Headlines for Monday, October 3, 2005
A Pennsylvania company has announced plans to build a $400 million mouth-of-the-mine coal-fired power plant near Carmi. United Supply of America, based in Murrysville, Pa. has plans to build a 270 mega-watt generating station and mine near Carmi. The plant is expected to be one of the cleanest burning power plants in the nation.
Source WFIW Radio.com
This is new news to me! I guess that explains why I’m seeing tons of coal traffic going through Abrams Yard in Upper Merion, PA. Much of the coal traffic allong the Harrisburg Division seems to make it’s way from Enola Yard into Philadelphia. I’ve only seen a couple of loaded coal drags comming from Philadelphia to Enola.
I think adrianspeeder said it best There ain’t notin’ better than good old fashioned PA coal railroading!
…And seeing it come out of the secondary branches off the mains and branches being energized again to do just that…haul coal… is great to see happening in the Keystone State…Once again. When I was growing up in Somerset County Coal was major and near by Steel production in Cambria County was 2nd to none as well…Both provided work for the railroads.
For those familar with Enola, NS is now using four tracks just past the old east hump and next to the highway. They may also be using the track that work trains used to park on. Given all of the empty real estate between those tracks and the car shops, they have a lot of room for storage expansion but I suspect that the NS operational philosophy is to keep the coal drags moving rather than sitting in the yard.
Poppyl
…I would think to keep them moving is the better way to be making money…
With improvements in coal burning technology and higher diesel fuel prices, might Penn coal and Illinois coal start biting into Wyoming coal production?
The Coleman Station Sub (PBS line, former CSX) near Shanksville, PA is being readied for train traffic again. Are there any other lines in Western PA that are being brought back into service due to the recent coal surge?
Can’t argue that!! I’d gladly watch a coal drag over an intermodal any day.
There is a spur line into Windber off the South Fork Secondary that would be reactivated once the Windber Mine reopens within a couple of years…
Only if new power plants with boilers designed to get the best use out of those grades of coal are built. Power plant boilers designed for the efficient use of PRB coal would be less efficient with other grades of coal.