Cumberland Mine, Ride the Track with a Short History of the Railroad and Mine
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 6 ต.ค. 2024
- Riding the rails in my hi rail truck while I give a short history of the track and mine.
Please do not post political opinions about the coal industry or environment. We all have our opinions and that is fine, but this is not the forum to post them on. Thank you for your cooperation.
Forgot to mention, our first train and first barges loaded was in October 1977. I was there on the barges!
I could talk for days about the history of our operation, so today's vid is certainly not comprehensive, I will do more about the mines history in the future. Thank you for watching.
Bessemer @ Lake Erie is now owned by Canadian National
Your Excitement for your Job and Life is Contagious. We Don’t see that too often. Thank You! 👍
Ken, thank you, i do love my job for the most part, guess that why i'm almost 67 and havent retired. Thank you for your really swell comments
Nice engineer
Loved the history lesson while "sitting"in the cab with ya. Your passion for your work is second to none. One of the jobs I'd love to do as well. Been a railroad enthusiast for many years (40 plus years). You go beyond the typical and bring us into the hard-core world of railroad operations. For that we appreciate your efforts! Thanks again and stay safe.. and I'll continue to pursue my dream of working on the RR..
Thank you Peter for the really nice comment! We do appreciate that
and for you watching.
Graduated High School in 1978, worked 35+ years and Retired. You’re there almost 44 years. 👍
Ken, congratulations on retirement. May all ypur days be sunny and 75 😊
I’ve worked with guys that have had 30 to 40 years before they retired . They can be a wealth of knowledge. Sad part is when they leave they find out how valuable that knowledge is .
Now that's the damn truth but Norfolk southern things a college degree is what matters
@@jasonking2943 like most places, they think the college paper is worth everything, when in reality the college paper isn't worth the paper it is printed on.
my company had a buyout. over 300 years experience left the division allll at once.
I'll take one person with 20 years experience over 20 college grads any day.
I retired three years ago the day before my 70th bday. 52 years a carpenter. Seat time is what counts. After a 4yr apprenticeship I was still so green.
The railroad reminds me of the old Muskingum Electric in its operation. It was strip mine to RR to conveyor over the river to the power plant. It did have rail access to the outside world but was an automated RR.
Great video. I discovered your channel several months ago and love watching your videos. I’ve always been fascinated with railroading ! Your wealth of knowledge is incredible ! So many details to track maintenance that I’ve never even thought about! Thank you for your time and effort to bring enjoyment to the rest of us! God Bless!
Thank you very much Mark, really great to hear you are enjoying
the home movies, I do appreciate your writing in and for watching sir
Rockford IL teamsters 325 17 year garbage man manual service and roll off. I started number 88 on the seniority list last week I became number 19 on the list. I’ve always been a railroad fan and it’s great to see an inside perspective of a working railroad happy to support another union brothers endeavor and hobby. I love the channel and the content look forward to your videos. Keep up the great work brother 👍🏻💪🏻
Thank you, really glad you are enjoying watching sir. I do thank you for
your nice compliment
Thank you for sharing this great narrative video with us! I’ve photographed the railroad a handful of times over the years, it’s always a fun time. Something about being able to get that close to an active coal prep plant is always fascinating to me. Guess that’s why I took a job with US Steel at Clairton, it’s right up my alley. I wish you the best of health, safety and stable work for the remainder of your career. I’ll keep this video in mind next time I am down at the railroad taking pictures.
Ian, we have had a lot of railfans over the years take a lot of
pictures. Next time you come, look me up, it's Dave. Have you been
to Clairton lately? What was once a first class town has sadly
dilapidated. The steel industry around here is but a shell of the days past
Another great job. Really enjoy the lessons/history. I remember when Robena, Mt Braddock, and Lone Maple were operating. The 80's were tough on the valley. Grandfather worked in the mines, Dad and his brothers worked for Fisher Body/GM in Dravosburg, I worked in the mills ( E, Clairton, and Homestead), wife's grandfather worked at Irvin and her dad at Anchor Hocking. A lot of change over the years. Thanks again.
Yes a lot has changed, we have a great history around here, thanks for sharing some of it with us
Very cool. I grew up in Washington, PA and used to always be curious about that mysterious railroad that went through the culvert pipe under the interstate! Only once did I see a train on the line, and back in the pre-internet days, I knew nothing about the railroad. Thanks for the history lesson.
Your welcome, glad you enjoyed
That mine should open up a scenic run on the off days that would be a beautiful ride in all 4 seasons
I mean hey get an old passenger car people pay 20 a head and you idle the sd-40 up the track it a win win
Especially if you like to play with trains
Dan, I like that idea! 😊
I actually thought that too. Grab a couple passenger cars, and make some extra money for the railroad. And I bet the your guys would enjoy that, minus the insurance.
