Eastern Railroad Discussion > Day at Big Island, VA

Today was an exciting day at work. We replaced a plant transformer for the
Georgia Pacific Paper Mill in Big Island, VA. The transformer was a large
one designed to operate their #1 machine and its support equipment. We had
the transformer brought in on a heavy-duty flatcar by CSX. they serve the
mill as well. And CSX actually got it their ONTIME!!! It was waiting for
us when we arrived at 6am in the siding, right next to the building where we
needed it. To get the transformer up onto the roof (actually a mezzanine).
we had Commercial Steel Erection bring in one of their giant 4-axle
extension cranes. To get it to the flatcar with the transformer and the
building, the crane had to be driven down the tracks about 800 feet from a
Georgia Pacific grade crossing. It was pretty neat to watch. The crane was
so large. they were able to drive directly down the CSX mainline, with the
wheels straddling the ballast on either side of the track. After getting
the crane anchored down. they lifted the new transformer up to the roof,
picked up the old one and placed it on the flatcar, then repositioned the
new transformer for us to connect to the building. Then they drove the
crane back up the CSX mainline. All in all, we only held up the CSX for 6
hours. While we were working, I got to see the 1st train they let through.
It was an eastbound grain train with the following consist: CSX AC4400CW,
MPI SD45, CSX C40-8, UP C30-7 (I think this might have been a Helm unit),
then an NS C36-7. Sorry for the lack of numbers. it was raining and I didn'
t have anything to write with.

Galen A. Wright
Lynchburg, Virginia
Business Phone: (804) 258-3044
Business Fax: (703) 783-8584
http://www.mindspring.com/~brc.nrhs/