Got world yesterday that there will be one more train to load on NS's Wayne Branch, sometime in the next few days.
Being Alpha Resources Rock Springs facility ,is the only customer served on Wayne Branch out of Kenova,WV ,there's not much hope the branch will stay open,unless somebody purchases the Rock Springs facility.
Wayne Branch is the original old N&W mainline that ran out of Williamson,WV to Kenova. Then after the N&W purchased the former Scioto Valley R.R. from South Point,Ohio to Columbus,a new mainline was run from Naugatuck,WV to Kenova,eventually bypassing the old mainline from Naugatuck to Kenova. For sometime both the old main line and the "New Addition" hence the milepost initials, were both being utilized.
The branch has had periods of inactivity during modern times . Mobile Gas originally built the Rock Springs mine during the early 70's,but only loaded about a dozen trains before closing it. The branch reopened in 1991 and has run non stop until what looks like might be another and hopefully not a permanent closure.
Wayne Branch is accessed via Kenova Yard and operates on Track Authority,171 territory.Maximum speed on the entire branch is 10mph.A few years ago the speeds were 25 mph .
The mileposts limits are as follows: MP N.565.6 (Kenova yardlimit) to N 544.5 ( Wayne,WV where the N&W connected with the East Lynn shortline r.r.). Then from Wayne, North on the old East Lynn short line r.r. track towards East Lynn,WV. ,WB 0-WB 7.6. The mine track connects at Colmont Spur. The mine track is almost four miles in length ,with two, two mile long tracks.
