore Yard) and Princeton. NS sold the line north of Mullens to Kanawha River Railroad (KNWA) a few years ago.
NS coal drags from the Kanawha River Valley head south to Mullens on KNWA, then take the Guyandotte River Branch to Norfolk Southern's Pocahontas Division mainline at Wharncliff, heading east to Bluefield and Norfolk.
I read somewhere that the line between Elmore and Princeton, WV went into mothball/Out of Service about 5 or so years ago.
Could you confirm that, please? Thanks for the great video :) @@crescentlimitedproductions9192
@crescentlimitedproductions9192 thank you. I had heard at one point NS had decided to keep the line open albeit some traffic shifts.