North Fork Hollow Mine Run

[NW Mailing List]

As was stated in Grant's note, the track layout of Rolfe C&CC was very
similar to that of Gilliam and so it seems only natural that a mine run
would service it in a similar fashion.  Although long gone by the time of
Grant's modeling interest, the next operation up the holler was Indian
Ridge C&CC.  This operation was reached by the Bear Wallow(er) spur that
left the branch main stem at about Worth.  The track layout of  Indian
Ridge (see attached) was different and more extensive than the ones we have
examined previously.   I am guessing that the locomotive would push a
string of empties up the steep grade, through the trailing points turnout
and into one or more of the holding tracks at the upper end.  Further
guessing that the relatively long track below the tipple was for holding
loads, and after dropping empties the run would have backed down around the
tipple, coupled onto them, pulled them forward past the trailing points
turnout and then backed them down to the main stem.  Let me know if there
is real knowledge about this operation.
Jim Cochran

On Sat, Dec 6, 2025 at 7:54 AM NW Mailing List <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>
wrote:

> Jim,
>
> Mine runs had six-man crews. The middle brakeman of three was senior man
> and rode in the caboose with the conductor. Some short runs did not always
> have a caboose, including Algoma on the North Fork shifter and up Carswell
> Hollow on the Vivian Goat.
>
> Backing empties downgrade into tipple delivery tracks was relatively easy.
> The track configuration was designed to make it as safe and efficient as
> reasonably possible and crews had ways of dealing with the caboose. Tipple
> carmen called "droppers" would help set brakes.
>
> Grant Carpenter
>
> On 12/5/2025 12:33 PM, NW Mailing List wrote:
>
> OK, I sit corrected on cabeese on mine runs.  Putting it behind the loco
> prevents those extra maneuvers I was worried about.  BUT, and there's
> always a but, how many men made up a mine run crew?  Engineer, fireman and
> probably a brakeman at the nucleus, anybody else?  Did the mining
> operations supply workers to assist in the process?
> Jim Cochran
>
> On Fri, Dec 5, 2025 at 6:46 AM NW Mailing List <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>
> wrote:
>
>> I've seen many pics of the caboose riding behind the engine on switching
>> moves to keep crews together.
>>
>> Carl Barna
>> Emmaus, PA
>> ------------------------------
>> *From:* NW-Mailing-List <nw-mailing-list-bounces at nwhs.org> on behalf of
>> NW Mailing List <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>
>> *Sent:* Thursday, December 4, 2025 4:22 PM
>> *To:* NW Mailing List <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>
>> *Subject:* Re: North Fork Hollow Mine Run
>>
>> Thanks Jimmy, this helps some of us modelers or others who are just
>> curious about history, who have never worked for the railroad.
>>
>> Your question about "where would the crew ride" without a caboose is
>> helpful because I would not have thought of that.
>> Some of Jim C's questions are interesting to me as generalities to
>> understand the hows and whys of how things worked.
>>
>> Mike Rector
>>
>> On Thu, Dec 4, 2025 at 2:47 PM NW Mailing List <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>
>> wrote:
>>
>>
>> On 12/4/2025 8:19 AM, NW Mailing List wrote:
>> > However, Grant's information suggests that the run pulled past the
>> > trailing points turnout and then backed the empties into the holding
>> > track.  What was the motivation for this?  Hauling a caboose around
>> > through all these gyrations would have seemingly meant additional
>> > moves to drop it off and pick it back up, so I am assuming (and yes, I
>> > know what assuming can do) that these runs were cabooseless.
>>
>> Jim,
>> First, the trains were not cabooseless! Where would the crew ride?
>> Second, these crews have been switching out these plants for years and
>> they know how best to do it! Trust me, they are not going to do it the
>> hard way! What we don't know is everything that is on their list that
>> needs to be done AND what the physical situation of cars left over in
>> the tracks may be. Not knowing any of this, it is inconceivable to guess
>> just how a plant needs to be switched on any given day. Sure, there is a
>> basic system of working each place, but, that can easily change
>> depending on what other work needs to be done.
>>
>> Jimmy Lisle
>>
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