N&W in 1911--Cedar Bluff

[NW Mailing List]

Thanks, Harry.  What you describe is an interesting diversion of traffic to avoid the expense of classifying cars in Bluefield Yard.

Re-reading what I wrote, I should have been specific that I think the article was talking about how eastbound freight trains originating west of Ieager and normally continuing on the main line through Elkhorn Tunnel could be diverted over the new "cutoff" (now Dry Fork Branch) Iaeger to Cedar Bluff and then into Bluefield on the Clinch Valley line to reduce traffic through Elkhorn tunnel, thereby easing the congestion at the tunnel.

Gordon
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: NW Mailing List 
  To: nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org 
  Sent: Tuesday, June 21, 2011 9:57 AM
  Subject: Re: N&W in 1911--Cedar Bluff








  -----[Considering the restriction posed by the single-track Elkhorn tunnel to the then increasing traffic, it is not surprising that it seemed likely that some traffic would bypass the tunnel by being diverted over this new line termed a "cut off."  I don't know to what extent the diversion happened, but the need for it largely disappeared when the Elkhorn grade (including Elkhorn tunnel) was electrified in 1915.] 

  Gordon:
  I think it happened after we retired, but NS resumed hauling coal from the Clinch Valley via
  Cedar Bluff to Iaeger, then east to a point near Falls Mills.  Bluefield's East Yard required
  car riders to tie hand brakes as  gravity rolled the car toward the east end.  But by picking up
  at Yards (?), eastbounds only swapped crews at Bluefield.  No more knocking off 25 hand
  brakes, testing air and making three doubles.  

  FYI, Herr Krippendorf''s funeral lasted 12:20 PM.                     Harry Bundy     


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