Do you think management would be OK with a speeder car club running your line one day? I know in the northern Illinois area they have a few clubs that are always looking for longer more interesting runs and are willing to travel for them.
@@trash365247 probably doubt it, management here is pretty great to work with, but doubt they that avante garde
Thank you for sharing in such great detail your knowledge and experience!
Thank you for really nice comment, glsd you enjoyed the show
How good is that? So good to hear some factual history, without all the bs narration. Great vid mate from Perth Australia.
Ian, thank you glad you enjoyed
Funny I worked herein the summer of 1977. I went out with the mine managers daughter and for a while I worked above ground, plumb bobbing on that same railroad track and then working in the office on the Maps - literally coloring them periods of time. Then the union got a whiff of that and they said no way lol. I went to “school“ for two weeks to learn the basics of being mining and then worked the rest of the summer underground.
Quite an experience I actually shoveled coal on the conveyor belt and rode around a lot putting rock dust down. I went to the face a few times and saw the continuous miner operator working that was quite interesting. I have to say the guys I worked with down there with the nicest group of people you’d ever wanna meet. But I’m glad I didn’t have to make a career of it tough on the lungs tough from the back tough on the body I can only imagine people who did this for a living full-time year-round. Still have my new miners white helmet lol and oddly enough I’m sort of proud of it.
Wow what a great comment Ken, thanks so much for sharing that.
I started in August of 77. All of those guys you worked with here
that were management and union are no longer here. My mind is
a blank on who the mine manager here was then, outside was Dale Norris. Yes back then we had a really great group of guys who
gave this place it's start, I knew almost all of them. There's no
one here now that you would remember. Appreciate your watching the video tonight my friend. It's gonna drive me nuts now trying to
remember mine managers name.....
Very nice narration. Informative and, frankly, educational. While we are all becoming more realistic about the future, there will be a need for coal. While the demand will slowly reduce, the need for coal will not stop in our lifetimes. I was impressed by the appreciation he has for his job. I am sure the companies for whom he has continually worked are appreciative of a class act like him.
My hats off to you, excellent videos & your a very good teacher! Looking forward to more. When I worked in the Cleveland salt mine, sometimes if you were in a quiet place, you would hear “ pinging” sounds. That was caused by the roof bolts breaking from the pressure of the roof and hitting the floor! We were around 1800 feet deep, under lake Erie. Don’t miss that too much.
Oh wow Jimbo you guys that go that deep are a breed of your own, courage plus!
I can see why you don't miss it. thank you for the very nice compliment sir, my hats off
to you also for what you have done
Las Vegas here, this guy is really great at explaining rail things.
Thank you Joe, really glad to hear you are enjoying the home movies
This is my first time on your site and I immediately subscribed. Thank you for your video. I live in Garrett County, Maryland. Here our primary deep mine is the Mettiki Coal Mine mining mostly the Pittsburgh Seam. They supply via truck the Mt. Storm generation plant. My understanding was that trains at one time did the transport but was discontinued long before my time. Most of the other local mines are closed but many of the old train tracks still exist and excite my imagination of what used to be. Many were B&O owned. Some were private narrow gauge.
Thank you Gary and welcome to our community, we are glad to have
you with us and hope you will continue to enjoy. We are on the
Cumberland Mine RR. We run coal from a mine located near Kirby Pa.
to a river barge loading facility at Alicia Pa. 16.8 miles of track. We
do not interchange with any other RR.
Lot's of cool RR videos on our home page if you would sometime
care to check any of them out.
th-cam.com/channels/TWNOX8VRkBtevxsPpC3cBA.html
Another great video! I actually grew up in Conneaut OH because my dad worked for the B&LE. It is nice to learn where some of the inbound coal came from. I have been to the Bailey mine a few times for work, so not too far from you. Greene county is nice country.!
David, nice comment, thanks for sharing it with us
Wow, you've been doing this a few years longer than I've been alive and I'm no spring chicken! I'm going on 11 years at my job and have seen so many changes over that time, I can't even imagine 40+ years!
46 years 8 months, guess that's pretty good to be on one job.
My where has the time gone. Appreciate your riding track with
me WheezerOfJuice.
just went back and watched this, what a wealth of information you gave in it. Will have to watch it again to grasp it all...
