Behind the Scenes: Lamberts Point - North America's Busiest Coal Pier

[@seanharley8564]

I work here. One of my coworkers says he was running the loader the day this was filmed and thought he was being spied on. 😅

[@nkyrailfan]

That's funny. Someone else found them talking about my drone over the radio. Check the 13:35 time mark.

[@aurorauplinks]

thats what it feels like. but this film is so.... fascinating to actually see the intelligence and beautiful ease of effort that was put into designing this coal yard. its almost... a thing of beauty and conservation of energy in action to do things.

[@sango_wilko851]

At 29:40 they talked about you as well on the radio and pointed out your (possible?) location.

[@nkyrailfan]

That was me. I was on the street corner directly across from the open area next to the Old Dominion field and the tunnel entrance to the property. I was surprised no one came up to me and asked what I was doing. I noticed a group of what looked like NS workers stopped at the facility entrance talking. Several ODU and Norfolk police officers also drove by, but no one stopped. I just figured they called the Naval Station and the Naval Station told them I was authorized to fly. I always wear a hi-viz FAA vest. Although, I did bring my own folding chair. I always try to get set up in a visible space so folks can find me.

[@djtjpain]

@@nkyrailfanthat’s honestly terrible opsec. Sounds like they weren’t informed 🚩 and also didn’t challenge you 🚩 Edit: the ODU/NS staff I mean.

[@christierc31]

My son works here! I really enjoyed watching your video.

[@nkyrailfan]

That's awesome! I'm really glad you enjoyed the video.

[@m1stertim]

you have the highest ratio of production value to subscriber count i've ever seen on youtube, and you do the things with a drone that I wish i had the money and time to do, so thanks for that lol. I'm not really interested in the real-time footage, but I leave it playing in the background so you can at last get those few extra cents of watch time from my premium membership 🤣

[@nkyrailfan]

Lol, thank you very much. I'm glad to hear you enjoy the videos. I appreciate you leaving the video playing. I wish I could get more folks like you to watch. Thanks again and have a great day.

[@Anolaana]

I certainly hope the channel grows in the future - I agree this is excellent production quality!

[@nkyrailfan]

@Anolaana thank you very much. I really do appreciate it.

[@kimstapleton3365]

Many years ago I worked on a P&O bulk carrier that was a regular visitor to this facility. We would take a part load from the Dominion Terminal at Newport News before moving to Lamberts Point to complete the load. The cargo was normally bound for the various steel works in Japan or for their power stations. Many fond memories of the region, including 3 months waiting to load when another major supplier's port facility was closed. When we arrived we were number 110 in the queue.

[@nkyrailfan]

That had to be such an experience to work on a bulk carrier. Thank you for sharing. That's crazy you had to wait to load for such a long period. I'm actually working on a video covering the Newport News terminals. I hope to have it out within a few days.

[@osrr6422]

5:00 That car doesnt have doors on the bottom. Whale bellys I've heard them called. There's only a handful of those cars (relatively to the rest of the fleet), And yes the orange vest is a Conductor Trainee.

[@nkyrailfan]

Thanks for the clarification. I don't think I've seen one of them before.

[@terryjennings2791]

Another great video Christian. Super drone work and editing as usual. Extremely enjoyable and educational. Thanks for jumping through all that FAA hoops to get the drone footage, it’s exceptional.

[@nkyrailfan]

Thanks, as always, Terry. I really do appreciate it. This was a great deal of fun and I'm very glad to hear you enjoyed it.

[@sweynforkbeardtraindude]

Love it! Trains & ships, way cool!

[@nkyrailfan]

I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[@StormySkyRailProductions]

This so cool and very well done, still watching! (Dave).

[@nkyrailfan]

Thanks, Dave. It was a lot of fun to shoot. I wish I had been able to catch more loading onto the ship, but it was a great trip.

[@foxtp1]

Great video, very interesting and informative. One small point: it's water, not a chemical, that is sprayed on the coal at the rotary dumper, to keep the coal dust down.

