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Matt,<br>
<br>
In a word, yes, but can't seem to keep these to one-word
answers/guesses/speculation/bs, so here goes. . .<br>
<br>
Bluefield men handled time freights to Williamson; out one day, back
the next, then off a day, and this would evolve through the 1950s
into interdivsional runs later. Williamson crews, specifically Tug
River crews, handled second sections, as needed. If the tardy
refrigerator cars were chasing #84, having missed connections at
Cincinnati or Columbus, when they arrived in Williamson on whatever
train, they were hustled to the head end of whatever was the next
train to make Eckman/Bluefield. Their "hotness" did not rate a
passenger train due to the unscheduled delay of setting off the
cars; however, a coal train of 160 loads and a pusher could rate,
along with the pay bump.<br>
<br>
Grant Carpenter<br>
<br>
PS "Hotness"? On THIS List? Never would've imagined.<br>
<br>
<br>
<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 12/6/2025 3:55 PM, NW Mailing List
wrote:<br>
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Grant, this comment about the placement of onsie-twosie late
reefers is interesting, and reminds me of some similar-ish
feedback I got from someone on this list about stockcar placement
by mainline crews (instead of local / shifter crews) due to
“hotness”.
<div><br>
</div>
<div>I have one clarifying question though. You said:</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>“if they missed their connection with 84, then it was Second
84 or the next eastbound, period.”</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>If there was not a Second 84 that day, did the “next
eastbound” inherit that symbol in order to get the benefit of
movement required by the hot load?</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>As others have said previously, some of us really appreciate
these memories and experiences (and thanks to Jim for asking the
questions that prompted these)</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Matt Goodman</div>
<div>Columbus, Ohio<br id="lineBreakAtBeginningOfMessage">
<div><br>
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<div>On Dec 4, 2025, at 10:05 AM, NW Mailing List
<a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:nw-mailing-list@nwhs.org"><nw-mailing-list@nwhs.org></a> wrote:</div>
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<div> 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>
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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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