CSX Blue Ridge Subdivison... Round 2

[NCkilla333]

The Clinchfield Railroad was constructed in the early 1900's. That means that the tunnels, cuts, and fills are over a hundred years old. The cut seen here however, is only about 40 years old. in the 1970's, the Clinchfield had the desire to run longer trains. This meant that longer trains would have to pass here a Rocky Siding. But something stood in the way of the sidings expansion, Third Rocky Tunnel. In 1977, the tunnel was daylighted to allow expansion of the siding. I went with a different rock texture to show this difference in age.

For anyone curious, this is why there is no Third Rock Tunnel on the map above, only 1st, 2nd, and 4th.

 

[NCkilla333]

Honeycutt Tunnel

Honeycutt Tunnel is the last tunnel on the Clinchfield Loops. It is located north of US 221 in Ashford, N.C. It is the third longest tunnel on the loops at 1688 feet. The real tunnel is raw and has no concrete portal, but I have yet to find a suitable model.


Curve and cuts leading into north portal.

A single GEVO hauls a string of empties northbound out of Honeycutt.

North portal

South portal of the rather impressive tunnel.

 

[NCkilla333]

While I have mad some progress on the route, I have spent a lot more time running trains on it. It seem to be a lot of fun trying to keep over 100 loaded coal cars under 30 mph while heading down the loop. I'm glad to see that the route runs as smooth as it does, but I do have a very high power PC. I will most likely use the replace feature to create a more PC friendly version for those with lower end computers.



Northbound empties head under NC 226 and into downtown Spruce Pine, past an old spur line at Altapass Highway.

Southbound loads finally get moving as the northbound empties pass Walnut Straight.

Northbound empties sneak through the local flora slowing down to make a pass. This is one of my favorite places to watch trains. The old Clinchfield Caboose is the only reminder of the railroad boomtown that Altapass used to be.

Hollman Hill with working crossings.

The tail end of a northbound train passes the signal and defect detector at Camp Two.

Two GEVOs running elephant style strain in run 8 to pull 110 empties northbound up the loops at 27mph.

Residence of Altapass routinely get woke up early by coal drags tearing through dawn air.

A short mixed freight rolls past Halltown Rd, or as many people know it, the shortcut to Walmart.

Empties through old Third Rocky Tunnel.

What Forth Rocky Tunnel lacks in size it make up for with a through and through shot.