New coal line in PA

JRMDC · 07-20-2010, 08:41 PM

See
http://www.rtands.com/newsflash/coal...w-railway.html

Is this a brand new line, an upgrade of an existing or abandoned line, what?

thanks

J

Freericks · 07-20-2010, 09:30 PM

No idea, but I found this on the internet.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S%26C_Subdivision

JRMDC · 07-20-2010, 10:20 PM

Yeah, I can't find anything that indicates whether there is a new 10 mile line that connects to the S&C or whether some part of the S&C is now in the hands of PBS Coal.

ken45 · 07-20-2010, 11:26 PM

It reads like a purchase of an existing rail line. The article says they've shipped trains out of there before.

JRMDC · 07-21-2010, 02:03 AM

Using google maps I see a line winding around in a clockwise arc, starting near Friedens, PA, going off CSX, ending up at what looks to be a mine next to Coal Road. The satellite image looks like there is no rail there. So it looks like a 10 mile spur with newly relaid track.

Side note, the line passes within a mile of the Flight 93 National Memorial, site of the 9/11 crash.

ken45 · 07-21-2010, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JRMDC

Using google maps I see a line winding around in a clockwise arc, starting near Friedens, PA, going off CSX, ending up at what looks to be a mine next to Coal Road. The satellite image looks like there is no rail there. So it looks like a 10 mile spur with newly relaid track.

No way 10 miles of relaid track comes in less than a million dollars, even with bottom of the barrel second hand rail, and why would you use that? I took a look at the same line you did, and it looks to me like the tracks are still there, albeit more noticeable in some places than others. They're certainly going to need some work though, especially if they run as many trains as it sounds like they want to.

Ken Lehman · 07-23-2010, 07:52 PM

This is a rehabilitation (upgrading) of what was once B&O's Coleman Subdivision, it isn't new construction. At one time there were several mines at the end of the branch, but in recent years it only served the PBS Coal loadout. CSX has been serving PBS in recent years via the branch, though at times the operation has been sporadic. PBS has also invested in an upgrade of their loadout facility, which is usually referred to as Cambria on the railroad.

PBS also loads regularly at their Shade Creek facility near Central City, on the end of Norfolk Southern's South Fork Secondary.

Ken Lehman

ShortlinesUSA · 07-24-2010, 12:51 AM

Thank you for clarification, Ken, and good to see you here on the forum. Hope you'll stop by often!

JRMDC · 07-24-2010, 01:28 AM

Thanks, Ken.

GLC 392 · 08-04-2010, 01:08 AM

Question is are they using CSX power or are they going to be getting there own power? I was down on sand patch this weekend and caught a train at Meyersdale that came onto the main line at Rockwood, Maybe it was one of these trains?

Photoshooter09 · 08-06-2010, 01:10 AM

I would guess that CSX will power the trains.

bbrant · 08-24-2010, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GLC 392

Question is are they using CSX power or are they going to be getting there own power? I was down on sand patch this weekend and caught a train at Meyersdale that came onto the main line at Rockwood, Maybe it was one of these trains?

They are using CSX power. One of the workers I talked to when they were rehabing the line said only 6-axel units with steerable trucks were permitted. As reported, this is the former B&O Coleman Sub. It connects with the CSX S&C Sub just outside of Friedens, PA. They (CSX) has been running about 3 per week. There's a runaround track at the loadout and 4 tracks where the cars are stored prior to loading. Generally, the trains are around 75-80 cars which is all the "yard" can hold at the loadout.

Here's some photos I took while the line was being worked on in 2005.
http://bbrant.rrpicturearchives.net/...id=4756&Page=1

Here's a link to the (I believe) second train that ran over the line since being put back in service.
http://bbrant.rrpicturearchives.net/....aspx?id=19526

Link to another loaded train coming off the Coleman. This one couldn't pull the grade (was icy that morning) at Listie on the S&C so the train was cut in two sections. The first section was kept in the small yard in Somerset while the crew went back for the second part.
http://bbrant.rrpicturearchives.net/....aspx?id=20229

Just some misc. pictures of the Coleman Sub. At that time the locos were kept near where the Coleman connects with the S&C.
http://bbrant.rrpicturearchives.net/....aspx?id=19467

I have a couple other photos of the line that I took in 2004 when the weeds were so high you couldn't even see the rails. Great to see the line was given the needed maintenance and reopened!

Brian

JRMDC · 08-24-2010, 07:18 PM

Nice to put a name to a place, here is the one shot on RP from Shanksville, would this be S&C or Coleman? I found no shots from Friedens.

bbrant · 08-24-2010, 07:43 PM

That's a shot of the Coleman. The train is just about to cross the Stutzmantown Road. Very scenic line to shoot if you're lucky enough to be there when a train is going through. All single track and lower speeds. Just need to be at the right place at the right time.

bbrant · 08-24-2010, 07:51 PM

As a point of refernce, I'm adding a link to a photo I have of the CSX local (D703) going through the village of Coleman Station on the S&C. The Coleman Sub runs behind where I'm standing. One other thing to mention is the Coleman has (if I remember correctly) 1 or 2 horseshoe curves in it. It's wooded so you can't see the train like you would in Altoona (on NS) or Mance on the Keystone Sub. You should be able to follow the line using Google Maps or one of the other online map web sites.

Brian

http://bbrant.rrpicturearchives.net/...aspx?id=507794