Thank you very much Dave! I been here since the very beginning, what a thrill it was to see the very first train come in loaded in October 1977 with that shiny new #1 loco and all those beautiful blue steel cars. Guess I pretty much know more history about this place than anybody
and only shared a very small part of it, am wanting to do a lot more
vids on history in the future, just so much other stuff to show too in
the mean time. Can't say enough how appreciative I am for your
watching these my friend
I worked The Scale House for 4 years or more. 10 Years total at the mine ... I Loaded the train at the mine and unloaded at the harbor.. Hows Chucky B LOL
Pat, how cool, somehow I cant place you, but there been a lot of changes here, Chuck B is in process of retiring, Jeff Everett is going to take his place, we shall see what happens with that move. It's an ever changing world here, nothing like it used to be
45 years on the job! congratulations Dave..
Thanks, now I gotta figure out how to make another 45,
then I can retire....:-)
You don't have much snow. Lovely view from the rails. In another video you mention seeing a bear. We don't have bears here that I know of but ww do have mountain lions, bison, -- and visitors are admonished to not pet 'fluffy cows' -- deer and elk. I loved hearing the company's history. You are a great ambassador, Dave. Thank you for the travelog.
Very glad you enjoyed, we do appreciate your watching Shirley.
Just discovered your channel, you videos are amazing! The passion you have for your job and the history is so enjoyable and the insight you provide is tremendous. Thank you for these and keep them coming!
OH MY1977 that is a long time to be employed at a single job.
I have been where I am since aug 1992. I thought that was a long time
with a Co. you have me beat. 45 years is just amazing amount of service.
in aug I will have 30 years in where i work . I am on the first page of sonority!
when I first started I was excessed out of my position, the put into a labor
until I had enough time in to get back into my original job type. thank you
for the history of the mine.
Yes it is a long time Barry,. been pretty fortunate to be able to
be here that long, many times over the years got frustrated and
wanted to quit, that is until I got on the RR full time. Love it now
and have no intentions of retiring as long as my health holds out.
Thanks for sharing some of your story with us my friend.
My engineer sir.
Seeing Beautifull view of winter season on your place ice fully..now.. Thankyou for introducing
of this good surprise of this beautifull view..
❤️🧡💛💚
Wondering if you guys get snow like we do Thomas? Appreciate
your riding along with me today my friend.
@@ccrx6700
🚅🚞🚞❤️🚞🚞🧡🚞🚞💛🚞🚞💚🚞🚞
Hi there! You even got a fan in Belgium. Perhaps your first one, hahaha?? Just discovered your channel today. Your enthousiasm about railroading and explinations of how things work are very contaigious to me so watched already quite some video's. Here in Belgium/The Netherlands (Europe) railroadworks are a bit more advanced, I think, because trains here have to drive on higher operational speeds than in the U.S. Up to 100 mph for passenger trains is normal. Plus train frequenty here is far more dense. Cargo trains though are much shorter and lighter than in the U.S. of A. Also, the frequent usage of airhorns at for example levelcrossings is strictly prohibited here in Europe. Only in case of emergencies. Anyway, kind regards from Harald, Belgium
I used to work for Eickhoff Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of a German parent that manufactured longwall shearing machines. I believe we had a machine in the Cumberland mine. Thanks for sharing these stories, information.
Awesome! I really don't know what they use or used to use under ground, you very well could have had one here. Thanks for watching
Amazing videos! I’m shocked that we didn’t and that students in US schools do not learn more about what you do and what guys like you do! I feel like we’ve missed out on a really important part of our history, and our future!
Wow Matt, thank you very much for the great comment, I love RR history and happy I can share a bit about what went on here. Do
so much appreciate your writing in and watching the video good sir
it takes a special person to be a miner!! God bless all...of them!
Underground is a whole different world under there. Like Johnny
Cash sang, seek not your fortune in the dark dreary mine. But
mining has been the bread and butter for thousands of
workers around here for a long, long time. Takes a special
breed of person to work 700 to 1200 feet below the surface.
What a wonderful background/history story! I am enthralled by your videos! Congrats on being #1!!!
Thank you for the nice comment schadowolf. Glad you could take the time to pay us a visit and check out the video. May you have a most blessed day my friend.
Fabulous video! You answered several questions for me without me asking. So refreshing to find someone who enjoys their job. Thanks you!
Very glad to hear you enjoyed trainman. Appreciate the very
nice comment. I do love my job. Thank you very much for stopping by and taking the time to watch and write in. May you have a most blessed day my friend.
Great video! Thank you. I appreciated hearing the history and also parameters about the rail that you oversee.
Appreciate your very nice comment William. Thank you for taking the time to watch and may you have a very good day my friend.
Is there a vid of the barges being loaded? Also, I love hearing about the behind the scenes stuff, the work behind what keeps the trains rolling, history, maintenance etc... I subscribed.
