Eastern Railroad Discussion > CSX Clifton Forge Va area question.

Over the last few weeks I have found my travels along I64 thru KY/WVA/VA both east and west.  Today was no exception.  But while passing thru the Clifton Forge area I passed over an EB CSX Stack Train. While only single level stacks, I found it sorta different. When I think of this line, I think of COAL, both loads and empties, perhaps witha n occasional Manifest here an there. What Stacker would traverse these tracks? With it being only single level stacks/containers, my guess is the Clearances won't allow doubles thru the line. Any ideas which one it was?  Thnx. Ben

If eastbound, it was Q136. If westbound, it was Q135. CSX has been running these North Baltimore, Ohio/Portsmouth, Va. trains intermittently via the C&O for a couple of years to bypass clearance-related construction along the former B&O, since they won't fit through the Virginia Avenue Tunnel in Washington anyway. Once that tunnel is enlarged, the "single-stacks" will disappear from the C&O.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/27/15 14:52 by toledopatch.

Not exactly sure thats the reason. Q032/034 north and Q033/031 run that route daily, as does Q130, which is N. Baltimore- Portsmouth VA as well; all Single Stack trains. I think it's just to reduce the volume for the time being while the track work is ongoing. 

Railfan94.....toledopatch is right. q31/33/32/34/36 etc are north south trains and stacks cannot clear Howard St tunnel in Balto and some others norht-south. The Portsmouth to Ohio trains will clear the expanded Virginia Ave tunne lwhen it is completed. So then you will be able to see double stacks on the old RF&P.

But CSX will not be able to handle double stacks from the South to the Northeast along the "I-95" Corridor, but NS can via a slightly longer route via Hagerstown, MD, and has done so for years.