CSX maintains two continuous welded rail plants online. The Ashland plant was part of the tour during the 2001 C&O Historical Society annual convention. The plant makes 1500 foot lengths of welded rail from 80 foot lenghts. The day we were there, they building 142 lb rail for use in the coal fields.

Click on eachimage to see it in full size.

We were met at the yard office by the plant foreman and his assistant. After a comprehensive safety lecture, we began our tour of the plant.

The plant consists of a series of old box cars and other structures which are put together in a long assembly line fashion. The plant has two assembly lines for rail. The first step in the process is to bring the rail from the loading area using the large overhead crane pictured below.

Next, the crane operator starts each individual of rail along the assembly line. The assembly line consists of a long string of old boxcars retired from service a long time ago ..

 

 

The plant is a virtual old freight car museum. There are several rare C&O box cars on the property. My friend Mike Shylanski is a freight car fanatic. There is no other way to describe him. He was particularly smitten by the cars depicted below.