Thank you, glad you are enjoying the show. I don't get down to where they load barges very often, but will put it on the list for a future video. Thank you for watching and hope you enjoyed
Really liked the history of the rr. It is amazing to learn your history with the line. I would enjoy a video of the entire line start to finish.
Glad you enjoyed Dale and hope you will watch the next 3 videos
in this mini series on the whole track ride, there will be a lot
more history contained in them as we go along.
And they say we don’t need history , I’m glad that I ran across this video, I thought it was very educational and very interesting myself. Thank You and look forward to seeing the video after that damn snow melts.🇺🇸👍
Thank you Terry, glad you enjoyed sir
Beautiful area you are working in. Thanks for the history lesson. Great video.
Was very nice of you to take the time and visit with us today
to watch the presentation Crime Alley Comics.
Wow that's awesome about what you done in this field of work. It must be fun working on the railroad, I wish I had you're job sir.
Joe, thank you, happy you enjoyed
I am sure tickled that I found your channel. It is wonderful to hear a fellow so proud of his work - that alone makes it worthwhile to watch, although the RR footage is interesting to me as well. Best of luck to you sir! I will continue to watch faithfully.
Thank you Arlyn, really glad you have enjoyed watching, I do appreciate that
Very interesting. I love the history of the different railroads and your insight on how the railroad operates.
Well thank you very much Jim, we really do appreciate the nice comment and for watching the video good sir
I started working for the B&O back in the 80's. I was a trackman and equipment operator. I loved the job. Only problem were the furloughs. Had to leave due to the family had that nasty habit of eating everyday. But I did love the job
Awesome! Always great to hear from someone who worked a real
RR! Thanks for writing in and for watching my good man.
Holy smokes, you remember everything, love that you remember that much history. I've worked the same job almost 30 years now, and can't remember what division were in now let alone ten years ago. Thanks for the ride along and your wealth of knowledge.
Lol, had write the dates down and read them, im not that good at remembering
Oh thats to funny, love it.
THanks for the video and history of the railroad and the mine. I grew up in SW PA so I know of this railroad. Thanks for filling in the history.
Pete your welcome, that just a small part, more to come in future. Thank you for watching.
A great Man doing a great job WITH A GREAT ATTUDE 101 POINTS Mr Magoo in Milo, Maine
Thank you so much for the very kind words John. That was really
kind of you to say that. I try my best to do a good job here with
what I am given to work with. I don't know about being a great man tho, my dad was a great man. Very grateful for your taking the time to visit with us and check out the video my friend.
Wonderful video. I could listen to you for hours. Thank you for sharing, and I hope your have many more years to do what you like. Can't wait until you have the next video. ❤️
Valerie, thank you very much for nice comment and for watching
Wow! Nice narrative! I could do the same about the RR my 6th/7th cousins worked on in Illinois if there was an audience willing to listen. Both my family and my late wifes family had ties to railroading, and my son-in-laws family did too. Her family had the coal miners, mine had the crews that hauled the coal, and my son-in-laws grandfather was one of the builders at EMD.
Thank you very much Paul, really do appreciate the nice comment
and for watching the show my friend.
Glad you love your job, now that is pride in work! Thank you for doing these!!😁
Thank you for watching Trena. So appreciate your wonderful
comments and support your are giving this channel my dear lady.
I saw the rr tracks when I would go to Garards Fort to pickup wood pellets for Vt. Great videos' of trains I never saw.
Tom, pellet plant right across road from our track. They do a pretty good business, trucks in out the there all the time. Thanks for watching
Your mining operation must be profitable for the number of ownership changes over your RR history and still be viable. You are fortunate to have had a lifetime career in a business that has had it's ups & downs. I just came to your channel and really appreciate your explanations and history. I've liked and subbed. Will enjoy looking back over our content. Thanks.
Thank you Ray and welcome to our community, we are glad to have you with us and hope you will continue to enjoy.
Here is an introduction video to get you a feel for what all we do here at the Railroad and a bit about our mine:
th-cam.com/video/oOug0z34118/w-d-xo.html
Lot's of cool RR videos on our home page if you would sometime care to check any of them out.
th-cam.com/users/ccrx6700
Great videos! Only made it down there once, many years ago. When spring comes would like to visit again. Keep em coming, we'll watch!
Thank you glad you enjoy
Hello Dave , Just had to revisit this video to review the history, it is just amazing to
think you have been there for it , It is so important to remember the history. The Co.
