Yesterday I was heading from DC to Pittsburgh on the Capitol Limited and spied something that looked pretty interesting. Somewhere near Hancock MD/WV, there was a large area with stack upon stack of ties and CSX MOW gons everywhere. Eventually there was some sort of machine that looked like it would plane ties, then stacks of unsealed ties. And tank cars full of, I guess, creosote.
It struck me as exceedingly modelable. However, it came upon me so fast I didn’t get a chance to take note of where I was or even grab any pictures. Has anyone ever heard of this place? Or even have an idea where it is?
Found it using Mapquest, at Green Spring (CSX wye and yard,) just across the river from Oldtown, MD.
Good vertical view of the railroad yard, the treatment building and about a gazillion stacked ties. Access is Koppers Road, which seems to indicate that the plant is owned by Koppers Chemical Co. rather than CSX. Unfortunately, Mapquest doesn’t have 360 view in that area.
I’d seen the Green Spring plant and passed over it. My memory was rather faulty because I thought “can’t be it, looks too big.” Bing didn’t have Bird’s Eye for it either. Heck, I somehow missed that big building with the tanks because I was too busy looking at some piece of equipment next to the tracks.
Koppers’ site confirmed its their plant, but that it was bought lock, stock, and barrel from Chessie back in the day. And the tie stacks are seemingly a mile high too.
well, let’s hope they keep their act together and stay out of trouble. jennison-wright had a facility at granite city illinois that has now been closed for about 20 years. from what i have read, since the company went bankrupt and abandoned the place, the federal and state governments have spent about 6 millinois dollars cleaning it up with 12 million still to go. i guess all those bald headed children were arousing suspicions.
back when i was still working for clownrail, we were getting several dozen cars of treated ties a week out of that place for the federally funded track rehab.
that plant was located near granite city steel. since creosote is a product of coal tar, i am sure the coke plant at the steel mill was a major source of the needed chemicals for the treating process. most of the hardwood ties probably came from southern missouri.
modeling such an operation and all the related industries has potential. when you distill coal tar you get two primary products. creosote and roofing pitch, plus a bunch of other nasty but usefull things.