Eastern Railroad Discussion > Is it "Shuttle Engine Season" already on the Mt. Sub - 12 July 17

Typically during the winter months CSX will add a 3rd. locomotive to the Coal Drags coming east from Grafton, WV. These locomotives locally known as "Shuttle Engines" are typically older DC powered units that are in a captive service between Grafton and Keyser, WV. Their main purpose is to add extra air compressor capacity for the heavy eastbound trains and not really used as "helpers". The Shuttle Engines will come off the eastbound drags at Keyser and will return to Grafton on the next available westbound. Last winter the "Shuttle Engine" class was mainly SD50 and SD60 units, the winter before was mainly C440-8 units.

Wednesday the 12th. N743-10 came east with the #21 as their 3rd. unit. The crew described their moves at Keyser to set off the #21 as "just what we do with shuttle engines"... to which the dispatcher responded with "It's not that time of year yet, it it?".......

The real reason the #21 came east was it would be needed as the 2nd. unit on a U51 set of Empties coming out of Mt. Storm later the next day.


1) N743-10 eastbound crossing the Potomac River between Bloomington, MD and Beryl, WV

2) The #21 at Beryl, WV. This unit will be set off at Keyser, WV and return to Grafton on a later U051.

3) After setting off the #21 at Keyser, N743-10 eastbound passing thru the Keyser Yard.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/21/17 08:54 by DTWilson.

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All very nice photos.
John

Yes DTWilson... thank you for the quality shots and news on this area. I'll be out there in 2 weeks.

The 21 ended up as the 2nd unit on Q317 yesterday with CP 8896 leading. Following the 21 was 2 switchers 1212 and 1102. Very unusual power for Q317.

Randy