Eastern Railroad Discussion > Precision Scheduled Railroading hits McMechen, WV

So, I'm headed to Wheeling on WV Route 2 northbound earlier this afternoon...

when I see a single CSX CW44AC (I think 103) on the point of probably 35+ hopper cars, most likely used for frack sand, along with a batch of tank cars hiding behind the cut.  (At least it looked that way.)

The train might have doing three to five miles an hour, blocking the grade crossing into the industrial park built where the B & O roundhouse once stood.  Five or six frack sand trucks headed northbound like me were trying to make the left turn into the site, along with a couple in the southbound lanes trying to do the same thing.  I have the feeling some drivers were cussing a blue streak.

Not sure if that line has seen that sort of train length in years.  Coal shipments happen now and then, but have mostly disappeared.

Unfortunately, I had to be somewhere at a certain time, and didn't have the chance to even grab a snap with my cellphone camera.  Bummer.

Covia, a major frac sand producer has had a large distribution terminal at Benwood for over a decade. They have even been known to run full unit trains there on occasion.

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I knew there was some sort of frack sand distribution outfit there in Benwood, but I didn't know who it was until your post.

As I said, it was the longest train I've seen there in some while.  Thanks for the info!

The West Virginia panhandle and SW Pennsylvania have done very well with frac oil and natural gas. Supports a lot of good jobs.

Lots of coal too.

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