How A Coal Train Is Loaded! An Inside Look At Norfolk Southern’s Wentz Loadout!

Hey guys! Back with a new video, and an exciting one! I bring you guys a closeup examination of how the hoppers on a coal train are loaded! A special thanks to the engineers and loadout operator, as well as my dad for the amazing opportunity and experience! Hope you all enjoy!

[@dalepeterson5609]

Please leave the captions up longer. Can't read that fast.

[@SebisRandomTech]

Awesome to see a caboose on the back of the train! It would be really neat to see that on the main line.

[@holleyrj]

Very cool video, thanks for sharing this 👍🏼

[@jimbuff777]

Great video but would be better if we could hear the actual sounds of loading vs. the continuous loop of an 80's porn movie credit track. lol. Nice video though!

[@nathanbelcher7755]

Great job Micah! Hopefully you can keep doing these. 105 cars in 3hrs and 20 minutes. You may be our rabbits foot.

[@gusshadleythelunaticfromar7125]

That's a slick operation.

[@samanthahampton3060]

my father in law worked there for several years back in the 80's says he operated any piece of equipment they asked him to but he ran the miner and roof bolter the most often. he sits and tells stories to my children about those days in the mines. my husband still talks about the westmoreland dump train that loaded coal up past keokee and came back to wentz to unload itself and how his mom was almost ran over by that train because she walked on the tracks all the time. said ns put a locomotive on front and back of that train after that incident.

[@eugenetswong]

Samantha, thank you for sharing this great part of history.

[@TheKurtsPlaceChannel]

Very interesting. Thanks for posting this. Have a nice day now.

[@christopherrobinson3290]

So cool!! Thanks for this!

[@JohnnysTrainVideos]

Great video. Thanks for making and sharing.

[@garyrines8623]

I wonder how many of those trains I loaded? Front end loader operator, coal trucks.

[@tarabottogino]

The caboose man, she is a real beauty. A bit messy, but that`s ok, I`m down with that!

[@oggarage9388]

Thanks 🤩🤙🤩

[@Onebeforeall]

Really enjoyable videos, truly a modern marvel. Funky track, what the name of that song ?

[@randycampbell8892]

Hi Micah, the Coyote’s sent me, I’m a subscriber now for sure, Randy

[@railfanmicahturner]

They sure are great people, thank you for the sub!

[@19scamps92]

hey bud cool video! nice work. i would love to find the song, would you tell me the exact title? cheers

[@KYinMontana]

Very cool video! That is some ballsy drone video. I'd worry I'd lose it in one of the hoppers under thousands of pounds of coal. I do have to ask how did you get such an up close view of what I'd imagine is a pretty secure process?

[@railfanmicahturner]

My dad works with the company, and so I’ve befriended alot of the other employees, same case for Lynch 3. Much appreciated!

[@KYinMontana]

@@railfanmicahturner That is really cool! Thanks for sharing the videos.

[@eugenetswong]

@@railfanmicahturner I agree with KY. Thank you for sharing such an educational video. I expected the caboose to be much cleaner and pleasant inside.

[@rogersoler5644]

2 questions: Why is the tower with the conveyor belt so high? Why isn't the loading station closer to the source of the load and has to be served with such long conveyor belts?

[@user-wi6hg3zo7z]

do you have coal smooth device like press roller or screw

[@davep6977]

how far away is the mine? How does the coal get to the loader?

[@railfanmicahturner]

You can check out my production “Where The Coal Comes From” for a better example. Though it’s not the same mine, it gives a good idea of how it’s done 🙂

[@watchyMCFCwatchy]

Can I ask what is the purpose ofthe caboose?

[@railfanmicahturner]

They use it as a shoving platform, as there is no room for engines to run around the train. Because of that, they have to reverse from the yard all the way to the loadout with the conductor watching from the caboose

[@paulgibson5865]

How long have they had this loadout, No mantrip in this loadou! Spent many hours loading up there.

[@railfanmicahturner]

I think someone told me it was built in the late 2000s

[@paulgibson5865]

@@railfanmicahturner I retired after 31 years in 2007, the old loadout was just big enough to hold 3 people.

[@franklinbrooks9506]

“Chute.” No “S.”

[@hartmutlorentzen9659]

Better without music….

[@davesmith4032]

What does the train run on?

[@railfanmicahturner]

The NS Appalachia Division

[@joebidenbites1015]

I was wondering how the coal is loaded into the coal silo? I saw the long conveyor, but has is it loaded. I know trucks but it would be interesting to see how that did that also. Thanks enjoyed!

[@railfanmicahturner]

I’ll see what I can do to get something in those type of operations, thanks for the suggestion!

[@scotabot7826]

Looks to me like the engineer is having a hard time keeping the train steady during loadout!!

[@railfanmicahturner]

Good observation, the loadout at Wentz is very steep, I’ve heard in the terms of “steeper than a cows face.” Because of this, they usually tie the breaks down on the first 5 hoppers behind the engines to help with breaking. In this case they also have a caboose on the end. However, this step isn’t required whenever they use a DPU on occasion, which takes care of the reverse issue (as there isn’t an area to runaround) and the breaking. The crews I’ve spoken with all prefer the DPU method.

[@xero925]

As the load out progresses, the train gets heavier. Power changes will need to be made.

[@two6520]

Great video. Music sucks!