CSX's Oldest Operating Coal Loadout! Watch How This 50 Year Old Tipple Still Loads Coal Trains!

Today's adventure finds us on the Poorfork Branch of the Cumberland Valley Subdivision!
After catching word that a YN2/Mac duo would be the power for a West Rock coal train loading at NRG, we changed our weekend vacation plans and went for the chase. Watch closely as we venture down CSX's 112 year old Poorfork branch built by the L&N in 1911. See the Totz tipple, built in the 1930's and still in use today, and watch the NRG loadout handle unit trains 47 years after it was built! Even when Flood and Batch loaders have stolen the show, this old Fast Load tipple built in 1976 still holds its own in 2023.
A special thanks to Zander Estero for helping in the filming process!
This one has been my favorite adventure and video in a while so I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Thanks for watching and God Bless!
(A few tidbits, I made a couple of mistakes with dates and wanted to fix them here; NRG was built in 1974 rather than 1976, and the Totz tipple/prep plant you see today was built in 1977. The original Totz tipple was constructed in the same spot in the 30’s, hence my mix up.)

[@bowandarrowindian3704]

God Bless the men and women that do this job

[@gerlandkent6377]

[thank, you for youre great video]👍👍

[@tomschmidt3165]

Terrific videography. Could you please leave the captioning on longer? Didn’t always get through them and they are a nice addition to your video. Thanks for posting.

[@tomtweed2138]

Yes, you went to the trouble to write very good & interesting captions, Please, Leave them on screen, at least twice as long. TT.

[@Justme-jt1ef]

Umm it’s called the PAUSE button.

[@Justme-jt1ef]

@@chessieandjack sounds like you haven’t got a clue as to how your device works sucks to be you

[@m9ovich785]

@@Justme-jt1ef That does not always work when watching full screen. When I pause, the on screen display stuff pops back on and covers up the text at the top of the Screen. (32" monitor on a PC)

[@Justme-jt1ef]

@@m9ovich785 pause doesn’t work in full screen I don’t know about that one I think ur full of it.

[@Conrail50]

God Bless RMT, thank you and the crews for a great video!

[@jjMcCartan9686]

Just like me ,50 years old & still gettin it done 🤘

[@michaelbegay9573]

Like the way the horns echos thru the valley. 👂

[@PunmasterSTP]

Tipple? More like "Titillating!" This was a really cool adventure 👍

[@railyardfilms6491]

Csx coal route are rares 😊

[@dougclem7711]

In 74 we were hauling the coal to the TOTZ tipple. Clyde Bennett loved the color green.

[@john5321]

Wow! Flood walls around the tracks? Good to see Harlan County - X Engineer Officer USS Harlan County LST 1196

[@tinindian9543]

ELECTRIC CAR FUEL !!!

[@cncpgreatlakesdiv4896]

Awesome very nice THANKS FOR THE POST.😊😊👍👍👍

[@BlackMan614]

Though that prep plant building may be old, I am sure inside it has the latest machinery. Prep plants have come a long way from the 70s when you'd see screens/crushers, cyclones and thats about it. They have magnetic separators, flotation cells... and of course the crushers and cyclones are hi-tech and of course low emissions.

[@B-and-O-Operator-Fairmont]

Funny how "back in the day" we lamented these "modern" loadouts vs. the old windowed tipples with coal company logos painted on the side. Now, they are the stuff nostalgia is made of. Don't forget to appreciate the coal hoppers. Where I live, it is nearly 100% round bottom coal gondolas. That high-bannered switch stand is also unheard of up this way (northern West Virginia). Nice job. The dreary winter day makes it even better!

[@hobsonbeeman7529]

That dreary weather sure adds to the realism of the video. Somehow reflects the passing of better days gone by!

[@1traintracker]

Thanks for putting together this informative video and posting it. It’s good to see the old L&N still in action.

[@robertmohler9131]

Its also amazing how tiny the Broad Top coal field was

[@TrainsRKool1999]

Welp, this one has earned you a subscriber, as I live on the NS Appalachia district, CSX has been part of my life for a long time. I used to live next to the CSX CV sub, but I’ve since moved

[@alexmodern6667]

Love Baxter Tower glad to see it s still here'

[@filanfyretracker]

seeing the pacing of the train reminds me of a time I saw someone try and do that to a Metro-North on the Harlem Line that I was riding into NYC, They gave up when the train hit around 85mph. Only knew the speed because it was an older EMU where the driver cab had a window into the passenger cabin so I could see the speedometer. Because of course id sit up there to see how it was operated.

