Schooler Hill Old Line: Hickman's Cut and Shuffelbarger's Dip

NW Mailing List nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org
Tue Jan 14 16:41:28 EST 2025


I was able to find mention of Hickman's Cut & Shuffebarger's Dip in the N&W
Magazine (October 1935). The article is about a "Unusual train Order" dated
6/20/1896 for Belspring. I have attached the page. Others will better
understand the train order better than I!

Apparently going east from "Old Belspring" you came to Shufflebarger's Dip,
Hickman's Cut, Schooler, Radford and then East Radford. I always assumed
that Schooler was top of the grade between New River and Belspring on this
route.

- Roger Link


On Tue, Jan 14, 2025 at 10:48 AM NW Mailing List via NW-Mailing-List <
nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org> wrote:

> Abe
>
> Hickman 1.1 mile from Schooler.  You will have to find the GPS.  Next
> station beyond Hickman would have been  Churchwood renamed in 1924 to
> Belspriing.
>
> Jim Blackstock
>
> On Monday, January 13, 2025 at 10:07:18 PM EST, NW Mailing List via
> NW-Mailing-List <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org> wrote:
>
>
> Yes, this is like a moon-shot, but sometimes the most esoteric questions
> posted on this list produce outstanding results.
>
> On the old line over Schooler Hill, from New River to Belspring, there are
> two named locations I am attempting to identify. Both would have been on
> the west side of the hill, i.e. between Schooler and Dry Branch.
>
> The Special Instructions section of the 1897 Time Table contains a number
> of instructions regarding the return movement of helper engines which have
> assisted eastward trains up the hill eastward from Dry Branch. (It appears
> that helper engines were permitted to return to Belspring without Train
> Orders, with right over all trains except First  Class Trains. To me, this
> indicates the railroad was trusting the Operator at Belspring to hold any
> following eastward trains, except First Class Trains, by use of his Manual
> Block Signal, pending arrival of the light helper engines returning.)
>
> Here are the Special Instructions in question:
>
> 1.) Dry Branch helper engines will work extra between Dry Branch and
> Schooler and will not move east except when helping trains or between
> Hickman’s Cut and Schooler when closely following the train they have
> assisted.
>
> 2.) Two (2) Helper Engines are assigned to service at Dry Branch, and when
> returning from Schooler or Shufflebarger’s Dip, have right-of-track to Dry
> Branch over all trains except First Class Trains.
>
> 3.) Pusher Engines will be cut loose from train at Hickman’s Cut and one
> engine only will follow through Shufflebarger’s Dip to assist train over
> summit at Schooler if necessary.
>
> 4.) When an EXTRA pusher engine is working between Dry Branch and
> Schooler, making three (3) in all, two engines will assist from Dry Branch
> or Back Creek to Hickman’s Cut, and two (2) engines will have right of
> track to Belspring against all eastbound trains, except first-class trains.
>
> NOW... WHERE were Hickman's Cut and Shufflebarger's Dip ??? A description
> would be Dandy, but coordinates would be Candy.
>
> -- abram burnett
> Quantum Turnips for the Non-Linear Age
> .
> .
>
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