I work for “transitioned “ from the founders original name, to a simple name. the original
company’s history of innovation, and looking forward, lasted for 230 years, it has changed
the focus and there no longer any communication of the future direction of the Co.
there are many parts to the business, different groups, with a centralized R&D in DE.
we as the workers just hope to get to that end of the “tunnel” to be able to retire comfortably.
I feel bad for the new people in the system, there is nothing there to have any loyalty to the Co.
the only way now to get ahead for your self, is to keep switching jobs. sonority does not
give you any advantage except being able to bump / bid on a new position. we are the “old”
breed of workers. take care and be safe out there. barry
Glad you stopped by Barry and watched. I completely understand
your sentiments. Here almost all the old guys from back in
the beginnings have retired, only a few of us left who remember
what pride in the company. Loyalty is a tremendous asset
for a company to have in it's employees, and that is sadly
lacking here now specially underground and the prep plant. Down
here at the harbor it's different because the older guys who
have been here the longest are mostly at the harbor and
remember what it was like and all the tough times they went
thru as this mine progressed.
Great video. Really appreciate hearing the history of the mine, the railroad and where the coal goes. Thanks for taking us along on your trip.
Michael, glad you enjoyed, lot history yet to be told, will do more this year, stay tuned and thank you for watching
Crazy for me to see where the coal that used to pass by my house when I was younger living in northern PA came from your mine. This was great to watch and listen to!
Daniel, hey thats pretty neat! What kind of cars was it in? Ive never known that.
@@ccrx6700 I was a kid at the time so I couldn’t really tell you but I lived directly in front of what used to be Bessemer and Lake Erie tracks which I heard you mention would take coal up to the docks in Conneaut Ohio. Unless I misheard you
@@DanielPRails ok thanks Daniel. You heard me correct, i just wondered if the coal was in Union RR cars or B&LE cars or perhaps both.
I'm from northern Ontario, Ontario Hydro is the most crooked utility company, because of them Ontario has the most expensive electricity rates in North America, I know that I will NEVER own a battery powered car/truck because of this.....btw, a great video, Thanks.
I like how the track speed is just little speed limit signs! My Territory is mostly 70mph with occasional 40mph on tight curves.
Aaron, we have class 2 track, 25 mph. You must work on class 4 or 5,
Am wondering what degree of curve on those classes would warrant that big of a drop in speed? Sharpest curve main we have is 13 degree. Really am interested to find out your answer sir. I love to learn stuff like that
To quote Oliver Twist..."more please Sir"
Ian, sorry for the late reply sir, just found your comment. Wanted to thank you for watching
and stay tuned please, more will be coming. I do appreciate your watching
Great video and history of the mine. Alot of coal comes out of that area up there I'm so thankful that you guys have forward tons sold! I'm playing catch up on your videos finally a couple days off
Thank you Jason, enjoy your time off
Great video Dave. I am trying to catch up on your videos. I love learning the history of the mine and railroad from you.
Thank you Lewis, hope you get caught up soon! Really great
to hear you are liking what you see. There so much history here,
only had time to go over some highlights in that video, hopefully
can do more in the future
Amazing job id love to do it im a heavy equipment mechanic and welder for a waste company but ive always loved track maintenance
Thank you very much, glad you enjoyed. We do appreciate
your watching the video my friend.
Love the information and videos on railroading! Be safe.
Thanks Keith, great to hear you are enjoying sir, we do appreciate
your watching sir
Fascinating to hear the history of the line.
Glad you enjoyed it Chris. Lot of history here, wish I had kept
better records over the years, but I didn't. Appreciate your
tuning in to the show.
I just found your channel and this is only the second video that I have clicked on. I just realized something. This railroad has to be one that I read about in Trains Magazine recently. If it is, it on my list of railroads to film this year. I keep a list. There is a covered bridge near the tracks that I want to film from. I have a few other spots to film from but I need to find my paper. Pretty cool that I happened across this. Do you get many railfans on this line?
Yes sir it is. We have gotten many fans over the years. There several good places to watch at, look me up when you come, thanks for watching sir
@@ccrx6700 Thanks, I will let you know when I go. I thought that railroad was very fascinating being separate from the US rail system and being relatively new. I also like the push pull configuration.
@@JawTooth it is a unique operation for sure.
Wow, the only way you can know all that awesome information is if you have lived it. Simply amazing information of history. Thanks for posting.
Dennis, you are certainly welcome my friend. it is pretty neat that I've been
here with the same mine since 1977 when they first started mining coal,
hardly anybody left here that can say that, kinda makes me feel old...lol
@@ccrx6700 very rare these days for sure but also very commendable my friend.
