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Brent,<br>
<br>
Yes, Armour and Wilson were behind the station and shared a
facing-point spur off of the EB main. Swift was located just across
the creek on a trailing-point spur off of the EB main. Given the
opposing switch moves, the shifter crew had to get ahead or behind
the appropriate cars on the middle track of a busy main.<br>
<br>
Usually, the mine run was called early to handle just the
refrigerator cars before starting their run. The cars were
considered "hot" out of Chicago and Cincinnati and if they missed
their connection with 84, then it was Second 84 or the next
eastbound, period. This could result in "Second 84" being your coal
train with refrigerators on the head end (See p.125, <i>The Norfolk
and Western... As I Knew It!</i>, August A. Thieme). <br>
<br>
With a trailing point move, the cars were set off on the North Fork
Middle Track close to all three packing houses there in Northfork.
The Night Mine Run, the North Fork Hollow Passenger Run, or the
North Fork Hollow Mine Run would spot the cars, depending on when
the cars were set off and which job was available. Men would be
waiting on the docks to unload the cars. Subject to high demurrage,
they were picked up in less than eight hours and either taken to
Bluefield by the Farm Local for the next westbound freight or
(later) were moved to the nearest pickup point (Eckman Yard) for a
River crew to take back west in a coal train. This is the only case
of expedited freight by coal train on the Division that I'm aware of
beyond some LCL or mules on mine runs. <br>
<br>
Grant Carpenter<br>
<br>
<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 12/2/2025 10:23 AM, NW Mailing List
wrote:<br>
</div>
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cite="mid:mailman.12683.1764693996.722595.nw-mailing-list@nwhs.org">
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I've seen a few photos of meat reefers at the head end of coal
trains on their way to/from Northfork. I understand that there
were at least 2 meat packing facilities in Northfork itself and
that they shared a siding.</div>
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<br>
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How were these cars handled on the branch? I hope Grant can
detail the process of how the cars were received, spotted,
returned/forwarded in Northfork. </div>
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<br>
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Sincere thanks,</div>
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Brent</div>
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Dr. J. Brent Greer </div>
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