Spencer, Rowan and Asheville (SR&A)

[David Collins]

The Spencer, Rowan and Asheville (or SR&A) is a shortline based out of Spencer, NC that utilizes the former NS S-line out of Spencer, NC.

While this shortline may seem obscure, it actually serves a very important purpose. They interchange with Norfolk Southern at Linwood Yard and brings cars to Asheville or industries along the way. Asheville used to be a big market for NS, but now after the sale of the S line, the SR&A has the city covered with cars originating out of Linwood and running to points along the line.

The SR&A’s roster consists of 8 locomotives,

SRA C40-8W 8401 (nee NS 8401 nee conrail ??)
SRA C40-8W 8402 (nee NS 8371 nee conrail ??)
SRA SD60 6001 (nee NS 6677)
SRA SD60 6002 (nee NS 6704 nee conrail ??)
SRA GP40-2W 4001 (nee CN 9404)
SRA GP40-2W 4002 (nee CN 9401)
SRA P32-8BWH 100 (nee Amtrak 517)
SRA P32-8BWH 101 (nee Amtrak 516)

You may have noticed a pair of former Amtrak P32-8BWH’s on the roster, these units play double duty. They run excursions to the old fort loops in the late summer/fall, and during the off season, they are used in local switching service on an ad-hoc basis.

The SR&A serves several industries along it’s route. Two paper mills, a grain elevator, two lumber transloading locations and a refinery (which makes most of the money for the railroad).

The SR&A mainline averages 4 trains per day between Spencer and Asheville.

ASHSPN (or as the railfans call it, the ashpan) carries general manifest cars out of Asheville from the Yadkin Valley railroad to Spencer.

The cars are either interchanged to the NS on train SPN2 (Spencer job 2, Spencer-Linwood turn) or end up on SPN1 (Spencer job 1, Spencer-Rowan-Spencer local) to be switched to their respective industries.

SPNASH (or the spanish) is the Spencer-Asheville general manifest.

Cars from that train either end up on ASH1 (Asheville job 1, Asheville-Old Fort-Asheville local) and are switched to their respective industries or end up on ASH2 (Asheville job 2, Asheville-Yadkin Valley RR interchange turn)

Normally the manifest trains top out at 40-60 cars and the locals are anywhere between 10-20.

Customer info coming soon…

[AARR]

I’m enjoying reading about your new short line. How many miles of track do they operate on?

[David Collins]

I’m enjoying reading about your new short line. How many miles of track do they operate on?

140 miles

[David Collins]

Coal traffic has returned to the former S-line, with that means new trains AND new locomotives!

These coal trains run empty on the SR&A from the interchanges with NS at Spencer and Asheville to the power plant at Belews Creek, and returns loaded to Asheville and Spencer.

E-SPNBCK is the empty haul from Spencer to Belews Creek.

C-BCKSPN is the loaded haul back to Spencer.

E-ASHBCK is the empty haul from Asheville to Belews Creek.

C-BCKASH is the loaded haul from Belews Creek to Asheville.

These trains come and go to/from the NS, so they can be very heavy at times. As a result, the SR&A had acquired some true heavy haul power.

4 former CSX CW46AC’s (fancy term for AC6000Cw conversion to 4,600 horsepower), which have been rebuilt to have a 5,850 horsepower GEVO16 engine in them. Alongside the AC traction motors and the close to 6,000 horsepower, these beasts have no problem hauling the loads out of Belews Creek to Spencer, they traverse some tough grades on the way there so some extra power is needed. These units are numbered 7000-7003.

4 former standard cab NS SD70’s, these units will soon be rebuilt to SD70ACC specifications (the new teardrop isolated cab used on NS’ ACC’s and the SD70ACe-T4), they’ll also have AC traction motors, and a modified 710 prime mover capable of 4,500 horsepower. Unlike the NS units though, these units will be ballasted to 432,000 pounds, which therefore leads to better tractive effort on hills. They’ll also be DPU capable and should be really good pullers with the AC traction motors. These units currently retain their original NS numbers (2570, 2573, 2577 and 2580) and will be renumbered) 4500-4503.

While the SD70’s are off for rebuild, the SR&A has taken a lease out on 4 CIT owned AC4400CW’s, these units may be old, but they are great performers. The SR&A, in fact, is possibly considering buying some of them off the lease as the Dash 8’s and SD60’s are starting to have reliability issues. If this comes to fruition, these units will likely have their technology and inner workings redone to become AC44C6M’s, however without the new cab that NS, CSX, CN and CP have done, as they are known to have vibration and noise issues. These units are CEFX 1042, CEFX 1036, CEFX 1041 and CEFX 1040.

The SR&A still has the GP40-2W’s and has no plans to get rid of them, a rebuild program is likely in the future for emissions standards.

The SR&A also picked up 4 former Union Pacific GP38N’s for local service, these units will supplement the GP40’s, these modified GP38’s have Remote Control capability and some other features. These units will be numbered 3800-3803.

The P32-8BWH’s are still earning their keep on the excursion trains during the spring, summer and fall months.

More to come soon!