<div dir="ltr">Jim C., Grant, Jimmy L., et al.<div><br></div><div>It would probably be a lot of work, but I think in addition to Mike's suggestion about a track plan/chart, maybe looking at the information set out in this thread, this could be a fine article for the <i style="font-weight:bold">Arrow. </i>Including some information as to changes in the overall process over the years, with the change in motive power, equipment, rules, etc. I suspect a lot of people would appreciate the information even if they're not modeling that area specifically. </div><div><br></div><div>Frank Bongiovanni</div></div><br><div class="gmail_quote gmail_quote_container"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Sun, Nov 30, 2025 at 6:48 PM NW Mailing List <<a href="mailto:nw-mailing-list@nwhs.org">nw-mailing-list@nwhs.org</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div dir="ltr">Jim C, you know what this message thread needs? A dad-burned track chart - that's what.<div>Some of us young ignorant types are doing our best to follow along.</div><div>Grant, this is very interesting stuff. </div><div><br></div><div>Mike Rector</div></div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Sat, Nov 29, 2025 at 8:01 PM NW Mailing List <<a href="mailto:nw-mailing-list@nwhs.org" target="_blank">nw-mailing-list@nwhs.org</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div dir="ltr">The Elkhorn pool run has filled both the Elk Ridge Storage track and the North Fork Storage track, grabbed its cab and headed West to turn and pick up loads. Now, a mine run gets dispatched from Eckman bound for the North fork branch. What class locomotive? Did it have a cab? Was it facing forward (East)? When it arrived at North fork and signed onto the branch, Would it pull all the empties from both storage tracks at Elk Ridge or a lesser number prior to heading further up the holler to Algoma?<br><div>Jim Cochran</div></div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Fri, Nov 28, 2025 at 6:23 PM NW Mailing List <<a href="mailto:nw-mailing-list@nwhs.org" target="_blank">nw-mailing-list@nwhs.org</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><u></u>
<div>
Maybe less pie and more nap – (2) edits below:<br>
<br>
Grant Carpenter<br>
<br>
<div>On 11/28/2025 1:36 PM, NW Mailing List
wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote type="cite">
Hello Jim,<br>
<br>
There were six to ten crews assigned to the Elkhorn Pool out of
Bluefield. They rotated first-in, first-out with eight hours of
rest. They handled full-length mainline trains, that was 80 loads
eastbound upgrade, which required a 2100 and a pusher. <br>
<br>
Specifically, the Elkhorn run to North Fork left Bluefield running
forward with empties behind and a cab on the rear. A clarification
from earlier where I stated this job would turn on the table at
Eckman and pickup east loads there for the return trip to
Bluefield: Farm became the turning point when the Eckman table was
taken out of service. If so, this crew continued west, possibly
picking up <u>east</u> loads along the WB main, turned, filled
out tonnage at some point, met a pusher, and started back to
Bluefield.<br>
<br>
Depending on the date, they called the operator or the dispatcher
to unlock the switch at the branch junction with the WB main.
Extra movements would have to register on, so the box should have
been near that switch.<br>
<br>
If you are still referring to the Elkhorn crew, it was a
trailing-point move to back empties into the Elk Ridge Storage
track, yes, <strike>formally</strike> formerly the oven track,
then into the North Fork Storage track, <strike>formally</strike> formerly
the main track before a new main track was laid next to it. They
would not have delivered Algoma – that was first on the mine run's
agenda.<br>
<br>
Grant Carpenter<br>
<br>
<div>On 11/27/2025 7:10 PM, NW Mailing
List wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote type="cite">
<div dir="ltr">Hope everyone is full of turkey and pie and got
at least one nap this afternoon,
<div>Had I been and engineer in Bluefield assigned to the
Elkhorn pool (were crew assigned to the pools?), and drew
the North Fork run, what class loco would I have had under
me (a 2000?). Would I be running forward or reverse? Would
the empties be in front of me or behind me? Would there be
a cab, and if so, where?</div>
<div>When I get to North Fork, do I need to sign the book
showing I am occupying the branch, and if so, where was the
book kept (in the station?)? After being cleared for the
branch, and depending upon the loco's facing, I would start
to either push or pull those empties around the hill where
the Elk Ridge coke ovens used to be and head up the holler
to make my first drop off at Algoma?</div>
<div>Can I pack any more questions into one short message,
time will tell,</div>
<div>Jim Cochran</div>
</div>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>
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