May 6, 2020 – Something you just don’t see everyday is a CSX locomotive dragging 1/4 mile lengths of ribbon rail through the countryside, but that’s what this picture shows!
I got a call from good friend Keith Kittinger that CSX was moving rail from Providence to Madisonville, Ky on the Morganfield Branch by hooking it to CSXT 6926 by chain and dragging it between the rails with CSX crews flagging every crossing and others following behind the operation via high-rail vehicles.
The rail was placed over a year ago with plans to replace the curves along the branch, but when Dotki mine closed down (only thing serviced between Madisonville and Providence) the work was never completed.
Now, CSXT plans to start storing empty autoracks and intermodal flats along the line and so crews spent time moving the rail back toward the PeeVee Spur in Madisonville where it can be accessed when needed by the railroad.