@@dennisb-trains23 thank you Dennis, guess i'm pretty lucky in that respect, now if i could turn that luck into hitting the big lottery, i'd buy us a railroad and get you help me run it 😊
@@ccrx6700 haha we can dream 😴
Just started watching your videos, and I’m pretty fascinated by your job.
Thanks for putting these videos together it gives me a new appreciation for what you guys/gals do out there.
Your welcome and I'm glad you are enjoying the home movies
The "Two cents of the day": "Is the track green?" "No, It's that icky white-colored stuff again." LOL!
Pretty cool with the deer. Wish I had a way to show the pic. When I was living in Colorado Springs, at work one day I sat in front of this huge building and there was a mom deer plus 2-3 babies (no dad present) all just kickin' back in the lawn so I joined them. They averaged about 7 or 8 feet away. They didn't budge since the mom was "too busy lounging" and the babies were "too busy eating grass and bushes". Took a picture...or 786,425 or so, give or take...
We always tell the train the track is green when track is clear, however
when its snow outside I always tell them today we are following PRR light signal aspects of old and track is white. I know
B&O also used white way back when, until red lenses started
getting broken and the engineers interpreted it as a clear signal. Then they decided to use the green instead of white color. Couple of years ago we ordered some new targets for our switches and they came
in red and white colors.
@@ccrx6700 OOO!! YIKES!! That misinterpretation of a "clear signal"...Wow! That has "DANGEROUS" written all over it! ESPECIALLY "Red-to-clear". Yikes again!
@@ericsikma4764 😊👍
Found your channel this weekend. Very interesting, I enjoy it a lot. Never really thought about the amount of maintenance that goes into keeping the trains running. Keep up the good work!
Tom, thank you, glad you are finding this interesting
Had old Delaware & Hudson tracks near me, but they've been Norfolk Southern for a while now.
What a wonderful career you've had with the mine! Great work and a really neat little railroad. I enjoy your videos, thanks.
Thank you. This is a unique RR, i am very fortunate to be a part of it
As one track patroller to another thanks for the tour :)
Paul, your welcome sir, very cool, what RR are you with?
Sounds like you have a great job there my friend ! God Bless an stay safe ! 👍
Thanks Victor, glad you enjoyed the show sir, we do appreciate
your watching
I worked on the locomotives at USS Cumberland Mine on the late 1970's and 1980's. I worked for Wedtinghouse Engineering Service as a contractor to USS. At first there was just one EMD SD-38-2 loco and later a second loco was brought in. The mine was working full output at that time and the loco's got beat to death.
Awesome! Yep we used get Westinghouse in here to service old #1, I probably
have seen you here working on it, that is really cool you used to be here,
really thank you for sending in that comment sir. You guys that would come
in really knew your stuff! We've had several other contractors come in over
the years, personal opinion no one was better than you guys did back then
I'd love to have that kind of job. Great Video very informative Thank You.
Thank you Joe, glad you enjoyed
My dad delivered motors to y'all's minds back a couple years back but it was electric motors for y'all's long wall machine and I got to go with him and deliver them I've been to y'all's mines pretty cool
Excellent! Thanks for watching 👍
I've been binging for a couple hours - and this entertaining clip has earned a sub. Just plain talk about working at a job.
PERFECT.
That was fun! And very interesting information.
Thank you
Fabulous! Thank you for the ride -- and for the history lesson!
Thank you Pete, awesome, was just texting Rodney Grimes when your
notification came in, he is doing well, retired but really does miss running
the train. He my neighbor, we are good friends. Have a lot of respect for that
man, was a very good operator for our train, very knowledgable about how
the technical side of it worked. When he first bid on the train it was for the
short trip, I used to tease him, gravy train grimes....lol
@@ccrx6700 And I was just watching Riding the Rails, Part 1 and Part 2! Very enjoyable! I love the Greene County scenery. Please tell Rodney I said hello -- hope he remembers me. I always wanted to visit him at his cabin, but we moved south before I got the chance. He was such a great guide when we took our ride on the rails! You're a great guide, too! I can't wait to see more. And Gravy Train -- ha, ha!!
@@petezapadka he said say hello to ya, of course he remembers, you made him a big shot in greene county 😊
This was a neat history! I'm parroting everyone else, but I'm really glad I saw someone recommending your channel on another guy's video. I've yet to come down to Greene County, but from what I've seen this is a very neat operation, like MOL-DOK at Leetsdale in a much larger footprint. Have a good evening!
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed and appreciate your nice comment and for watching sir
WOW! Thanks for the history lesson for this short line railroad. Very interesting!!!
Thank you, got a lot of history and hopefully will be able to make more vids with
more history
Incredibly interesting on all aspects once again. Love hearing about your coals journey to market, keep vids coming please.
