With a trackmobile and five coal hoppers behind, the crew uses plenty of diesel and fusees to unthaw a frozen switch in extremely cold temperatures.

Loading with a wheel loader, three at a time, generally takes six hours. The unit train is cut into two halves with three motors for each half.

A venerable SD70 waits its turn for the second cut of coal at Turley. NS uses six engines from Sevier Yard and three back in each half, mainly for braking.

Sandwiched between mtys and an SD70, the first cut of 77G is being loaded by wheel loaders at Turley.

With a slight dusting of snow on the trees, NS 77G pulls another seven cars forward for the team of three wheel loaders working on the coal stockpile. The orange railed contraption on the upper tr... (more)

With the lattice of tracks and sumps, as Dave would say, the crew prepares to set out a bad motor before loading coal. Luckily six engines are used, mainly for braking down the steep branch.

The wheelsets are destined for the coal hopper in the background, where the brake was left tied down. Note they are marked Knoxville for the John Sevier Yard. Go to pic 262821 for that dreaded res... (more)

Tie her down.

Uh oh. Trouble on the Jellico Branch.

A sampling auger swings in the background as the first cut of 76G grinds down the grade.

Yes, it has a motor and it runs on the rails. Made by Johnson Industries and the first in the US, this auger sampler takes coal from each utility bound hopper as it passes by at Turley. Refer to 2... (more)

Idling and crawling on the left, 76G loads coal at Turley on a sweltering day. Power for the second cut is turned off on the siding.

Under warranty and doing fine.

Showing the scars of time, an ex-Conrail unit does duty in the coalfields of Appalachia for NS.

Yes, it has it's own motor and runs on the rail. Made by Johnson Industries out of Pikeville, KY, this coal auger sampling system takes less than two pounds out of each coal hopper and is the firs... (more)