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As described in this video,   • [4K60] Four AVR SD60Ms Hauling Coal o...  , starting in early 2022, the Homer City Generating Station began receiving coal from the Nelms 2 mine in West Virginia. In February 2023, Homer City announced that it was ending coal-fired operations, citing several factors. Consequently, this late January 2023 move would prove to be the last of the AVR coal trains. I took time off from work and drove up from Washington, DC, at night. When I stopped by the interchange to make sure the train had arrived, I happened upon WE delivering the consist, featuring the GP35 - SD40 trio that these trains tended to use. The following morning, myself, @NS5350 and @ConwayProductions would chase the run from Bruceton to Mars, PA. I had to get back to work, but they would record the light power returning to Pittsburgh.

These trains originated on the Wheeling & Lake Erie, were interchanged to the AVR, and then handed off to the Buffalo & Pittsburgh for final delivery. The AVR portion of the routing was the only portion that consistently ran in daylight, and was also the closest to my house. Besides the all-shortline routing, I was obsessed with the AVR runs because they often required helpers, and because they were the only trains to use the Pittsburgh & Western subdivision in daylight. The six AVR SD60Ms remain in service, and are actually the primary power on most AVR trains these days, save one rotating four-axle power set (the GP59s or 4001/4002 GP40-3s) and the yard switcher power. Consequently, more than half of the GP11 fleet was retired, and several previously used GP40-3s and SD40Ms were stored or sent to another railroad, respectively.

(0:00) Intro

(0:15) W&LE delivers the train at Bruceton. Consist: GP35 100, SD40-2s 6989, 3048, 6354

(2:41) AVR-E running light to Bruceton. Consist: SD60Ms 6002, 6003, 6004

(4:11) AVR-E coupling to their train

(6:09) Departing Bruceton - Run 8 action!

(12:31) Streets Run

(13:10) Glenwood Yard

(13:44) Departing Glenwood - Added GP59 4551

(14:53) Crossing the 33rd Street Bridge

(17:49) Etna Tunnel

(18:55) Bakerstown Grade

(19:52) Valencia, Downieville Rd.

(21:46) Light power south at Mars

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Oh my goodness, Dan!!  You were in my old stomping grounds!!  I grew up on the top of the hill north of Valencia!  I saw so many blue B&O F-units pulling freights in the '60s and early '70s before they changed to Chessie geeps, SD's, I don't even know what models they were running.  Double tracks then.  I know the tracks from Etna through Mars and on to Evans City so well.

I don't have time to watch now, but I will later today, and will write again!!

Dan, excellent job following that coal train.  Having worked in power stations in my earlier years, I am sad to see these stations close.  However, time marches on.

Yes indeed, I recognized all the locations from Etna to the end of the video.  Did you spend any time looking around the restored Mars station.  The Historical Society did a really nice job on it, the Short Line waiting shelter, and the B&O caboose!!!

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