Golden Spike Driven on 12/31/2003!
CSXT Shenandoah Division crews have been busy since the
12/21/2003 Progress Report. A variety of projects
are either underway or completed, but the biggest news in this update is the
driving of the Golden Spike near the north
end of Covington! This event marks the completion of the installation of
mainline track from Wadesboro, N.C. to Connellsville, Pa. and Winchester, Va.
Track crews which had been working northward from Covington and southward
from the Connellsville/Winchester yard. Track joining the north end of Covington
with the mainline coming south was installed and the
Golden Spike driven at 1623 EST on 12/31/2003, resulting in a major
milepost in the construction of the Shenandoah
Division.
To review the timeline leading to this occasion: The first major work session
for this railroad was held on January 19, 2002, with the first benchwork
installed on March 2, 2002. Installation of track began on August 4, 2002, and
now less than 17 months later, the final segment of the CSXT mainline has been
laid. There is still much work to be done to get the railroad back into
operation, but management is very pleased with this achievement and timeline!
Signal Maintainers Continue Progress
While the track crews have been making visible progress, the signal
maintainers continue their work to activate the control systems of the
Shenandoah Division. Recent deliveries of Digitrax equipment have led to several
projects. A DB150 Booster and associated power supply have been installed. In
addition, a new PM42 power management module has been installed on its control
panel board, and it will be placed into service as soon as a companion BDL162
detection module is installed.
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