PART 2: Rebuilding the Clinchfield Railroad ~ BIG TOYS

[@PilarG10]

Another incredible capture of real time history. Music fitting as well and much needed break from the heaviness.

[@designsinorbit]

I couldn't possibly agree more about the break from the heaviness/music. Thank you for those kind words.

[@Beckartwork2023]

I’m still amazed and cannot wrap my mind around the changes in the landscape. Small creeks are now rivers. The amount of rocks that have been displaced is phenomenal. Truly blow’s my mind.

[@designsinorbit]

Being there in person takes your brain and turns it to pudding.

[@Beckartwork2023]

@@designsinorbit I can’t even imagine. I’ve been holding back going. I’m hoping I can visit after it calms down and spend my tourist cash. I’m not expecting to make any impact but I do want to help somehow. 🙏

[@RetiredAiredale]

Thank you for the footage….the tremendous amount of work to restore the infrastructure and the lives of the families in the destruction path is mind blowing. Looking forward to future videos.

[@designsinorbit]

You're very welcome.

[@Maine_Railfan]

RJ Corman doesn't mess around, they work 24/7 until the railroad is reopened. I am willing to wager this will be their biggest project to date. They have an ungodly amount of equipment and supplies when responding to a disaster like this. On top of equipment and transport trucks, they have their own supply chain of fuel and service trucks. They also have mobile command centers and temporary VHF radio networks as well as camp and dining trailers for the workers.

[@Greatdome99]

CSX not Corman. This is the Clinchfield RR

[@Maine_Railfan]

@ RJ Corman is doing the repair work, like I stated. The railroad is owned by CSX, Corman does most of their storm repair work.

[@rearspeaker6364]

@@Maine_Railfan It's safe so say they are not alone in this.

[@Benson_aka_devils_advocate_88]

Any idea if they'll need to drill and blast a new ledge for the RR to sit on? I can't see them just using boulders and backfill to bring it up to grade. Especially being right on the river bank.

[@Maine_Railfan]

@ I think for now they are just using shot rock to build up the roadbed. Eventually I can see concrete retaining walls built, that are anchored into bedrock and the tracks being raised in spots to prevent future damage.

[@Starsnu1]

That is amazing how much they have accomplished. Thank you for sharing this great work with us.

[@designsinorbit]

You're welcome!

[@mariorestifo7211]

This video must have taken quite a while to make. Very well done designs in orbit!

[@designsinorbit]

1 day of acquiring several hours of footage, 2 days to get all that video down to 15 minutes!

[@cherylhaugen1897]

Thank you all for the amazing work you have done and are doing!! Super special and I’m sure it is very much appreciated! 💗💗

[@davidmiller6010]

Every video is getting better than the last. Liking the upbeat music, it lends an upbeat feeling of triumph and a positive way out of this catastrophe.

[@palmersinfla1]

Let’s all subscribe for this fella that has worked hard to bring us these interesting and informative content.

[@HiwasseeRiver]

I just did - his work is top notch!

[@designsinorbit]

Thanks so much. Appreciate that!

[@grahamlindsay1263]

I like the little Tonka toys with the drill bits. That makes me laugh so hard. Reminds me of how many bits operators went through trying to build this house across the street in an Asheville neighborhood.

[@colefd]

American engineering will prevail, Hooah! Great piece of video work, thanks!

[@esterhurst9988]

Wow how amazing this is and the music is very calming to here and watch, great jobs everyone 😀 👍 and many prayers 🙏 for all of you guys and for the people that live there.MAY GOD BLESS ALL OF YOU 🙏🙏🙏🙏😊😊😊

[@Carolb66]

Amazing video & update the workers have achieved alot! It's a mammoth undertaking getting this railroad back to what it was. ❤👍

[@garylatture8948]

Enjoyed your KZbin 😅 especially at 1:48 with the dump truck being able to rotate 360 degrees

[@larryc8568]

Amazing, impressive work. But, the drill operator at 5:20--no respirator, no ear protection. His t-shirt won't do anything.

[@winmarfbd909]

Thanks for another great video, and I really appreciate the music! Sort of upbeat, and hopeful feeling. Nice. ❤️🇺🇸

[@walterfarley9230]

I like to ride around over there . Or did. Always eat at bonnie and Clydes.

