The Railroad Journal

STEEL ECHOES

31 Jan 2016
Atlas Series 2 Comments Permalink
The morning Montana Rail Link gas local approaches Paradise as they continue west to Thompson Falls. The gas local is a tank train the hauls Conoco Fuels between Missoula and Pipeline. Pipeline is just east of Thompson Falls. This train fills a missing link in the Yellowstone Pipeline that crosses through the Flathead Indian Reservation after the lease wasn't renewed. The Yellowstone Pipeline runs between Moses Lake, Washington and Billings, Montana. In 1995, the Salish and Kootenai tribes did not renew the 20 year lease to cross tribal lands due to over 70 spills since the pipeline was built in 1954, including three major spills on reservation land. So this gap has been bridged by rail and white tank cars over the 10th Sub.
The morning Montana Rail Link gas local approaches Paradise as they continue west to Thompson Falls. The gas local is a tank train the hauls Conoco Fuels between Missoula and Pipeline. Pipeline is just east of Thompson Falls. This train fills a missing link in the Yellowstone Pipeline that crosses through the Flathead Indian Reservation after the lease wasn't renewed. The Yellowstone Pipeline runs between Moses Lake, Washington and Billings, Montana. In 1995, the Salish and Kootenai tribes did not renew the 20 year lease to cross tribal lands due to over 70 spills since the pipeline was built in 1954, including three major spills on reservation land. So this gap has been bridged by rail and white tank cars over the 10th Sub.

History of Montana Rail Link’s Gas Train – Historical Railroad Geography Series

January 31, 2016 2 Comments

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19 Dec 2015
Atlas Series 1 Comment Permalink
The Norfolk and Western Railway's coal hauling right of way once followed the course of the Tug River between Welch and Davy. In 1903, the railroad started a major rebuilding project to straighten out portions of the Pocahontas Division and prepare for future double tracking. Just a year later, two tunnels were constructed roughly a mile norwest of Welch, known as Hemphill. Hemphill originated as a name of a siding, likely named after Secretary of the N&W, A.J. Hemphill in 1894, which eventually evolved into a community. The two tunnels named Hemphill Tunnel No. 1 and No. 2 respectively were cut through the Appalachian Plateaus Physiographic Province, a region characterized by deeply incised plateaus underlain by flat-lying sedimentary rock. The railroad grade was raised during this realignment to avoid the common flooding of the Tug Fork which it crosses three times in this short stretch. The realignment shaved off 2.4 miles from the previous wandering Tug Fork route. Double tracking was completed here in 1909. The N&W CPL Signal can be seen by trains exiting the west portal of tunnel no. 2 that guards Farm, a well known railroad location where a large coaling tower still stands. Today, helpers wait assignments to shove heavily loaded coal trains east up the steep steady grade.
The Norfolk and Western Railway's coal hauling right of way once followed the course of the Tug River between Welch and Davy. In 1903, the railroad started a major rebuilding project to straighten out portions of the Pocahontas Division and prepare for future double tracking. Just a year later, two tunnels were constructed roughly a mile norwest of Welch, known as Hemphill. Hemphill originated as a name of a siding, likely named after Secretary of the N&W, A.J. Hemphill in 1894, which eventually evolved into a community. The two tunnels named Hemphill Tunnel No. 1 and No. 2 respectively were cut through the Appalachian Plateaus Physiographic Province, a region characterized by deeply incised plateaus underlain by flat-lying sedimentary rock. The railroad grade was raised during this realignment to avoid the common flooding of the Tug Fork which it crosses three times in this short stretch. The realignment shaved off 2.4 miles from the previous wandering Tug Fork route. Double tracking was completed here in 1909. The N&W CPL Signal can be seen by trains exiting the west portal of tunnel no. 2 that guards Farm, a well known railroad location where a large coaling tower still stands. Today, helpers wait assignments to shove heavily loaded coal trains east up the steep steady grade.

Hemphill Tunnels – Historical Railroad Geography Series

December 19, 2015 1 Comment

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