[@charlesmullins3238]

H and my cousins husband is an engineer for csx and probably drivin one you’ve filmed….robert is his name

[@cathyoldham7596]

Great job producing an awesome and very interesting video. The way you caption each location allows me to follow along on my CSX map. Thank you for what you do!!

[@BBFHD721]

Nice Micah! This is so cool! I wish I could be there and be in your videos.

[@RJSAMCRO]

I work for RailCrew Express here in NC its the best job. I pickup crews from CSX yards taking them to hotels or back to their home yard. One of my favorite spots is Duke Power Plant where the Coal is processed. What an operation inside there. Up close and personal with these awesome engines.

[@kens.3729]

Very Interesting Video down in Kentucky in Coal Country. Keep up the Strong 💪 Efforts because it is Noticed and Appreciated. Thanks! 👍🙏

[@tdclymore]

Gotta be a speed reader!!!

[@TheAustinSubRailfan]

Nice K5LA on CSX 440!

[@NSandBNSFrailfanProductions]

if anyone doesn’t know there is one in Catskills that has been doing stuff since 1920’s and doesn’t work anymore and abandoned in early 2000’s sucks that it don’t get used anymore but there is old stuff in there u can find like a old elevator that doesn’t work & cranes & broken stuff followed by water going as high as 20 feet in the building that’s been sitting there not moving for over 20 years but cool video u have here!

[@1903A3shooter]

NICE JOB on the video.

[@mrfingerlakes8735]

Great video

[@JohnnyCarroll-wi6tx]

very interesting.hard to believe that a coal tipple that old is still in operation.

[@RJCRailfan]

Great video!

[@earlwidmeyer2654]

What an awesome video with the drone footage. Absolutely stunning country to shoot vids in. The point where the train rounds the bend at the interlock tower was mint. It almost looked like a modeled scene on someone's layout!!! Great vids man!!! Cheers! Earl

[@eastkentuckyrailfan]

Nice one buddy

[@grasshopper5765]

Engine 440, I have seen that engine passing through Jacksonville on the tracks that runs along HWY US17 on into Orange park Florida. That train goes down to the coal power plant somewhere down in Miami Dade County.

[@JohnnysTrainVideos]

Great video...

[@danielkennedy1524]

Just beautiful! Thank you!

[@asullivan4047]

Interesting/informative/entertaining. Excellent photography job enabling viewers to better understand what the orator was describing thru ( CC.) Remember Jimmie Rogers the " Singing Break Men ". A genuine break men till changing careers for a singing entertainer 🎸🎶 one. ( 1926 thru 1933 ). Most memorable song " Break Man's Blues 😭 ". Viewing this presentation from the comfort of my computer room. Along the " Space Coast " 🚀of Florida 🐊🐊. Wishing viewers/ R.R. Employees a safe/healthy/prosperous ( 2024 ) 🌈🎉😉.

[@earlwidmeyer2654]

You just earned a new SUB!!! Cheers! Earl

[@mrcpu9999]

I really enjoyed that. Very well shot and edited, a real pleasure. I agree about perhaps keeping the captions on a tad longer, you gotta be paying attention or you'd miss the end of it. Liked and sub'd. Keep 'em coming.

[@joekugelman4196]

Loved your video….. keep up the great work!

[@peterscandlyn]

Gotta agree!

[@timmyfrierson2684]

Hey Railfan Micah I just found your channel and you got some darn good content and that is my favorite trains of all is a unit coal train but anyway man y’all try to stay warm and safe out there and we’ll see you on your next one

[@timothy4037]

16:30 was a beautiful picture

[@Railstream]

Love the coal load-out video nicely done!

[@RailFanRob]

Great footage man!!

[@robertmohler9131]

I wish the EBTs coal prep plant at Mt. Union had had magnetic separators so they could have gotten rid of every kind of impurity known to coal

[@nhyardlimit]

wow I just found this channel! it just popped up. pretty nice! subbed ya!

[@rogerb5615]

Was the first part of this filmed up near Gate City? I sued to live in Kingsport and often drove up there to watch the unit coal trains come down out of VA. Also used to visit Natural Tunnel, never got tired of watching trains come out of that big old hole in the mountain!

