The P&WV Hi-Line

[jayrod]

Does anyone know when the Bell Branch was built and when it was later taken out by N&W?
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Eric Schlentner
Aka, jayrod

[PWVJer]

We do have a bunch of files & folders on the Bell Branch.
However all this info has been re-packed into the new Rubber-Maid
Storage Box's. At this point not sure which box contains all this info.

Some stuff I do recall...
Plans & Construction began in the WPT era, very early P&WV, exact Dates ???
Dates for P&WV operations ???
Do recall a Complete file from the N&W era 1982???
plans, car loads & operations for the re-opening and new
construction for the Bell branch to serve a new Strip-Mine -Operation.

Mine owners & investors did not want to pay-up-front re-build cost
the N&W requested. 75-100 loaded cars per week estimated.
This N&W/Mine Group deal never went thru...
We do have a large Archive pile of P&WV Work Train Reports April/May 1956/57'
Info in great detail of the Scotts Run Bridge fill-in-project, ROW re-hab.
This old Wood & Timber span was completely filled/covered with
100+ cars of granulated mill-slag. No more Locomotive & Car restrictions.
Lots of ROW & Mine /Tipple yard work in April/May/June 1956.

I'll start some searching, but might take some time......

[WM Historian]

While doing some nip-n-tuck and general surgery restoration on the battered P&WV blueprint/tracings for the "Hi-Line", I found some general information on the "Bell" Branch that may be of some use:

AFE's P-218 & W-218 were assigned for this work, Chief Engineers file: AFE's 187-a, 187-b, 187-c.

Named for John A Bell (property owned) to access his coal lands. A $100,000 deposit to the railroad to start construction.

Work Started: November 1920

Work Completed: July 1, 1922


David J. Dudjak

[jayrod]

Thanks, David. That helps a lot. The branch was in operation, I think, into at least the early '70s. Since my cutoff is 1964, I don't really need the date when removed. This is all for the mapping project.
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Eric Schlentner
Aka, jayrod

[Rich_S]

Jayrod, I was thinking the coal loaded on the Bell Branch was taken to the Prep Plant in Avella, is this correct?
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Regards,
Rich S.

[jayrod]

I bet JZ could answer that question. I'm figuring out where things were geographically, not where traffic went. If I were to guess, I'd say there was a good chance it went to Acme.
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Eric Schlentner
Aka, jayrod