VGN coal

[nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org]

Date: Mon, 21 Mar 2005 23:52:59 -0500 
To: "N&amp;W Mailing List" <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org> 
From: nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org
Subject:  Re: Coal via Potomac Yard

In the mid to late 1950's, when I worked the Southern
extra board as extra Clerk in Alexandria, we got a
train every other day or so of Virginian coal in
Middle Yard for the small Virginia Power plant at the
foot of Tunnel Town. The set off track was named
Braddock Siding.

I was told by an old timer the small Vepco plant was
called Braddock Power and Light back in the 1920's.
this plant never got over 2 cars,  the rest 20 or so
cars went up north to the Alexandria Pepco plant. This
plant had a 0-4-0 that they filled with steam from the
Elec. Plant every 4 hours of work. It could move about
6 loaded Hoppers at a time to the dumper.
A few years ago I came across one of my old yard
books, If I can find it I will be able give you the
track numbers and the car numbers for each job, both
loads & empty along with the dates as I had to write
the entire Middle Yard when I came to work.

Both old and Middle yard are now town houses and
office buildings and the NS has reopened Cameron Yard 
that the ICC made the SOU shut down when they 
built it in the early 1920's.

H.B.Lyon 


March 23, 2005

Hello, H. B.:

This is helpful information, as are several other
replies on this topic.  If you find one of your yard
books, would you please send a note off-list to James
Foley <james.foley at att.net>?  He's working on a
history of Potomac Yard (PY).  To put PY into proper
perspective, facts about Southern's Alexandria Yard
operation would be helpful.

Another coal consignee was the Thomas J. Fannon & Sons
coal yard at the corner of South Henry and Duke
Streets.  This yard with four silos received a car
about once a week in the early 1950s since some homes
and commercial establishments still received coal
deliveries.  It also bagged coal for home fireplaces,
for walk-in retail sales.

Thank you,

Frank



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