American Coal Destined for the World: The Newport News Coal Piers in Action
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- Опубликовано: 28 сен 2024
- In this video, we take a look at the Dominion and Kinder Morgan coal terminals in Newport News.
We'll follow as the coal is dumped, stored at the facility and then sent to cargo ships bound for the other side of the world.
**Time stamps**
Two Ships in Port: 0:53
How the Coal is Unloaded: 1:14
Inside Look at the Rotary Dumper: 1:46
Coal Comes Out of the Ground: 3:08
How the Coal Gets to a Ship: 4:47
A Look at the Unloader: 5:33
The Next Day: 7:32
Coal Being Loaded: 7:56
The Conveyor Belt System: 9:57
Dominion Terminal Loader: 12:20
GE 110 Switchers: 16:39
Dominion Terminal Coal Storage: 18:08
Kinder Morgan Ship Unloaders: 19:04
More Locomotives: 20:09
M/V Cape Wrath: 20:21
This video shows some of my other coal videos:
• Loading a Coal Train o...
This video shows the coal facility in the early 1980s as it was being upgraded:
• WAVY Archive: 1982 New...
This video shows how the Stacker-Reclaimers work:
• Stacker-Reclaimers | E... .
This video shot by RUclipsr RavannaRailfan shows a coal train on its way to Newport News:
• Chasing a Coal Train f...
908 is actually an SW8m. Built for the Lehigh Valley, it was modified (m) by Conrail, when they removed its dynamic brakes. Hence why the rear of the hood is square instead of tapered, and has a patch on top.
Thanks for the great info.
Out of curiosity, any idea why they would remove the dynamic brakes?
Crazy at 4:30, i can see downtown Portsmouth and ghent area of Norfolk. I can see the Jordan bridge as well.
Lots of Military Carriers down in those parts but I’ve heard it’s a Nice Area to Vacation. Scary part is 2-mile Under- water Vehicle Tunnel because of Ships.
The tunnels in the rivers are pretty crazy!
Luckily, the few times I've driven through them, there hasn't been much traffic.
I could imagine it would be quite scary to be stuck in one due to a wreck or something.
Hi! Awesome video! I’ve never seen a coal pier in action before
Where I live out here in Southwest Pennsylvania there’s a lot of coal being transported by both NS and CSX
I figure it’s either headed to Norfolk or Baltimore
Thanks for sharing this with us!!
Thank you very much.
I'm glad to hear you enjoyed the video.
I'm hoping to make a trip to SW PA and catch a train being loaded at one of the mines.
As always, a very informal, interesting, and overall enjoyable video! No doubt some of those CSX Hoppers have passed thru the New River Gorge! Keep Up the Great Work Man! 👍
Thank you for another fascinating and educational video!
Thank you so much.
I'm very glad to hear you enjoyed the video.
I should have 2 new ones out within the next week or so.
I filmed them in Cleveland, Ohio and will show a ship being loaded, unloaded and navigating the Cuyahoga River.
Hi there. You're asking why there are no lights on the chute to guide the shiploader operator: I am working in a small stone mine in germany and our loader operators are not allowed to decide where to load the cargo onto a ship. Weight distribution decisions are stricly the ship captains responsibility. skippers here tend to do some adventureous looking moves and you really don't want to be the reason for a vessel to sink, so they are glad to just drop it, where the skipper tells them to. This may be an explanation?!? BTW, I am just talking about 3.500 to 4.000 ton river vessels, but physics stay the same, even when upscaled 🙂 Love your vids!
Greetings from the United States.
Thank you very much for the great information.
I really do appreciate it.
And thank you, I'm glad you enjoy the videos.
Ocean going ships can operate in the great lakes, but are limited by the size of the locks to get to the lakes. Typically Lakers will bring cargo out of the lakes, and discharge it into terminals that can then load larger oceangoing vessels.
Ships like the santander might have loaded in another port where they were restricted by draft, then arrived in newport news to top up the load.
Thanks for the great info!
I really appreciate it.
I was curious to read in a few places that ships would partially load in Newport News/Lamberts Point and then head to the other facility and finish loading.
Any reason why a ship might load at both facilities?
Hit the company up and see if you can get a guided tour through the facility. They might surprise you and be accomodating.
I tried a few times for previous videos, but no one has said yes, so I quit asking.
