Durham District in the '50s?

nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org
Sat Mar 26 22:14:08 EST 2005


 
Thank you Gordon for setting the record straight on the RS-3s.  I knew  that 
from William Warden's book, Norfolk & Western: Diesel's Last  Conquest.  I 
just made a mistake with the date.  
 
cs.
 
In a message dated 3/26/05 5:13:41 PM Eastern Standard Time,  
nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org writes:

Chuck,
 
Just to set the record straight, the diesels were introduced to the  Durham 
Line in late 1955 instead of late 1956.  Four EMD GP-9s (No. 700 -  703) were 
delivered Sept. 1955, and four Alco RS-3s (No. 300 - 303) were  delivered Sept. 
and Oct. 1955.  It is my understanding that these eight  units were used to 
dieselize the Durham Line.
 
The additional four RS-3s (No. 304 - 307) were delivered in Jan. and  Feb. 
1956, after which the N & W switched its Alco purchases to  RS-11s.
 
Gordon Hamilton
 
----- Original Message ----- 

From:  _nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org_ (mailto:nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org)  
To: _nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org_ (mailto:nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org)  
Sent: Wednesday, March 23, 2005 11:04  PM
Subject: Re: Durham District in the  '50s?



Fred,
 
The Lynchburg and Durham Railroad and the Durham District of N&W is  an 
interest of mine and I can give you a little information.  Hopefully  some of the 
N&W veterans out there can add to what little I know or will  correct any 
mistakes.
 
There exists in the N&W Archives a copy of the 1926 track map for  the line 
from Lynchburg to Durham.  It was revised last in 1968.   At milepost L-70 
there is a notation on the map of " A. & D.  Ry - O.H. Xing".  The A&D goes over 
the L&D (I think.....I  will have to check that out) and there is no 
interchange.
 
Also in the Archives are a number of pictures taken in Durham in  the 1940s 
and 1950s of various freight locomotives, including Classes  Y6, Y3, Y4, and 
Z1b, all steam.  Passenger locomotives pictures  include E2, E2a, K1 and K2 
locomotives. The diesels were introduced in late  1956.  Only 8 RS-3s were 
purchased and initially 4 were quietly  put to use in the Durham District. N&W went 
on to purchased many  more EMD GP9s and Alco RS-11s in 1956 and 1957 and used 
them  with the RS-3s.  I do not yet know when the RS-3s were taken out  of 
service, but they were not the only diesels for very long.
 
On August 28, 1954 regular 1st class passenger service ended between  
Lynchburg and Durham when trains No. 35 and 36 were discontinued.   N&W upgraded 
local freight trains No. 71 and 72 to mixed train  status by puting a combine on 
the end.  Both the steam and diesel  locomotives pulled these trains until the 
end of 1957, when the mixed  service was discontinued and trains 71 and 72 
went back to 4th class local  freight.  I hope this is helpful.
 
Chuck Stewart
Bahama (just north of Durham) NC.
 
 
In a message dated 3/21/05 9:35:43 PM Eastern Standard Time,  
nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org writes:

Folks,
I'm modeling the Atlantic & Danville  Rwy. Does anybody know how much 
interchange useage was made between the  N&W and the A&D at (Denniston?)off the L&D 
line in the 50's?  Also what type of traffic was interchanged? Also what type 
of power did  the N&W use for there frts say from 1955 to 1960? I think the N&W 
 used RS-3's to dieselize this line, but not sure when and how long they  
were the only power? Anybody have a map of the trackage in this  area?
Thanks for any help,
Fred Mullins




 
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