Thank you, nice comment, we are glad you enjoy watching
I heard about the coal line RR... From old maps and the like, it looks like there had been rail along that side of the Mon many years ago. A now departed friend up outside New Eagle and I did a ground search, but obeyed all the "no trespassing" and so on signs. Wish I could get up there to meet you. Sounds like a wealth of information. I'm hoping to get up to one of the EBT restoration sessions. (That's where my first track work took place...)
Bill, sounds like fun if you can get here, we only bout 45 minutes from
New Eagle
@@ccrx6700 Well, I'm now fully innoculated which makes travel a bit safer... Just have to find somewhere to part 2 greyhounds. (The old girl is very afraid of loud noises...) My normal greyhound sitter is isolated right now...
@@billblomgren9618 okay Bill, this past year has presented us all with some unique challenges.
@@ccrx6700 AMEN! Meanwhile, I'm an ex broadcast engineer with some fairly neat video gear... I find your track repair stuff very interesting. (At the East Broad Top RR they have LOTS of need for repairs to get their equipment running again. Having decades of limited maintenance presents huge challenges. ) At the times I was up in that area, I took the roads out to the mine.. and saw the strings of hoppers and engines. Where is the maintenance facility? Over at the river? Or back at the mine?
@@billblomgren9618 Bill, maintenance is at harbor. Would not mind at all if you care to share any helpful tips with me on how i can make better vids .
Not sure how you always seem to keep track of the curves on that railroad. I found a picture of #22 locomotive with what looks like empty cars on that bridge at mile 14. I downloaded it for a back ground on my pc at work. Nice to look at it every day.
After 18 years of traveling the track it's not hard to remember the
curve numbers. Remember they start with 1 at the mine and
work up towards the harbor. Gonna have some videos coming out
here in a couple of weeks with an entire track ride and will go
over each curve with you in those. Nice on the back ground for
your pc! Thanks for watching the video tonight Alaina.The bridge
at MP 14.2 is over top of Pa state RT 88, it is bridge #13.
Not sure how you always keep track Of what curve you are on. I found a picture of locomotive #22 at what looks like the bridge at the start of this video with empty cars behind it. I downloaded it for a back ground on my pc at work. Nice to look at it every day.
After doing this for 18 years it's pretty easy to remember now
all the curve numbers, took me several years to get them all down
pat tho. Nice on the back ground pic! I have one of 22 with the
ballast car on bridge 14 that has me standing on the deck of the
loco, wish I could send that to you. Appreciate your watching the
video and for writing in Alaina.
more on the temperature stresses on the rail...and roadies please dave...thank you!
Yes sir got lot's of stuff planned for the future, I always
appreciate suggestions for what folks would like to see.
I am so happy I found your channel, your depth of knowledge and delivery style makes for great videos. I've only scratched the surface so far. On this video at 0:39 you turn the camera out the drivers window and show a large pipe or tube paralleling Alicia road on closely spaced supports. This feature does not appear on Google satellite maps. There is a similar structure in southern Vermont, west of the town of Wilmington. It carries water approximately 3 1/2 miles from a small reservoir to a small hydroelectric plant. I'm curious if you know anything about it and why it may not show up on a Google map (old photo?). One other question, which direction do the barges take the coal, I tried to follow the Monongahela river, but it has more twists and turns than your railroad! Greg.
Gregory, Appreciate your watching and your very nice comment! The big black pipe
was put in around 1980 or so by Robena Mine to divert water drain off from
their slate pile down to their settlement ponds. Why google wouldn't show it is
beyond me. I've been at the harbor since 1977 and was there when they built
the pipe, it's pretty big, I've never measured it but looks to be about 4 or 5 foot in
diameter.
We have 2 customers that require barges to go south on the river, all else goes
north. The Monongahela River is one of only a few that flows north in case
you didn't know. I do not know all the exact customers we sell to, but going south
our coal goes to Fort Martin and Longview electric generation plants.
Yep, the river has as many twists as does our RR. LOL
Would be pleased to assist if you have any more inquiries, although youtube
does not always send me notifications that someone has commented.
Nice story, thanks for the ride!
Thank you, glad you liked it
Hey #1, i just want you to know your video's are absolutely amazing... as a railroader and a railroad history buff your knowledge of the job and passion for railroading is fantastic. I've been watching all day, You really know your stuff...
I should have documented my earlier railroad years and now due to FRA EO 26, I can't!
Is the Cumberland railroad pay into the RRB, or are you guys actually covered by mine employees pensions? Be safe my railroad brother!