I think it's a combination of they don't want the risk of some random RUclipsr on their property and they don't understand the videos I make.
I don't think the companies think these operations are interesting and that people enjoy seeing how these mega facilities work.
Worked for CSX in the middle 1980's implementing a computerized coal tracking and billing system for the then existing C&O Newport News Coal Pier. That point in time was a period of increased coal exports, with that being the case Dominion Terminal Associates began construction of their facility. From your description I would expect the Kinder-Morgan has bought the former C&O/CSX pier and some property and built out their facility. Export coal is still big business.
I believe Kinder Morgan owns the pier and Dominion owns the adjacent one.
That had to be pretty neat to work on that system.
you can call them stacker-reclaimers if you want, but i'll be over here singing the bagger 288 song like it's still 2009
Yes, the "H" on the middle hatch is a helicopter landing pad. Can be used in case of a medical emergency. US Coast Guard usually just hovers and drops the basket from what I've seen, I guess their birds are too heavy.
Thank you.
I figured it was likely for emergency or supply situations.
Do you know if they are making provision for rising ocean levels?
I'm not sure.
I guess they could build a retaining wall to try and hold back the water, but I don't know how effective that would be.
The facility is only a few feet above the current water level from the looks of it.
It would be interesting to know where these ships were taking the coal.
The Cymona Energy stayed in the Norfolk area for a few weeks before heading off to Brazil.
It should arrive tomorrow.
The Laurence Francoise also left for Brazil.
It's now on its way to Canada.
The Maran Horizon left for India and is scheduled to arrive June 17.
@@nkyrailfan Thank you
Next up. How do they get the coal out of the ships.
I'd love to catch a ship unloading but I don't know of any ports in the U.S. where this type of cargo is unloaded.
If you know of anywhere, please do let me know.
The big difference between these ocean going ships and the great lakes ships is that most of the great lakes ships that handle coal are self unloading.
Thank you.
I wonder if that's a case of wanting to maximize cargo space or if the self unloaders make the ship slightly less structurally stable.
Do you as a railfan ever get people out in public saying stuff like "hey, you can't film here" or "can I help you, why are you filming?". I am curious if you have similar experience as 1A auditors do.
Not really.
I wear a bright yellow vest while flying, and usually I'm not over anyone's residential property.
I've had railroad crews alert other workers I'm flying but so far no one has confronted me.
However in my day job where I fly more in cities and over homes, I have had some nasty people tell me I can't fly there.
I usually tell them the FAA says I can fly wherever I want, and tell them I'm happy to go over the rules with them and show them what the airspace in flying in is. That's settled everyone I've dealt with down so far, and I've been able to finish getting what I need.
I know it's only a matter of time before someone gets pissed and won't back down though.
And I've seen those audit videos.
It's crazy how some folks act, especially knowing they're on camera.
❤
*You're documenting history, my friend. Coal is on it's way OUT.*
It may have run into temporary issues in the U.S. but Coal is still King in many different parts of the World since they’re Not concerned about the Environment at all. 🤔👎
@@kens.3729 *You're in denial. Twenty years from now, people will look at this video in disgust, shameful at what humans have done to this planet.*
@@dannythurston8578 *The rest of the world will catch up. They'll have to. Coal is not sustainable.*
yeah that's not a helipad just a company logo! if you look at the hatch on the second one you'll see a block structure right on the hatch opening and a helipad would NEVER have that there! too much risk a chopper hitting it and hatches are notorious for be failure points in sinking's due to being weak so i don't think the company would risk the weight landing there! she's an ocean boat her bridge is at the stern a laker has it at the bow now if she can fit through the locks on the St Larwance seaway (i think they're 750 foot keel length limit locks!!) she could enter the lakes!! that spray house is probably applying a dust control agent or a spontaneous combustion inhibitor! coal has a nasty habit of self ignition! you know if you're looking for a subject to look into these trash trains coming in from new york to Columbus area landfills (and points west!!) might be a good one!!
Thanks for the great information!
I do appreciate it.
I'll definitely look into the trash trains.
Thanks for the great video. The scale of these two operations, amount of coal they can store and process, is incredible. Loved the shots and explanation of the loaders. They are such an amazing piece of engineering.
Thank you very much.
I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Even in person, it's hard to understand just how big these facilities are.
