Creech, an Agonizing Wait, and a stellar result. After chasing C633 out to Loyall we heard them get an EC-1 to operate up to Creech on the former L&N Merna spur just south of Harlan, Kentucky, in Coalgood, Kentucky. At first, it seemed like we surely would get them, but then we heard them setting brakes down at the siding below... We thought they were tying it up for a moment. Then we heard them giving switch times between themselves, and realized they were indeed shoving up the branch... With only 20 minutes of or so on duty time left they were cutting it extremely close to clear the shot we wanted... Finally, after Conductor Al Sergent doubled his cut over they shoved back 20 cars and ran out of time... We got all the shots we wanted! Hilariously enough a relief crew showed up moments after to relieve them so we would have got the shots anyway. Creech was operated by the Mary Helen Coal corporation until the early 1990's... The shot is made complete by the 1920s' era company store that dominates the landscape while the train shoves north. The name Mary Helen Coal Corporation is clearly emblazoned on the store. It appears to be falling in on itself though so no one knows how long this structure will actually keep standing in halfway decent shape. JRL coal now operates the loadout that cements the scene together... The stacker was absolutely plugging coal out for the train at a rapid pace. We met conductor Al Sergent after he de-trained and talked for quite a bit about the railroad in the area. Al works this mine when CSX Gets slow out of the Loyall area. This is the coolest scene on the entire Cumberland Valley Sub region of CSX. All of the pieces are here for a classic coal country scene. This train was loading to become T810-10 for Gainsville, Florida's, Deerhaven powerplant. It would arrive four days later... Thanks for looking! As far as this trip goes I still have the entire eastern CV to upload as well as a stellar time spent at Lynch mine exploring the abandoned plant up there...! Stay tuned!
