After an afternoon of heavy rain blanketed the area, CSX E009-04, empties from Kanawha River Terminals in Ceredo head down the Logan Subdivision at the east end of Ranger siding, bound for the yard at Peach Creek near Logan, WV for loading.
One of the more unique locations on the C&O system, EE Ranger is not dispatcher-controlled or radio controlled. When the line was converted from double-track to single-track several decades ago, a spring switch was installed instead of a power switch. If a meet was to take place, the eastbound empties would take the siding, wait for the westbound loads to pass, then, after receiving permission from the dispatcher, the conductor would push a button on a stand next to the train to request a Slow Clear signal on the dwarf in the siding, allowing them to exit the siding through the spring switch and head towards Peach Creek. Even in today's modern railroading where most control points are dispatcher-controlled via cellular/satellite connectivity.. sometimes the simple things just work the best.
