[N&W] Re: Lambert's Point - car capacity question

[nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org]

Having little experience with loading coal hoppers I did load several test
coal shipments on the DT&I during the 70's coal boom and was surprised that
a 100 ton car was handling only 83 tons average of mine run E KY coal. We
filled them to the brim and they were N&W cars. Shipments were for Detroit
and we loaded at Pedro, OH using an old clay truck ramp for direct drop into
the cars.

Oakie Ford

----- Original Message -----
From: "N&W Mailing List" <mailing-list at nwhs.org>
To: "N&W Mailing List" <mailing-list at nwhs.org>
Sent: Thursday, April 22, 2004 10:33 PM
Subject: Re: Lambert's Point


 > Wayne,
 >
 > Pardon my delay in responding, but I was waiting for some current
 > information on export coal train sizes and capacity of ships loaded at L.
 > Pt.
 >
 > For facts and figures, you can search for "Lamberts Point Coal" on the Web
 > and come up with lots of data.  Three that are particularly informative
are:
 >
 > www.energy.vt.edu/pdfs/VACoal1999.pdf
 >
 > www.globalsecurity.org/military/facility/lamberts-point.htm)
 >
 > www.nscorp.com/nscorphtml/coal/transload/lamberts_point.html-3k
 >
 > I would look askance at the claim that it takes 15 train loads of coal to
 > fill the AVERAGE collier.  A NS source checked AEI scans of export coal
 > trains and determined that they are running 170 to 180 100-ton cars per
 > train.  The same source determined that the capacity of ships loaded there
 > recently and the number of cars required is as follows:
 >      17,000 tons        120 cars
 >      27,000                270
 >      77,000                750
 >      83,500                910
 > Although the number of cars for the first listing is obviously too low to
 > fill the ship, the others figure to be about 100 tons/car, which is what
 > would be expected.  The Virginia Tech Web site given above states,
"...over
 > 150,000 tons of coal have been loaded in a single collier" as though this
 > was something of a record.   Even if this were the average, and we can see
 > it is far from it, one of these largest ships would only require about
1,500
 > cars, or some 8.5 train loads.
 >
 > Gordon Hamilton
 >
 > ----- Original Message -----
 > From: "N&W Mailing List" <mailing-list at nwhs.org>
 > To: "N&W Mailing List" <mailing-list at nwhs.org>
 > Sent: Sunday, April 11, 2004 11:03 PM
 > Subject: Lambert's Point
 >
 >
 >  > All,
 >  >
 >  > Last year I appealed to the Society for help preparing an article for
the
 >  > Roanoke Locomotive Shop newsletter, "The Quality Connection." Several
 >  > members responded and have my gratitude. I tried to send copies of the
 >  > magazine to those who helped out and I hope you all received them.
 >  >
 >  > Anyway, I'm needing help again; this time with information concerning
the
 >  > coal operations at Lambert's Point. I was given a thorough tour of the
 >  > facility on Mar. 3, just after the safety awards ceremonies, but was
more
 >  > intent on taking pictures than jotting down facts and figures. I went
to
 >  > the Salem library to day to browse their back issues of "The Arrow,"
but
 >  > they don't have a very large collection and I found nothing helpful.
Have
 >  > there been articles in past issues concerning the coal pier?
 >  >
 >  > What I'm needing is basic information concerning coal handling,
tonnages,
 >  > etc. One thing I do remember the Machinist/guide telling us is that the
 >  > average collier holds 15 train loads of coal. A pretty amazing figure
in
 >  > itself.
 >  >
 >  > BTW, I hope I'm not letting confidential information out but telling
you
 >  > that the signs are that coal exports will be very much higher this
year.
 >  > The "Business Outlook" speeches at the awards banquet were very upbeat
and
 >  > the rumors flying around are predicting that exports may reach levels
 >  > comparable to those of 1996-1997. If these prove to be true, it will be
a
 >  > tremendous help with the financial problems NS has experienced
recently.
 >  >
 >  > Also, I've noticed in some of the posts here people mention posting
 >  > pictures. If someone will give me an address where to send them, I'll
post
 >  > some of the shots I took at the coal pier. I was allowed to go to the
very
 >  > top of the loaders and got some pretty nice pictures. I also have some
of
 >  > 1218 when (he, she, it?) was in the shop in June of last year; just
before
 >  > being given to the Transportation Museum. I'll be glad to post some of
 >  > those as well.
 >  >
 >  > Thank you
 >  > Wayne McKinney
 >  > Roanoke Locomotive shop
 >  >
 >  >
 >
 >
 >