NS South Fork Secondary Route Summary

(a more detailed PDF of the operations can be found in Help or the User Guides folder)

The 30 mile NS South Fork Secondary runs from South Fork to either Windber Pa, or Central City. The South Fork Secondary is strictly a coal route. The line climbs steeply out of South Fork, past the South Fork Dam Memorial, on a nearly 2.4% ruling grade up to the summit. Most trains will either run in a 3X3 or 3X2 configuration, in a push-pull manner.

Along its course up to each of these mines, there is a split at “Scalp Level” (MP 14.3). This is where the South Fork Secondary splits and goes to Rose Bud #78 which is 3.5 miles from “Scalp Level” switch or 11.9 miles to the Huskin Run Mine and 16 miles to Shade Creek Mine.

NS Operations at South Fork

Inbound MTY coal trains (651,571,577) will run with road crews from Tyrone, in the East. Once at CP-W the train will enter the “Single Track” where an AI Special Instruction is set up to “Stop and Relinquish” at the East Wye Switch.

From this point, South Fork Local Crews will continue up the runner track to “JK”. The road power is assigned from the origination plant (Baltimore, Leetsdale, Ashtabula). From this point, the train will be assigned using the following symbols C47, C48, C49, C50 and C90-as these are the local symbols used on the South Fork Secondary.

NS 1146 C50 ENROUTE TO ROSE BUD WITH AN EMPTY COAL TRAIN

NS Operations at South Fork Continued

Since this Secondary isn’t dispatcher controlled, NS uses a “Form D” to grant movement on this line, and we provided one which can be found in the Help or User Guides folder.

There are mainly only 2 to 4 train movements carried out during a 24 hr period. However, once a train arrives at the mine(s) the local crew moves about as long as not fouling the station - “block” limits.

The following are Block Limits (Starting from South Fork):

● “JK” MP 2.2

● “LV” MP 5

● “PAINT” MP 14.3 (AKA Scalp Level)

● “NAG” MP 23.8

● “CARIN” MP 31

So for example, Train 651 MTY Coal bound for Rosebud would get a Form D from “FORK” to “PAINT” and operate in a South Direction. Likewise, a reverse loaded 650 would get a Form D from “Paint” to “Fork”.

“NAG” May also be used for trains bound for Huskins Run. “CARIN” is the station for Central City (Shade Creek)

ONE OF THE LOCAL CREWS ARRIVE AT THE HUSKINS MINE

NS Operations at South Fork Continued

Rose Bud Mine #78

Trains will be set to 100 Car Lengths for inbound,(NS Train 651) every 24 HRS. It will be re-tagged as loaded cars for train 650 bound for Baltimore. The Yard Crew will split the train in 2 sections upon arrival, (50 Car Cuts) and will send the train through the flood loader. Once the first cut of 50 cars are loaded, Crews will apply “HP” on the retainers to these cars for the trip back to South Fork. The Yard crew will pick up the remaining 50 cars and continue to fill at the auto loader. At this time, both loaded 50 car cuts will be reassembled as a “unit train” for its destination, and brought back to either South Fork, or “JK” for an outbound road crew. Most often than not, completed trains are staged on the single track between CP-SO and CP-W, until a road crew is available.

Central City (Shade Creek) Mine

Inbound trains will arrive at South Fork with 84 cars bound for Shade Creek Mine, once every 48 hours. 2 sets of tracks for loading will hold 42 cars each. The cars will be loaded and re-tagged for Ashtabula for train 578 once loaded. Again, like Rose Bud Mine, the Yard Crews will load the train and reassemble the train as a “unit train” for its destination.

ONE OF THE LOCAL CREWS ARRIVE AT THE HUSKINS MINE

NS Operations at South Fork Continued

Huskins Run Coal Mine

Trains will be brought up to the Huskins Mine with 50 car cuts, and brought back to South Fork for staging. This mine is set up to be loaded every 60 hrs, and the outbound tag is for 578 Portsmouth. The local crew will take 2 separate 50 car cuts up to this mine for loading, via a front end loader. There is no Coal tipple here, and the 50 cars are single car loaded. Care must be taken when trains are working this section of line, since there is no passing siding between Summit and Shade Creek.

Special Time Table Instructions

Trains may not operate with more than 140 TOB. All Trains must have a Form D from the dispatcher Retainers at BOTH MINES must be set on 50% of cars to “HP” Trains that must use more than a 20 LBS Reduction in Brake Pipe Pressure must stop and secure their train prior to Moving, another 25% retainers must be set.

A more detailed PDF of the operations and time table can be found in Help or the User Guides folder.

A CHILLY NIGHT AT THE SHADE CREEK MINE