[N&W] Re: Tipple Operations

[nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org]

It may not be within Leslie Eversole's parameters, but "flood loading"
at Kopperston is indeed simple.  Coal is belted across the mountain
from the Harris Mine (on CSX) and stored in a concrete silo.  The
mine coordinates with the railroad and at the specified time, a mine
run originating at Plunkett arrives with 100 empties (more or less).  The
mine run pulls the empties into the runaround, ties up sufficient hand
brakes (cause it's 2.3% desceding toward Plunkett), then gets 50
empties on the west end of the units.  Then the mine run shoves west
past the load-out up the tail track (which will chamber just about 3
units and 50 cars).  The tail track at Kopperston is the end of the Morri
Branch.  Then the mine run pulls east and the first 50 cars are flood
loaded (takes maybe 2 and a half or three hours).  The first 50 loads
are set out and tied down and the mine run gets the second 50 for
loading in the same fashion.  When finished, the mine run doubles
them together and heads back for Plunkett with plenty of air pumped
up for the 2.3% grade.  Incidentally, the tariff  designates that the train
has a specified amount of time to load, so the coal has to be available
when the train arrives. There is a penalty paid by the mine if they're
unable to load in the time provided.

The coal flood loaded at Kopperston is usually destined for Hyco/Mayo.
Prior to completion of the belt, Harris coal moved via CSX up their Logan
Subdivision, then to NS interchange at Glasgow, down the Shenandoah
Division to Roanoke,and on to the utility plants.  The 4-5 mile conveyor
belt allowed an all-NS route and shortened the rail distance by about
175 miles.
                                          Harry Bundy