Just got back from Bluefield

[nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org]

Tom,

answers are embedded in your message below.  I would recommend that anyone traveling to see the Tug Fork Branch get a copy of "Gary Hollow" from the N&W Historical society comissary.

Alex Schust
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org 
  To: nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org 
  Sent: Friday, December 30, 2005 10:24 AM
  Subject: Just got back from Bluefield


  Having just made my first trip to N&W coal country, Let me just say wow.  I know it will not be my last.  I found a very good source for a self guided tour on the web called frograil.  It gave decent but not always one hundred percent correct direction on getting around.  (Or maybe I just can't follow directions well.  I know someone has hinted to that once :)

  Arriving Tuesday morning, We started out in Bluefield, went to Pocahontas, then over the mountain to US 52 at Maybeury and only got to Welch before the sun started setting.  We needed to find a hotel and the best we could do was back in Bluefield.  Wednesday we lingered in Bluefield to take more pictures before heading out to Welch.  We decided to stop and visit Bramwell.  We enjoyed the bridges over the Bluestone River just outside of town before doubling back to 52 and back to Welch.    

  >From Welch we went up the Tug Fork and saw operations at Elbert and Filbert.  ( I expect you saw operations at Elbert No. 8 and Elbert No7.  Tipple still exists at Filbert but mines are not operating.) By the time we got back to what I think was Gary (Exxon station on corner/ medical clinic across the street) (This is main Gary) it was time for us to consider our exit plans.  Weather was rolling in and we did not want to get caught in the snow.  We continued up the branch on 103 and over the mountain back to 52 at Elkhorn.  The GPS we had made all the difference.  That was all the time we had.

  If you are still reading I do have a few questions.  On the Tug there was a wide opening, before Gary,  double track with many ruins and a long conveyor.  Is this Wilcoe? (This is Gary No 2 also known as Alpheus.  It had the largest cleaning plant in the world at one time.  Wilcoe is where are of the empty RR tracks are) Also deep in the branch (staying left passing Gary and much farther down the road) where I was certain the branch was dead (looking at the growth between the tracks) we came upon a pair of covered hoppers at what looked like an ammonium nitrate loader.  Where was this? ( This is Blackwolf.  Also site of former McDowell Country Club) My best guess is somewhere near Anawalt.

  One more question.  Heading NW on 52 just out of Maybeury,  On the right was a large brick building.  I think it was a former power station.  Can anyone clarify for me? (THis is the former Switchback electric substation.  originally put in for the Pocahontas Fuel Company mines and then sold to the Applachain Power Company)

  Well, sorry for the rambling.  The trip if nothing else has wetted my appetite to go back.
  Happy New Year to all.

  Tom Lewis 


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