Virginian (NW/NS) Roanoke South Yard

[NW Mailing List]

Thanks, Harry.  Owe you again.

On Tue, Jul 16, 2024 at 10:29 AM NW Mailing List via NW-Mailing-List <
nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org> wrote:

> Frank - I do not know if VGN (or C&O) stacked up inventories because VGN
> had merged with N&W before I was employed.  So I've been told by the
> elders, N&W had 900 (+ or -) classes of coal, but VGN had only six.
> Possibly the elimination of so many classes prevented VGN from having so
> much stored coal.   HWB
>
> On Monday, July 15, 2024 at 06:14:31 PM EDT, NW Mailing List <
> nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org> wrote:
>
>
> Harry, that is really excellent information. I don't know where else we
> might have it, but it seems new to a lot of us. By any chance, do you
> happen to know if the Virginian and the C&O also stacked up an inventory of
> coalon the East Coast "on spec"? Thanks.
>
> Frank Bongiovanni
>
>
> On Mon, Jul 15, 2024 at 1:04 PM NW Mailing List via NW-Mailing-List <
> nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org> wrote:
>
> Abe- Until several decades ago, coal mines were allowed to ship coal to
> Lamberts Point that had never been sold.  After arrival, the cars had 10
> demurrage-free days and hopefully the coal agents could find a sale for the
> class of coal and have it dumped before the charge set in.  Seems that
> around 1970, there was a downturn in the economy and mines cranked up
> production to fill ships looking for loads.  Unsold coal sky-rocketed and
> had to be stored at Sewells Point and middle tracks.  It wasn't unusual to
> see several coal trains waiting for a space to yard waiting at Juniper in
> the Dismal Swamp.  Then, N&W decided to discontinue the 10 demurrage-free
> days.  To start with, the initial charge for the first few days was only
> $2.20/day, and by increasing the availability of hoppers, N&W did NOT have
> to construct more.  Harry Bundy
> On Sunday, July 14, 2024 at 06:46:57 AM EDT, NW Mailing List <
> nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org> wrote:
>
>
> Why no trains or cars stored at South Roanoke ...?
>
> If the yard is placed out-of-service, they eliminate the cost of track and
> switch inspections. As I recall, Main Tracks have to be patrolled twice a
> week, and yard switches have to be inspected once a month. And the Signal
> Department also has to do switch obstruction tests and inspection of IJ's
> (insulated joints) and fouling wires on any switches in signaled territory,
> monthly, as I seem to recall. (Usually the Signal Maintainer and the Track
> Patrol will agree to meet and do both the M/W switch inspection and the
> Signal Department tests at the same time.) In any case, it is all time, and
> time equates to money. I have now been away from this craziness for a
> blessed 14 years, so don't take the above numbers to the bank without
> double-checking them.
>
> What I want to know is: Where is the NS hiding all the thousands upon
> thousands of hoppers which used to be kept busy running up and down the
> main line, making money? Are they all jammed in derelict, forgotten places
> like the Bluestone Branch? Decades ago, when business grew slack, the yards
> filled up with un-needed equipment. But they are not stuffing it in the
> yards any more. Just look at the satellite images of Roanoke, Mullens,
> Bluefield &c. Those places are, as my father would ahve said, "As clean as
> a chicken bone after the Methodist preacher came for dinner ! "
>
> Are they dumping ANY coal at Lambert's Point, any more ?
>
> Wonder how long it will be before the accountants figure out they can
> "enhance shareholder value" by selling the Lamberts Point acreage for the
> development of a shopping mall, or condo's ?  Or put a large Electric
> Vehicle Re-Charging station there... HA.  I bet the Navy would be happy to
> get it.
>
> -- abram burnett
> Cynical Turnips
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