pre electric operations

[NW Mailing List]

Jim:  Which way are the switches pointed on the spurs and tipple tracks for
set outs? Eastward or westward?

 

Gary Rolih

Cincinnati

 

From: nw-mailing-list-bounces at nwhs.org
[mailto:nw-mailing-list-bounces at nwhs.org] On Behalf Of NW Mailing List
Sent: Saturday, May 29, 2010 7:00 PM
To: NW Mailing List
Subject: pre electric operations

 

I have been reading the electrification articles in the latest Arrow and
have some questions about pre-electrification steam operations that I'm
hoping some of you may clear up for me.  First, on page 22, it states that
empty deliveries to the mines would be handles out of Bluefield by two
Mallets.  "For obvious operating reasons these engines were necessarily run
backwards on the westbound movement.  The second engine was handled at the
head end of the train for the purpose of permitting the better handling of
the air brake down the 2% grade."  

Well, like a lot of things in life, it aint "obvious" to me.  The picture
this paints in my mind is of one engine on the West (head?) end of the
string of hoppers running tender first with another on the East end, also
running tender first.  Is this accurate?  If so, why was this backward
running advantageous?  As to the better handling of the air, was this merely
due to the fact that the line was being controlled from both ends of the
train?

Next, the statement is made "At the first point where the delivery of
empties was to be made, the second engine would be set around on the rear
and the delivery of empty cars into all mine operating tracks would be made
from this end of the train."

What does "set around on the rear" mean?  Is the "rear" still the East end
of the train?  If so, does this put both engines on the East end now?  Did
the mines have separate delivery and pick-up tracks that were polarized?
For example, did they always push empties into the delivery tracks from
railroad East and pull loaded cuts out onto the main heading railroad west? 

 

Thanks in advance for any help,

Jim Cochran

dcochran116 at roadrunner.com 

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