[@railfanmicahturner]

Not this one, though that isn’t too far away. NRG loads Eastman trains however, and they pass through Gate City a couple times a week

[@charlesmullins3238]

Is that the flood wall in Williamson? Boy I spent a wild night or 2 at the borderline bar there…I think it’s still there just different name that slips my mind….i steam cleaned all around that area

[@railfanmicahturner]

That one is the flood wall in Loyall, Ky, however I do have a Williamson video coming in the next few months 🙂

[@kylemaxton1770]

Curious, what are those giant metal doors for at the Loyall yard? (Or at least they look like they can open and close) Great video!

[@railfanmicahturner]

Those are flood gates, built in the 80’s I think after a large flood in 77 devastated the area

[@terrylark8003]

Can you leave the subtitles up a little longer?

[@railfanmicahturner]

I can, this is actually a pre-feedback video. My recent videos, which will release over the next few months, have already had the change made 🙂

[@m9ovich785]

@@railfanmicahturner Yes, Please do, My old Eyes can't read that fast LOL...

[@charlesmullins3238]

Have you took the trip to bald knob in cass on the Shay’s..? Highly recommend it…I got inside and set in operators seat of a 1923 Shay…one of the highlights of my life…lol. And I’m no train nerd just equipment in general and something that’s ran for that long up a 9% grade is something…

[@railfanmicahturner]

Cass is somewhere I would love to visit, I always did love th e old Shays 😊

[@OutdoorsSC]

Love your videos, we are trying everyday to make out videos better, any suggestions would be appreciated.

[@railfanmicahturner]

It’s all about how you present information and your transition between clips!

[@randomoldguy3967]

My friend drives heavy haul coal trucks and loads out of Totz pretty regularly. Coal is about gone now, and most of the communities that thrived with it. But nobody cares, it’s just Appalachia.

[@edmonroe9768]

Don’t take info down so fast, it’s very important

[@troytheconsumeroflargequan3254]

What is tha5 structure behind the locomotives at the beginning?

[@railfanmicahturner]

That is the flood wall, built after severe flooding in the 70’s

[@RailPreserver2K]

0:41 whats with the wall? Levee's?

[@railfanmicahturner]

Flood gates, built after a large flood that occurred in 1977 🙂

[@jonym45]

Great video. Why are there gates on the railways and roads?

[@railfanmicahturner]

They are flood gates to protect the town

[@jonym45]

@@railfanmicahturner Thanks

[@RailPreserver2K]

There plans to try saving baxter tower ?

[@railfanmicahturner]

Not currently, which is unfortunate, but for now it seems to be safe. Some trackage nearby however, not so much.

[@RailPreserver2K]

they planning to rip out the mainline? Also i have a friend whose doing a railfan documentary if you wanted to get involved.@@railfanmicahturner

[@richardtrudeau7363]

Is this down in the.Hollar

[@mushethecowboycook9353]

Nice video it would be nice if you talk and explain some things at times

[@railfanmicahturner]

I’ve thought about it, but am very self conscious when it comes to my voice, especially when narrating 😂. I may consider it for the future.

[@dogyerf21]

When it happens up onto it happens to get to are then? Corbin fortnight times two news crew on over over for two then it?

[@chairrockfarms1337]

"Brakes"

[@dannyhaley7610]

the caption has it wrong.its not gaynor ky.its baxter ky.

[@railfanmicahturner]

Modern days, it is Baxter, however in the 70’s the L&N referred to it as Gaynor. I wanted to include it as a nod to the L&N heritage 🙂

[@tommycooker3996]

Why wasn’t there any actual coal loading footage included? It was just the train arriving at the loading point and then footage of it finished loading. Should have had some more actual loading footage in it.

[@railfanmicahturner]

There are other videos on my channel from here if you would like to see more from NRG

[@marioxerxescastelancastro8019]

0:54 What is the huge flat device to the left side of the locomotive?

[@railfanmicahturner]

Can you specify a little more? I’ll do my best to answer 🙂

[@rayisland23]

Slow down the subtitles!

[@railfanmicahturner]

It’s a suggestion I am most definitely working into future videos 🙂

[@donwarren52]

please leave the captioning on longer, why can't you talk and explain what is going on

[@mikemacheese7174]

Good video but you do not show the actual loading!

[@railfanmicahturner]

On this particular day we didn’t get the chance, but there are other videos on my channel that show the process here!

[@mikemacheese7174]

@@railfanmicahturnerOk I will check them out. Thanks

[@donnowakowski4224]

Not enough time to read the writing on screen

[@charleswalsh9895]

And may be history if left wing gets its way