[@carriegarrisonvos4433]

And so the transformation and rebuilding of the railroad begins!! In the process they are fixing the river a bit too it seems. I've never seen so much rock and debris as on all the rivers and creeks in WNC. Some are down to the bedrock and some are so full of what was upstream they are just totally rearranged. It will take time to get it done. I look forward to watching the change!

[@ericfielding2540]

Thanks for documenting the cleanup and reconstruction process. It looks like CSX is putting significant resources into getting the railroad rebuilt quickly, but they have a lot of work to do.

[@designsinorbit]

@@ericfielding2540 SO much work.

[@tomt9543]

You continue to amaze me with your production skills! The crawler tracked dump trucks (I think they call them Morooka buggies) are a huge asset in situations like this! I had no idea they were turntable mounted! A definite game changer! I’m super interested to see if they repair and reuse those bridge spans, and how they get the spans from far down the river back to the bridge site! I’m curious if you’ve run into any “static” while filming these documentaries? Many many thanks for your drone skills, taking your time to venture to this remote location, and producing these videos - a record for posterity of the intense power of Helene, and the massive recovery to return this area to “normal “! Well done Sir!

[@designsinorbit]

@@tomt9543 Thanks so much for the info and kind words. No static yet......

[@cliffdickinson7091]

Excellent camera work. Love your choice of music. Keep them coming!

[@designsinorbit]

So glad you liked the music choice, I agree!

[@rogerfurneaux1529]

The guy operating the stone-breaker should surely have been wearing a dust mask - he is going to be breathing in one hell of a lot of fine particles. not as bad as asbestos, but even so....in a lot of places the track bed does not seem all that higher than present water level and when the next flood comes, as it surely will, the track will get destroyed again.

[@TonyAmbrose-f3r]

Get this man more subs!

[@coalminersdaughter]

Thx for the video. I live in the coalfields where the Clinchfield Santa Train runs and I know that the terrain here is the same as there-challenging and rough.

[@bel250]

I was wondering what causes the water to turn green? Also those heavy equipments is that from DOT or from the railroad company. Never been to WNC so I was wondering about that railroad track so close to the river, is that for miners or for regular freight train... Someday when WNC is ready for tourists again, I will try to make it there. Thanks for sharing this video. New subscriber here..

[@designsinorbit]

@@bel250 Thanks for subscribing...I know that Spruce Pine and Burnsville had to divert their sewer systems to the Toe and Cane Rivers. I'm not sure if that is still causing the water's color. Sure seems like it. Here is some fun info regarding the tracks... www.clinchfield.org/clinchfield-railroad/history-of-the-clinchfield-railroad/

[@bel250]

@@designsinorbit Good reading, thanks! Looking forward you going back there when all these infrastructures are fixed. God Bless these NCDOT workers and bridge engineers...

[@carlbruhn1772]

What a contrast to the last video. Well Done. Well Done. You are a rarity. Creating emotional content with drone footage is not an easy endeavor.

[@designsinorbit]

Those are kind words, thank you.

[@TL64329]

Good video- massive amount of work still to be done but I will follow along. I like the tracked dump truck, but it looks like a very small payload. 👍

[@designsinorbit]

@@TL64329 Yeah and it doesn't have a tailgate of any sort either. Very odd.

[@NotsoFree_StateofFlorida]

The river is trying to tell us it owns that land. It will take it back again.

[@billstill1794]

I say give it up and try or use another route - this WILL happen again! Time to cut your losses! A huge waste of money to try to repair that area.

[@CherylHughes-s9j]

I m glad u don’t own CSX.

[@dknowles60]

@@billstill1794 to do that the CSX would need to double track the Old ACL

[@dougeing6521]

Why not bring in and set up a few concrete/stone crushing operations! Recycle what is laying on the ground. I’m surprised that some logging operations aren’t removing the marketable timber.

[@CjbrkBrooks]

What did they do with all the dead trees?

[@zacharyrhinelander5055]

Yo this is some old-school American style roll up the shirtsleeves and get it done like it actually matters that it gets done type stuff. Honestly it's a sight for sore eyes. CSX+USA=⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[@blueriomedina1209]

Are they rebuilding along the same path the railroad was originally, or higher up? I guess they are counting on not having another catastrophic flood again in the next 10, 100, 500 years. I just wonder what kind of thinking planning goes into this kind of rebuilding.