Clearly you have created your good fortune from the ground up. A very nice story….
Thanks for the nice comment! A lot of really good guys have worked
here over the years and everyone involved has made this mine
what is has become and is. Appreciate your writing in and
for watching the video my friend.
OKS !!! Great video with the DEER & Coal History that most viewers Don't know about !!! Guess they will Never be able to get back into the mine at Centralia , PA.. As they state that its burning still today !!! Have a great day & ""KEEP IT SAFE ""!!!!
The coal that is burning under Centralia is nothing but what was economically unrecoverable at least back in the 60s and 70s. Very little value. Underneath that lies the mammoth vein of anthracite, maybe one of the largest deposits in the world. It's very high-quality metallurgical coal. And it is not on fire.
@@joecummings1260 Yes !!! Think that was Bituminous Coal or ""SOFT COAL"" !!! Thanks for the update & ""KEEP IT SAFE ""!!
Thanks for sharing this interesting and informative video. I really enjoyed it.
Well thank you very much Brian! I do appreciate your taking the
time to write in with the very nice comment and for watching the
show today my friend.
Your a blessed man. I really enjoy the videos.
Thank you sir, really glad you are enjoying them. Appreciate your viewing
Thanks for having us along. Love your laugh.
You must be near Brownsville. When I was hired by CSX in 1998, I was supposed to run out of Newell, Pa. I didn't have the seniority for that, though we made out pretty well in that regard, due to many new-hires behind us. It was when CSX and NS acquired Conrail.
It's cool to see railroading from the MOW perspective. Thanks for the history, too. Are you still running barges, or is it shipped by rail... or both?
Stay safe, as I know you will.
Havr a good friend grew up in Newell, his dad worked P&LE and he worked Monongahela RR for awhile. We luve bout 20 minutes from Brownsville. Glad you are enjoying the home movies sir 😊
@@ccrx6700 Cool! I have a friend in West Brownsville. Watched a coal train go through the streets of town, narrating to him all the details, including the aluminum hoppers from the former Johnstown America Co - when they made 'em in Johnstown, Pa, my home town. The co. is now known as Freightcar America.
I see Jaw Tooth has messaged you. You two would be a hoot if you partnered up on a video!
@@KutWrite 2007 we bought 10 new hoppers from JACX, they were made in Johnstown. They came with the Freightcar America builders plate on them
@@ccrx6700 Cool! They thought I was a big investor when I dropped in. The VP gave me a tour of all their J-town facilities!
I was sad to see the city politicians put the squeeze on them 'til they left. They'd made use of the old Bethlehem Steel car shop and wheel shop to make those cars. Lots of people got laid off due to government greed. Plus a chance to revitalize a dying town.
Glad they're still making a quality product. I think they make tank cars now, too. I can tell their aluminum gons, covered and open hoppers a mile away.
Nice to hear someone say they love their job
Thank you David, what a nice comment sir
Love your videos and when my daughter gets a bigger interest in RRing I would feel safe letting her watch your videos no cussing no bad stuff just really cool stuff 😎
Awesome Eugene! Great that you enjoy these and yes this is
a family friendly channel. There is a list of words that are blocked
by You Tube if they are in a comment. As you can imagine get
some pretty ignorant stuff at times and YT automatically
blocks these. Family friendly is important to me, it's my reputation
out there and I want this to be clean wholesome entertainment.
Your a closed off railroad? How does the mine get new rail cars and or locomotives if needed. By the way love the videos.
Thank you, rolling stock trucked in by Hulcher from nearby NS siding
Thanks for the ride
Glad to hear you enjoyed the home movie Frank, we do appreciate
your tuning in and watching my friend.
From what I hear and see, you do a hell of a job. Keep up th excellent work.
Thank you William, we try, hard to keep up with 17 miles track and
only 2 guys, plus they want to run trains all the time. Really thank
you for watching sir
When USS first opened the mine back in the 70's how was the property acquired for the 17 miles of railway?
USS thought way ahead. They started buying up coal rights and
right of ways many years in advance of actual mining and
building track, buying when coal rights and property was
cheap. I have no way of knowing when they actually started
buying property for the RR track tho Curt. To buy they hand
land agents who went to the land owners and negotiated with
them.
excellent video thank you
Thank you very much redauwg911. Really appreciate your
riding track with us today my friend.
My father worked there for 9 years, I think he worked then when you got hired in. We moved to Alabama in 1985.
There was a Harry Toothman here way back, he was a section foreman, I didn't know him but had heard the name
@@ccrx6700 That was my dad!
@@macinfloydvolk sweet, how is he doing? Tell him a couple of the old guys said say hello