[@nkyrailfan]

I'm glad you enjoyed the video. Thanks for letting me know it's water. I just assumed it was the same as what they spray when the cars are loaded at coal mines.

[@grizh4583]

I used to work at the coal piers in Newport News rail op and ship loading side if you have any questions. I now do switch the trains at the port across the river from lamberts point.

[@nkyrailfan]

That would be fantastic! I'm working on the Newport News video and have plenty of questions. Would you mind sending me an email and I can get them to you? I'd like to send a few screenshots to ask about specifics if that's okay. My email is: [e-mail]

[@grizh4583]

@@nkyrailfan email sent

[@JimbleKimble769]

0:27 Why is there quarter of half of a football field at the University?

[@nkyrailfan]

I think it's a practice facility for either the band or some other sports clubs.

[@nigeldawson5960]

I remember when Philadelphia had a pier like this. Torn down. Gone.

[@CC-lb4lc]

This is very cool to watch man I load and transport Coltrane through West Virginia that are bound for here for a short line railroad to Norfolk Southern never seen the facility kind of cool ngl

[@paulsturtz7638]

Thanks for bringing such interesting videos to us. A whole different world out there we would never have seen otherwise.

[@nkyrailfan]

Thanks, Paul. I really do appreciate that. I'm very glad to hear you're enjoying the videos.

[@brandonreeves5979]

Great video sir!!! Love the narration 👍🏻💯💯💯

[@highplainsdrifter8034]

Great video. I visited Norfolk a couple years ago. I wish I’d seen this video first! I’d known where to go. Thank you!

[@nkyrailfan]

Thank you very much. I'm glad you enjoyed the video.

[@kens.3729]

Your Details and Drone Shots are Off the Charts, Solid. Keep up Extremely Strong 💪 Efforts because it’s really Obvious you consistently do your Homework. 👍🙏

[@nkyrailfan]

Thanks, Ken. I really do appreciate it. It was a lot of fun to record. I'm very glad to hear you enjoyed it.

[@Iamdabobo]

I love seeing the close-up details of how these fascinating machines work! it's so satisfying to my inner 10-year-old who, before internet video and 4k drones existed, could only wildly speculate about what all those awesome machines he saw were doing and how.

[@nkyrailfan]

I'm really glad you enjoyed the video. I feel the same way. I love seeing how all these massive machines work. Feel free to let me know if there's a machine or something you think I could capture with the drone and show how it works.

[@82ndguy5]

Another outstanding video!! The effort you put forth from planning, permissions, filming, logistics, and editing is so impressive. Thank you for all of it!

[@nkyrailfan]

Thank you very much. I really do appreciate it.

[@raymondsix4694]

Another great video! We also enjoyed the one about the Sandusky pier, because we used to live not too far from there in 1980s. That yard is so huge! Can you imagine the air quality there back in the days of steam locomotives?

[@nkyrailfan]

Thank you very much. I'm glad you all enjoyed the videos. I can't imagine what it must have been like working in the area back in the steam days. Even now, neighbors are fighting for Norfolk Southern to do something to stop the coal dust from getting all over the surrounding area. The same thing is happening in Newport News.

[@jimwinchester339]

I saw this operation LIVE in 1976, when I worked as a driver for Yellow Cab, who often shuttled N&W train crews to/from local hotels for the evening.

[@nkyrailfan]

I bet that was very cool to see it up close and personal like that.

[@GrungeHistory]

I lived in the highrise apartments in downtown Newport news when i worked at the shipyard and they have a decent sized coal yard too

[@nkyrailfan]

I'm actually working on a video showcasing the Newport News facility. I hope to have it out sometime in the next few days. Both of the facilities were incredible and so much fun to see in action.

[@bernivideo]

Fantastic video! Thank you 😊

[@nkyrailfan]

Thank you very much. I really do appreciate it.

[@nigelslade5276]

At 27:06 The concrete piers are they the old foundations for ship loading machinery? I have a video of N & W in late 1950s with A and Y6B class steam locomotives.

