CSX Southern West Virginia Coal
SKU: DVD-PNX-CSXCOriginal price was: $29.95.$24.95Current price is: $24.95.
Join us in 1994 on a tour of discovery along CSX branch lines in the coalfields of West Virginia to show you how coal was brought down out of the hollows and moved out to world markets.
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| Producer | Pentrex |
|---|---|
| Run Time | 1 hour 30 minutes |
| Narration | Yes |
| Shrink Wrap | Yes, Brand New |
| Technical Details | No Region Code, NTSC |
In 1994, Pentrex went on a tour of discovery along CSX branch lines in the coalfields of West Virginia to show you how coal was brought down out of the hollows and moved out to world markets. The beauty of the Appalachian Mountains, the power of the railroad, and the importance of the task are just as riveting today as they were then. Long, heavy trains grinding through curve after curve, powering through daunting grades, loaded with the raw ore that will feed a hungry nation – Pentrex is proud to bring you the story of Southern West Virginia Coal!
Traveling on the Logan, the Big River, and the Big Coal Subdivisions, as well as their numerous connecting subs, you’ll see hard working diesels pull strings of hoppers up stiff grades and twisting branch lines where the cars will be flood-loaded at the mines. Cabooses are still utilized on some trains and rear-end pushers can be seen on others. Following the loaded trains out of the coalfields, you’ll visit a rail-to-river transfer facility where a rotary dumper quickly unloads the “black diamonds” into barges.
An interview with Tim Hensley, CSX Resident Vice-President for West Virginia, provides intriguing insight. Mr. Hensley was once a locomotive engineer and he reflects on his personal experience and the significance of these coal operations to the railroad and the state. The action never ceases for CSX as it meets the challenge of the coalfields of Southern West Virginia.
CapitolRailfan88 –
One of the better productions that Pentrex has produced, albeit from almost 30 years ago. Good interviews with CSX staff, informative narrating, great camera work.
rickyfreni –
In this 1994 Sequel/Companion to Eastern Kentucky Coal from 1991, there are a great variety of diesels both Old & New with a bunch of motive power like the 7500 & early 7600 series standard Cab C40-8s, the late 7600 & 7700 onward series Dash 8-40CWs, GP40-2s, GP38s, GP35s, a GP30, an SD50, & a C30-7. Some of these engines have since been retired & sold to other road names, as well as some cabooses on mainline freight trains.
There are various locations in Coal territory such as Barboursville east of Huntington, the West Hamlin coaling tower, Chapmanville with a Chessie System Jordan Spreader in the consist, Peach Creek Yard, Logan with a depot now owned by the town’s Fire Department, the Trace Fork Subdivision, Scarlet, Guyandotte River, Amherstdale on the Buffalo WV sub, Saunders, the Piston Mine in Buffalo, the Franco loader, Snap Creek Junction, Belva 2 at Cape Grant, Guyanne Loadout, St. Albans, Highway 119 bridge, Sproul tunnel which was rebuilt between 1987-1990, Seth Junction, Elk Run Junction near Whitesville, Eunice, Big Marsh Fork at Montcoal Loadout, Little Marsh Fork Creek with an unexpected storm approaching, Danville Yard, Pond Junction, Haddelton, Cloth Junction, the Laurel Fork Subdivision, Hampton 3 at West Moreland, the Chesterton Branch, the Robinson Creek Branch, MacCorkle Siding, Scary Hill, & Windfield Plant.
Other road names aside from CSX include Chessie System, Twin Branch Coal Company with GP18 921, Seaboard, Norfolk & Western, Southern Appalachian Railway with an Alco S4, & Baltimore & Ohio.
There are also interviews from Huntington division senior road foreman of engines Mr. L.D. Minkif, & Vice President of the railroad Mr. Tim Hensley.
There’s one tiny Goof: Pentrex thought that this program ran for 90 minutes when it should’ve been 105 minutes.
Jeremy C. Schultz –
Just as Norfolk Southern is able to pull off a bunch of intricate operations in the Appalachians, CSX does one heck of a job as well. There is absolutely nothing else in the world like West Virginia’s landscapes… and no other challenges for the railroads like this, either. Just as with most other Pentrex programs covering the hauling of tonnage up steep, undulating terrain… This peek at the CSX is a “classic” as well.
22chase22 –
Again, Pentrex outdid themselves with this trip to coal country! They take you to the then busy Big Coal and Logans subs and you’ll visit a few load-outs, most of which are either inactive or gone completely now. Narrator Dave Drui touches on the Buffalo disaster which killed several people. CSX used road slug sets for shifters back then and a few pre-merger painted locomotives are seen, which adds to the interest. My friend, Tim Hensley, are also interviewed back when he worked for CSX and he explains how important coal was to CSX in the 1990’s. I STRONGLY recommend this program to anyone who is interested in coalfield railroading. 5/5
Lloyd –
When we think of coal and unit coal trains, we often think of Powder River, naturally. But there is also plenty of coal in the USA east.
Here we are treated to a great insight of coal hauling in a very rough and rugged region. Scattered with low top mountains (high hills) and deep valleys, there are many little spur lines feeding the main lines. This is exciting mountain type, heavy haulage railroading at it’s best. There are many challenges to coal hauling here that Powder River knows nothing about. It is amazing to see how well man has worked to develop a system considering the scenic landscape of West Virginia.
Add in the well detailed maps and interviews with men of the railroad and the video is just that much better.
There are many great ideas here for the model railroaders who have great interest in scenery, small little towns, 2+ % grades, all packed into narrow valleys so small where balloon tracks can’t be built
Mike Keener –
This video is a great resource for any modeler of eastern coal mining railroads. The amount of CSX mother/slug units is outstanding. Operations are interesting with long coal drags with high horsepower locomotives running the main and major branch lines while older units perform the mine runs over steep grades. You’ll also witness how hoppers are switched at the mines with older locomotives and rotary dumped at the river/barge transfer.
Andrew Weise –
One of my favorites from Pentrex. This video features interviews with CSX officals, superintendents etc. You will learn real rail operations in the region and that is accompanied by informative narration. I think the most interesting highlights for me was the many lash ups of mother-slug GP30, GP38s and 40s. I was not expecting that but was suprised to see them running in every example of 80’s CSX paint.