The Cumberland Mine Railroad is a private carrier mine railroad serving the Cumberland Coal Resources mine near Waynesburg, Pennsylvania.
Operations on the mine and associated railroad began in November 1976. The line was originally developed by United States Steel as a source of steam coal for export to Canada. Subsequently, the mine and railroad have changed hands several times. As of January 2021 they are owned by Iron Senergy Holding LLC,[1] and this coal is being consumed by domestic power plants.
The tracks extend 17 miles from the preparation plant (located about 2 miles west of Kirby) to the Alicia Dock barge-loading facility on the Monongahela River north of Greensboro. The barges deliver the loads to the Norfolk Southern at East Millsboro.[2][3]
It is an isolated railroad, not connected to the North American railroad network.[4] Rolling stock was delivered by the Norfolk Southern to a siding in Poland Mines, and then taken by truck and trailer to the railroad's dockside terminus near Masontown.
One EMD SD-40 and two SD38-2 locomotives comprise the power roster. Most trips convey roughly 35 to 38 (38 cars is the max amount capable of fitting in the loading/unloading facilities) leased and owned coal cars, often with two locomotives operating in "push-pull" mode.[5]
References
- ^ "Trains Newswire: Cumberland Mine, with rail operation, has new owner". Retrieved 17 January 2021.
- ^ "Cumberland Mine Labelle Dock Site" (PDF). WallacePancher Group. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
- ^ "FRS Facility Detail Report". EPA. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
- ^ "Cumberland Coal Resources, LP in Kirby, PA". Trainorders.com. 9 February 2012. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
- ^ "ccrx 6700". Youtube ccrx. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
External links
- [1] Trains Magazine
- [2] Railroad Fan.com
- [3] The Diesel Shop
- [4] Trainorders.com
- [5] Flickr
- [6] Observer-Reporter
Further reading
- William Beecher Jr., Cumberland, Coal, and Diesels. Trains Magazine, January 2021, pp 30–37.