[@nkyrailfan]

I believe so. This link shows what the dock looked like in 1960. digital.library.cornell.edu/catalog/ss:20988454

[@Cadian92nd]

Very cool😎

[@nkyrailfan]

Thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[@beamer4908]

That was two carman that spotted your drone at 13:49

[@kellenmatthews1440]

Also will they repair the minor damaged P42DCS??

[@nkyrailfan]

Here's what I was able to find: Amtrak's P42DC locomotives are being replaced by Siemens ALC-42 Charger locomotives between 2021 and 2024, but will remain in service on shorter corridor trains. The locomotives are expected to be retired in the next decade due to age, lack of demand and parts.

[@beamer4908]

In your video UL01 communication is hump crew bringing coal to the Barney yard. UL17 crew is pulling the already dumped cars out of the empty yard to put in make up tracks to get inspected and sent back to the mines.

[@nkyrailfan]

Thanks for the great info! I do appreciate it.

[@joshuafunk9438]

Fantastic video. Absolutely a subscriber now

[@nkyrailfan]

Thank you very much, Joshua. I'm really glad to hear you enjoyed the video.

[@TwoRailfans]

This is incredible!

[@jude_the_apostle]

Why do they increase the shifts and but then also not doing anything for a couple days?

[@nkyrailfan]

🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️ I don't know why they would do that

[@Polarbear5353]

Fascinating, Ty 👍

[@Tuglife912]

Those NS Top Gons and Hoppers hold 120 Tons per car. I never got to haul coal when I worked for CSX but I did haul a lot of limestone in hoppers.

[@nkyrailfan]

Thanks for the info, I do appreciate it.

[@Tuglife912]

@@nkyrailfan you are always welcome. Also if you didn’t mention it already in the video ( I plan to watch it this week when I’m off ) the Loaders at Pier 6 can load 8,000 Tons of Coal per hour into one of those Bulk Carriers. Even though I don’t work in Norfolk, Virginia I have been by Lambert’s Point Terminal and the NS Lambert’s Point Yard by Tugboat. The company I currently work with, Moran Towing Corporation has the contract to dock Bulk Carriers at Pier 6.

[@nkyrailfan]

@Tuglife912 I'm fairly certain I mentioned they rotary dumpers can handle as much as 8,000 tons an hour, but thank you for making sure. That has to be a pretty fun job (assuming the weather is cooperating).

[@Tuglife912]

@@nkyrailfan I’m sure you probably did mention it, I need to watch the whole video this coming week when I’m off. Yes it’s definitely a fun job at times for sure. Thank you again for sharing

[@yoursignalisbuster]

Grew up across the river and spent my college years at ODU. Lived at Midrise (Now Whitehurst Hall). About 1000 ft from there. The vid doesn’t give you an idea of how loud that operation is. Sounds like a head on car crash happening every 3 minutes. I love the sound and miss it though.

[@kellenmatthews1440]

Hey so what ended up happening to P42DC 148 after the dump truck collision in March?? Did it get repaired and will be repainted into Phase 7 or will they just retire it???

[@nkyrailfan]

Unfortunately, I do not know. I tried to find some info on it, but didn't have any luck. Hopefully, someone will chime in with some information.

[@kellenmatthews1440]

Oh ok I understand stand they are replacing them but will they repair the minor damaged ones and let them run again???

[@nkyrailfan]

I'm sure they will repair them if they need the locomotive for power, but I think once most of them get to Beech Grove they've reached the end of their life, at least with Amtrak.

[@mysticrailroad]

fascinating process

[@DixonSyder420]

The Bailey yard in north Platte Nebraska uses same gravity technology I think

[@nkyrailfan]

Correct, but with a little additional help. Bailey is a hump yard. It uses gravity to get the cars where they need to be, but it requires a locomotive to do so. The locomotive pushes the cars over the man-made hump. Once the cars reach the top, a worker releases the cars to be sorted and gravity does the rest. In this case, and in some other yards known as flat-track switching yards, there's no need for a locomotive to push the car over a hump because the yard is designed with a slight decline toward the destination. So, the cars are able to simply have their brakes released and they'll start rolling where they need to go. Hopefully this helps. Here is a link showing the differences. Queensgate Yard in the video is how Bailey operates. kzbin.info/www/bejne/eqfRg6upjJV6sKM

[@kellenmatthews1440]

Hey any updates on P42DC 148???

