Eastern Railroad Discussion > Where is the Coal?

This domestic intermodal was seen just east of Lynchburg, VA on the former N&W coal route from WV. to tidewater at Norfolk. There were no coal trains on this day.

Bob Wilcox
Charlottesville, VA
My Flickr Shots

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Loaded coal trains east from Roanoke normally run the ex-Virginian via Altavista, as they have for more than 50 years since N&W acquired the VGN.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/25/17 12:42 by toledopatch.

toledopatch Wrote:
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> Loaded coal trains east from Roanoke normally run
> the ex-Virginian via Altavista, as they have for
> more than 50 years since N&W acquired the VGN.

During my N&W years, the coal for the Hyco plant on the Durham NC line frequently went via Lynchburg. Is that coal business still around?

Coal traffic seems to have slowed down again here in Norfolk. jimpres

Hyco Lake is still in service, but I'm pretty sure that traffic runs the Altavista District now, too.

Yes, when I was in NC (2005-2011) the Hyco and Mayo trains took the VGN eastbound to Brookneal, east of Altavista, where they'd head south on the former Durham line.

ts1457 Wrote:
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> toledopatch Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Loaded coal trains east from Roanoke normally
> run
> > the ex-Virginian via Altavista, as they have
> for
> > more than 50 years since N&W acquired the VGN.
>
> During my N&W years, the coal for the Hyco plant
> on the Durham NC line frequently went via
> Lynchburg. Is that coal business still around?

Diamond_D Wrote:
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> Yes, when I was in NC (2005-2011) the Hyco and
> Mayo trains took the VGN eastbound to Brookneal,
> east of Altavista, where they'd head south on the
> former Durham line.

Thanks.

I probably am wrong about the coal going via Lynchburg on occasion (not to say never), but I think the empties came back that way to avoid the directional running on the old Virginian.