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Welcome to |
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Laurel Valley |
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Welcome to |
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Laurel Valley |
| Laurel Valley, Pennsylvania is a coal mining community located 20 miles west of Nickel City. The main industry is theLaurel Valley Coal Company. The Company | |
| supplies coal to customers in Nickel City and Emporium, Pennsylvania. NCL | |
| trains 401 and 402 normally handle the movement of coal from this mine. These | |
| trains operate in the early morning hours so as not to obstruct the mainline during peak travel periods. | |
| The Gorge at Laurel Valley is one of the best sites for railfan photography. Below is a compilation of photos taken by several railfans on one summer day. (Click on any picture for a larger version) | |
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Railfans are in for a treat today. A Norfolk Southern fast freight is making a rare appearance on the NCL. Norfolk Southern has trackage rights but only uses them at peak periods. |
| Another railfan has captured the action on the same NS train on the steel girder bridge. |
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This railfan took an even gutsier move (not endorsed by the NCL management) and waited just inside the tunnel for the same NS train! |
| This railfan captured an NCL coal train negotiating the gorge after leaving a mountain tunnel. |
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Another railfan captured the same shot from above the gorge. |
| Finally, this railfan was at the other end of the gorge and captured the NCL coal drag leaving the mountain tunnel. |
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Besides train watching, the Gorge offers some of the best fishing spots around. These two folks get the best of both worlds.....good fishing and great train watching! |
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Laurel Valley Coal Company is one of the larger private mines along the NCL mainline. LV Coal supplies Nickel City Power Company with a majority of the coal that industry requires. |
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LV Switcher 1478 manuvers several loaded hoppers to a siding during a regular day's routine. |
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Down the road from Laurel Valley is Mills River. Mills River Grain & Feed caters to many of the area farmers. Today Jim Andrews has backed his pickup to the loading dock for some feed. Don't be in a hurry 'cause Eddie McCartney is sitting at the dock and he has plenty to talk about. |
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Here's another view of Mills River Grain & Feed. The owner's old Ford cab over still sits in the garage waiting for that expensive part to get her back on the road again. |
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The local has arrived at Mills River in time to take out that empty box car on the siding. The next delivery is expected in about a month. |
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Despite the MOW departments best efforts, Tunnel 18 has been struck again by the local artists. |