[@nkyrailfan]

Sadly, I do not. I've searched and searched and can't find anything on it.

[@beamer4908]

Funny thing about the empty cars on the right train is that it doesn’t matter. We don’t know the cars leaving the facility until they pass a scanner at the west end of Portlock yard. The car numbers don’t matter. The amount of cars does matter.

[@nkyrailfan]

That's interesting. I never thought about it but I guess it doesn't matter which cars go where since they're all the same, unless you need the ability to unload from the bottom.

[@jp45424]

13:35 Look up....got a spy in the sky 😄

[@nkyrailfan]

Great catch! 😂😂😂 I never noticed that until you pointed it out.

[@TrainTrackToby]

When you have the chance can you do brc clearing yard its a the second biggest hump yard in the us and serves every class one and has the the adjacent csx bedford park intermodal yards and is rarely filmed.

[@nkyrailfan]

I've been thinking about getting up to Chicago to do the rail yards at some point. It's just a matter of when. If it's the yard I'm thinking of, unfortunately I believe it's in the airspace of Midway. I can use my drone on the south side of it, but I'm limited to only 100 or 200 ft in the air. I still plan on doing it, it's just a matter of finding the right spots to see as much as possible.

[@TrainTrackToby]

@@nkyrailfan kzbin.info/www/bejne/eILMcoWwe9Opgbs Thank you

[@SuperAgentman007]

1:01 yeah, they had to know where you had your drone so that they don’t have to scramble F-16s to shoot it down😂

[@nkyrailfan]

😂😂😂

[@cliffh8486]

Railroad employees are watching for drones because that’s how they fire the employees.

[@nkyrailfan]

Oh wow! I've had a few employees say they worry about their company doing that, but I've never had someone say for sure they are.

[@cliffh8486]

@@nkyrailfan they do it on all class 1 railroads.

[@nkyrailfan]

@cliffh8486 wow, that is really shitty. A few guys had mentioned it would be nice if I could try to reach out through Facebook and see if anyone could let the crews know I'm just filming for my little KZbin videos and not working for the company. I'll try to give that a go the next time I film a yard. Thanks for letting me know.

[@genesilverdahliii8643]

I work here, I wonder if you can see me lol.

[@nkyrailfan]

That would be pretty cool if we could see you. It was nearly all shot on Monday, April 22. A couple of shots like the train entering the facility and the BNSF locomotive using the turntable were on Tuesday 4/23.

[@genesilverdahliii8643]

@@nkyrailfan what time of day was this taken?

[@nkyrailfan]

@@genesilverdahliii8643 during the morning. Before 1 pm for sure.

[@BlackMan614]

Great video, as usual. I have a few books from the 70s showing the pier - it was a lot different and a lot more wide open. Looks like urban sprawl has surrounded it. You want to know where this coal comes from? Here you go.... kzbin.info/www/bejne/fl6UZ6p6lNlnlbM This mine has a sordid history. My neighbor worked there in the 1950s (he has since passed away). I worked there in the late 70's when Eastern called it Keystone No.5 (and it had the infamous "modern art" coal silos) and my friend works there now.

[@nkyrailfan]

Thanks for the info and video. I really do appreciate it. I'm actually working on a video showcasing the Newport News terminals that I'm hoping to have out within a few days.

[@goodday5570]

THAT IS JUST WATER BEING SPRAYED

[@paulrosa6762]

Love coal

[@michaelhart4338]

I can get you a better tour 😆

[@nkyrailfan]

If I'm ever back in the area I'm going to see if I can take you up on that tour.