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So there's been some discussion among the 'higher-ups' regarding running our steam, not only for the excursions, but also for hauling freight. We have already been doing some 'experimenting' on the Appalachian Southern with using our steam locomotives with the freight trains, normally to serve the industries along the line, while diesels handling coal trains from the mines. However, we have officially decided to try out having the first 'all-steam' railroad in about 40 years. Instead of using the readily available coal on the Appalachian Southern, we decided to at least start with the Atlantic Coast Railway. Instead of having to rely on a third-party to provide the coal for the locomotives, the coal instead comes from the coal mines on the Appalachian Southern. Plus because the grades aren't as steep, so the locomotives don't have to be as big as ones needed for the Appalachian Southern, which would require a 2-8-8-2 to handle a coal train, while it would require a 4-8-2 to handle the heaviest train on the Atlantic Coast Railway, which serves Hawkinsville, Whitfield and Hamilton River. There's another train that serves Pelican Bay only, along with the only industry at the interchange at Grand Junction, which normally would have a 2-8-0 or 2-8-2. For passenger trains, there's only the need for one 4-6-2 to handle the train over the entire route. Because of the short length of the railroad, there's only the need for one coaling tower and water tower, both at Pelican Bay, although there was the need for turntables at the end of the line at Hamilton River, the interchange at Grand Junction, and at the roundhouse at Pelican Bay, but those are already there for the excursions. When the first steam-powered freight train will run is yet to be determined.
 
We've recently began a new operation between Bramwell, WV and Montcalm, WV called the Bramwell Northern. It serves the Buckeye coal mines and Mount Sinai iron mine, plus some industries in Montcalm and the interchange with Norfolk Southern just north of Montcalm. The tracks are owned by the towns of Bramwell and Montcalm. The line between Bramwell and Bramwell Junction still exists, but is not routinely used. We operate a small tourist train called the Bramwell Rambler, starting in Montcalm and ending in Bramwell, using the wye that leads to the Buckeye mines to turn the train around. We use both heavyweight and lightweight coaches, and have a Norfolk & Western-painted SD9, GP7P and RS-3, plus two Southern F units, and Norfolk & Western 2-8-2 #4501. Also, we have an ex-Chesapeake and Ohio 2-6-6-2 mallet that is stored at our shops in Montcalm, and we have not decided whether or not to restore 'Big Chessie', which is her nickname. We serve the mines using Ex-SECX GP38-2's and cabooses.
 
We've recently purchased four GE C36-7's from China Rail. They will be used on the train to the Buckeye Mines, which is two trains combined into one. The train is usually nine hoppers, an Ex-SECX caboose, another nine hoppers, and another Ex-SECX caboose. We stop on the passing siding at the wye to the Buckeye Mines, uncouple the rear hoppers and caboose, and then take the first 'set' of hoppers and caboose to one of the Buckeye Mines. It tends to vary between which mine the first 'set' of cars go to. Once the hoppers are loaded, we uncouple the locomotives from the hoppers and return to the 'set' left at the passing siding. Those cars go to the other mine to be loaded. Once those cars are loaded, we then go get the other 'set' of cars, and then use the wye so that the locomotives pull the train back to Montcalm. The Ex-SECX GP38-2's are used for switching around Montcalm and for the Mount Saini iron mine. We were lucky to find two former Ex-Norfolk and Western F7's. We have since sold the Southern F7's to another tourist railway and have gotten the two Norfolk and Western F7's back up and running.
 
Hi there. I run the Class II 'Silver Lines' RR. Despite the name, we transport no silver. At all. On the other hand, we do move pretty much all freight. Much of our route goes through a large forest in which there is a large river beside the tracks. This river means there's a lot of bridges in the area. Well, one of our trains was going past the nearby lumberyard, which is near two bridges. Most of these bridges are, unfortunately, pretty old. Because of this, there has been a danger for heavy trains. This train was moving empty coal hoppers. Most of this train had cleared the bridge, but, after many years of constant use, it collapsed at last. There were 5 N62R hoppers on the bridge which fell into the river upon the initial collapse, as well as 3 others which plunged in after the previous 5. Luckily, the train was moving slowly so no more would fall in. This did give us incentive to rebuild that bridge, which has always seemed to be the weakest of them, as well as look at the rest on this portion of the line. It turns out two other bridges crossing this same river were very near collapse. Six of the hoppers were rescued with minimal damage, but one of the three that fell in after the initial collapse crushed one of the first five to fall in. They were both scrapped quickly after. Unfortunately, most of our line is single track, meaning this setback multiple trains that were needed down that line. In the end, however, a new bridge was built, and rail traffic resumed as normal. As for the two weak bridges, short-term repairs have been worked out, but long-term repairs still need to be done.
 
We're taking a big gamble and hope for it to pay off: we've recently purchased three Ex-China Rail QJ 2-10-2's which we're planning on using for our tourist trains and our freight trains. We already have an agreement with the Buckeye Mines to supply the coal for our locomotives, so we've got a reliable source of coal. We don't plan on using them all the time currently, mainly on Tuesdays and Thursdays, plus weekends where we're running one of our other steam locomotives on the Bramwell Rambler. Meanwhile, our Norfolk & Western 2-8-2 #4501 and Chesapeake & Ohio 2-6-6-2 mallet are used only for the Bramwell Rambler. However, we are planning on using the QJ's on freight trains more often in the future.
 
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