[@designsinorbit]

@@blueriomedina1209 I wish I knew. It's all up for interpretation through future videos.

[@creekwv]

They are putting it right back where it was. And they are saving themselves money by mining on public and private land, without permits or any real oversight. Zero concern for impact. So far one truck driver dead, two other workers crushed and flown out.

[@dknowles60]

money

[@dknowles60]

the next time there is a big flood the CSX will not rebuild, in the next 10 years the CXS will re double track the ACL and Up grade the Seaboard

[@Maine_Railfan]

Every day the railroad is closed they are loosing money. Right now the goal is to get it back in service ASAP, over time they will assess areas that need improvement to prevent future damage.

[@sandraryan2256]

Please tell everyone to send more help to all the Hurricanes victims 🙏 NEED BOOTS ON THE GROUND PLEASE 🙏 Still

[@leewest8159]

Are they recovering all the bodies of those people who lost their lives before they go building over their bodies?

[@seanstiles2400]

I know this is a strange question but twenty years ago I painted Sean ❤️s Angie on that bridge I hope you guys can put it back up. Thanks for the video and all of your hard work.

[@seanstiles2400]

If you can get a shot of that in the bridge I would really appreciate it.❤️

[@arlingtontrains7]

Roll On Clinchfield! ❤️ great progress going on, what date did the last train use these tracks? Curious to know how many days in between till the next train rolls through ( obviously after all is fixed )

[@designsinorbit]

@@arlingtontrains7 It was right around September 24th, 2024 that I heard the last train.

[@arlingtontrains7]

@@designsinorbit thank you very much, now to wait and see how long it takes for the line to be complete

[@dawilliamstn]

I'm surprised OSHA doesn't clamp down on regulations to cover the health of these drill operators. That rock dust has to be killer on their lungs. I bet that operator has inhaled enough dust in his life to choke a horse.

[@dknowles60]

it OSHA was there it would take 10 years to get a 1 year job done

[@stevenbrowningsr1144]

Pretty typical big business operation with lots of big, expensive equipment sitting around doing nothing. Pictures of one or two people actually working (with questionable safety equipment).

[@haroldthomas1077]

It's disrespectful and irresponsible what CSX is doing to the Nolichucky river to rebuild their track. Stealing natural boulders from the middle of the river and dumping debris into it. I understand that this railroad is critical infrastructure that needs to be rebuilt, but there is a right way to do it and a wrong way.

[@RM-od6hg]

Am I the only one seeing a problem with the rebuilding? Its much too close to the water, this could happen again so why not build futher away from the edge of the water then you might not have issues like this, building things so close to the water seems like is just asking for trouble when major storms with lots of rain come through

[@Greatdome99]

There is no alternative-note how steep the canyon walls are. The flooded Southern route into Asheville fared much better, since they had put stone walls between the river and the tracks.

[@robertblackwelder8201]

What is title of opening piano music

[@designsinorbit]

@@robertblackwelder8201 Slivers Rag 1909 by Harry Cook

[@nononsenseBennett]

Makes sense to repair the rail but who's paying for it? Has FEMA funded it? Has the national guard assisted?

[@designsinorbit]

@@nononsenseBennett 🤔 No one but CSX should be working on or funding CSX's railroad.

[@midatlanticchannel5158]

CSX constantly rebuilds track its part of the railroad business. It wears just like the train does. But there may be subsidies since it was a disaster to help the communities and businesses it serves, makes sense.

[@Greatdome99]

CSX and its insurance companies.

[@fluffymittens24]

So everyone thinking this is a once in a life time event?

[@kensmith8832]

You can tell when the excavator operator is working on union time, they don't have efficiency on the mind.

[@AKPakrat]

I gotta great idea!!! Lets spend a billion dollars rebuilding a railroad in a flood prone canyon that will wash away again!!!! Whos with them???

[@CurtisThomas-q7s]

What you don’t realize is that railroad carries out quartz from silbelco and quartz corp … billions of dollars worth a year… at 50/60k a barrel one trainload is worth more money … than everyone you know or met has made in there life time … quartz corp made 564 billion last year …

[@markvoluckas4571]

Railroads are not like highways, they need to follow the terrain to avoid steep grades. This line has been here 120 years so I would not say this destruction is a regular occurrence