I’m sure that’s a working Helipad in case Crew Members have a Medical Emergency while in U.S. Waters with the Help of the U.S. Coast Guard. 🇺🇸👍
Someone else commented that's exactly what it is.
They're there for any emergency that may arise on the ship and need immediate attention.
Although, if they are out in the middle of the ocean, I'm not sure how much good it would do them.
Helicopter Pad for various uses including transfer of pilots if too rough to transfer the pilot by boat. Ocean going ships on the Great Lakes may be limited in size by the Weland Canal. Canadian Great Lakes ships (boats) tend to be smaller than US boats because Canandian ships have to transit the Weland Canal to their discharge ports. Note Ocean Going ships don't have the self-unloader booms like that on the Great Lakes. Great Lakes ships have small booms fore and aft to put ashore crew members to act as line handlers. Stern anchors at the ready to anchor along a shore that may not have docking facilities. Here they just run out their boom and discharge to the "beach". Rubbing strakes or battens welded to the hull to act as bumpers at the Soo Locks. May not have IMO numbers on the hull. Ocean going ships usually have facilities for a Suez Canal light on each bridge wing and life ring/smoke canister/light also on each bridge wing that is released by pulling a pin. Many Great Lakes ships don't even have bridge wings.
Thanks for all the great information, Jerry!
I really do appreciate it.
Nice I've only seen the yard by the interstate or my 14th floor view from my old apartment downtown, Thanos for sharing! Also like how you can be in Newport news and literaly see Hampton, Norfolk and Portsmouth all in the same shot
I'm glad to hear you enjoyed it.
I wish I got to spend some more time in the area.
I've only been a couple of times but it is such a cool area that I'd love to explore more.
I'm going to miss these videos when they ban the DJI drones. If I were you I'd start learning how to build and program your own cine lifter they can't control.
It's interesting, I think there's about a 50/50 shot of them getting banned.
If they are, I definitely think it will go all the way to the supreme Court as to whether the Congress has the power to do so.
I think it'll end up in the same realm as a ban on the social media platform Tik Tok.
If they are banned, I don't know what I will do.
There are no other drones nearly as capable as what DJI produces.
There a lot of that Black Gold from the Coal Fields of West Virginia!! My homeplace!!
I've a lot of great memories of Newport News, Williamsburg, Buchrow Beach and Norfolk areas. As a young Boy Scout, we rode Amtrak from Cattletsburg, Kentucky to Newport News. No Amtrak available at our home of Saint Albans, West Virginia.
Absolutely Awesome video!👍😃
Thank you very much.
I'm glad you enjoyed it.
If anyone has questions comment then I will answer. My name isn’t on this account so I do not mind. Also the unload pier has served 1 barge and that was within the past 3 or 4 years. The other building in the conveyor belt after it comes from underground is a sampler. They are 3rd party and ensure the port is blending properly and that the customer is getting what they paid for.
Thanks for the great info and offering to answer any questions.
@@nkyrailfan I’m glad I was able to help! If your ever down this way again you have my email and can feel free to reach out. We have many interesting rail and ship oddities and operations in Hampton Roads. Pier IX when originally built was the first coal pier in this hemisphere. It’s an amazing area with rich history it’s just hard to get permission to fly and film a lot of places around here due to the MASSIVE military presence. They just opened a massive windmill terminal at the old container port in Portsmouth on top of the other things we do. Has been cool seeing them coming in getting staged, blades going by on rail cars and such.
@grizh4583 I'll definitely reach out if I'm able to make it back to the area.
Thanks again for all your help.
You have brought me into a whole new world I never knew existed! Absolutely fantastic, unbelievable, I can't find the words to describe the pleasure, enjoyment and excitement of your videos. I can't thank you enough. WOW!
Thank you so much, Paul.
I'm very glad to hear you enjoyed the video.
Wow beautiful town great video thank you for sharing
Very interesting video and thank you for sharing. Have a wonderful rest of your Tuesday.(Steve)
I hope you enjoyed it, Steve.
Have a great day as well.
@@nkyrailfan Yes indeed enjoyed and thank you very much also.
Your Videos are Off the Charts Solid and the Detailed Info is like NO Other. It’s very Obvious you do your Homework so please keep up the Strong 💪 Efforts. Thx! 👍🙏
Thank you so much.
I really do appreciate it.
It really does make me happy hearing you enjoy the effort I put into them.