Blackfork. The Thomas Subdivison. About mile Post 81. May 22, 1982. Im in the company of E. Roy Ward and family. I drove down from Pittsburgh the night before. And stayed with Roy in Blackwater State Park campgrounds. In the morning, Roy and his family & I hike down Blackfork. Im thinking we set on around Coketon at the crossing ? Just above Mile post 78. And down Blackfork to Big Run Curve at Mile Post 83. We spent all day down at Big Run. Big Run curve was noteworthy... A 13 degree curve and where the railroad changes grade. 2.3 percent...1.5 percent...3.75 percent. The curve has a 10 M.P.H. slow order on it. We wait ...and wait ... and wait. Late afternoon word finally trickles in on the Bayard turn. Since we are half way down Blackfork, we retreat. We hike back up Blackfork near Tub Run. Were now about Mile Post 81. And nervously scale the mountainside. Im worried about those damn snakes. Were waist high walking through the brush. Somehow we make it alive. And find our way to the rock out cropping. The turnaround is gonna be late climbing Blackfork. But we luck out. My notes on each Kodachrome slide indicate. Its 7:15 P.M. 64 coal. The head end has 4 GP-9s all B&O. The 1st mid train helper has 5 GP-9s, all B&O. And the 2nd mid train helper has 3 GP-38s and 1 GP-40. And I love those helpers with their illuminated headlights. Always a class operation.
Posted on: Thu, 13 Mar 2014 14:40:54 +0000
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