VGN: Article "Transportation Factory" from 1939 Railroad Magazine

[NW Mailing List]

At least in the "old days" of Internet lists, "cross-posting"" material from one list to another was considered a confessionable sin. But here goes, and if this is still true, I ask for an "Ego te absolvo" from any who might be terribly offended.

The VGN List ("Virginian Railway Enthusiasts" over at Groups.io) recently hosted an article on the VGN, titled "Transportation Factory," from the April 1939 issue of Railroad Magazine. If you have not seen it, do take a ride on the VGN list and read it. (Or I will send it to you as a PDF.)

I was inspired to send to the VGN brethren a few thoughts on the article. For your edification, amusement or laughter, here they are (trailing) ...

-- abram burnett
Curds & Turnip Groats: the Healthy Breakfast
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I have enjoyed reading the article Transportation Factory. Here are some observations from an old geezer who worked in train service six decades ago and was obliged to pay attention to tonnages.

1.) The author says that the Clarks Gap fill-out was done from the rear end, by the pusher engine. Interesting, and I had never thought about that. That tells me about where the crest of the grade was at Clarks Gap Yard.

2.) The author states that Hill Runs brought up cuts of 85 cars weighing 6000 tons, and that cars were 50 tons capacity. From these numbers, I calculated that the VGN was figuring the weight of each empty hopper at 20.5 tons. (85 cars X 50 tons = 4250 tons of coal; 6000 tons gross - 4250 tons of coal = 1750 tons empty weight of cars. 1750 tons divided by 85 cars = 20.5 tons average wgt per empty car, or average gross weight of each car handled 70.5 tons. This figure is believable. When I hired in 1964, we were figuring the average weight of hoppers at 22 tons, and 70 ton hoppers constituted part of the fleet by that time, which accounts for the difference.

3.) Leaving Clarks Gap, the author states trains weighed 10,000 tons. Doing the math (10,000 tons divided by 70.5 tons gross weight per car) shows train length was about 142 car leaving Clarks Gap. Which further means that the Clarks Gap fill out consisted of 57 cars.

4.) Finally, the author states that coal trains leaving Roanoke were 14,300 tons in weight. Using our 70.5 tons per car as a divisor, that means trains east of Roanoke were about 202 cars in length. Which likely means that eastbound coal trains had to double two tracks together at Roanoke, because I don't think the VGN had any tracks good for 200 cars at that point.

Back in those days, the railroads were required to weigh each load. (Today, almost all cars move under something called a "shipper's weight agreement," and almost nothing gets weighed; so, all the track scales are gone.) I always wondered where the VGN weighed its coal traffic. This article indicates the weighing was done at Roanoke.

-- abram burnett
derailed old brakeman... and shoved off the end of the track, too !