SPECIAL SITUATIONS
By Dan Zugelter - - Photos by Dennis Realley

In the recently published book Chesapeake & Ohio, Steam in Color as Modeled, * we examined many of the every day operations of both freight and passenger trains from Hinton west on the New River Subdivision and from Hinton east on the Alleghany Subdivision. With this article, I thought it would be fun to look at some of the non-routine things that nevertheless do happen.

* Published by the Chesapeake and Ohio Historical Society, 128 pages, 207 color and 48 black and white photos, currently available.

Train No. 7

Train No 7 (1) - Train 7 is the local originating at Hinton and proceeding westward over the New River Subdivision. This train is normally powered by one of the beautiful Pacifics (4-6-2.) However, on this summer morning of 1938, the regular Pacific is in the shops at Clifton Forge for regularly scheduled major maintenance. As a result, a little, high-stepping Atlantic (4-4-2), number 287 has been sent over to head our local number 7. (1) See page 10, Employee Time Tables for 1938.

Slow Orders

We learned that slow orders were issued between Sewell and Thurmond due to a Sperry Rail Detector Service car operating in this area. Since the C & O mainline is signaled in both directions on each of the double tracks, it is basically not problem for trains to run around the Sperry Rail car. We got over to Sewell to meet a track crew at the Sewell station. We were able to join them on a speeder (2) going east to the location of the Sperry Rail car. It was no problem to catch up with the Sperry Rail car for it moves along at only about 5 miles per hour. It is testing to detect any hidden defects in the rails. This is quite important on a heavily traveled mainline like the C & O with very heavy freight engines, 4-8-8-4's and high speed 4-8-2 Mountain and 4-8-4 Greenbrier on passenger service. Despite all the traffic, the C & O arguably had the best roadbed in the country at that time. (2) See page 19, speeder at Sewell station.

A Doodlebug at Quinnimont

The Laurel Creek branch enters the C & O mainline at Quinnimont. The passenger train on the branch is normally powered by a 2-8-0 Consolidation. (3) However, on this day, the faithful Consolidation has thrown a rod bearing and is out of service for a few days. To hold down its job a Brill Gas Electric Doodlebug number 9050 was sent in. The Consolidations normally pulls a combine and a coach. Since the Doodlebug has some seating in it, it was felt that only the combine was needed. It was turned around "Backwards" so that its passenger compartment was forward so passengers could move between the Doodlebug and the passenger section of the combine. The baggage part of the combine was at the rear for easy loading and unloading without disturbing the passengers. (3) See pages 43, 44, 45 and 46.

The Right Time at the Right Place

As we know, there are pusher engines, articulated (2-8-8-2,) used on every loaded coal train from Hinton up to Alleghany. These engines return "light" (4) from Alleghany back to Hinton. Now, earlier in the day, at 6:20 a.m., the FFV arrived at White Sulphur Springs and dropped off the Pennsylvania Pullman from New York on the pocket track. Normally, the westbound local number 13 picks up this car at 11:45 (5) and takes it to Hinton to be cleaned and serviced for its return to New York at 6:51 p.m. on the eastbound FFV. However, on this day local No. 13 is running late. As is occasionally done, a pusher engine on its way back from Alleghany to Hinton is commandeered to pick up the Pennsylvania Pullman at White Sulphur and take it back to Hinton so that the cleaning and maintenance crews have enough time to get it ready to return to New York at 6:51 p.m. on the eastbound FFB. (4) Chapter VIII - Alleghany - Dance of the Pushers, pages 81 - 86.

These outstanding images and more can be found in the book Chesapeake & Ohio Steam in Color As Modeled by Dan Zugelter. The C&O mainline from Quinnimont, West Virginia to Alleghany, Virginia is represented in structures, scenery, locomotives, and cars. This hardbound book contains 208 color views of superb modeling, as well as 66 historical black & white photos from the C&OHS collections. 128 pages.