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Hank Stephens's Collection
 
4/29/2024
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Viewing Album:  PineBelt Southern RR (PBSR)
 
By:Hank Stephens
Dates:1/1/2001 - 1/1/2008
Album Info:The PineBelt Southern consisted of two disconnected branches of the former CofGa in Alabama. The busiest branch ran from the NS-CSX diamond in Opelika, AL up CSX trackage rights to Roanoke Jct north of town. The branch then peeled off and headed about 20 miles north to the town of LaFayette, AL. Traffic was woodchip loads from a sawmill and pulpwood from a woodyard. A single unit, a former NS B23-7 in full NS paint worked from Lafayette at the sawmill to and from the NS Opelika interchange with the NS (former CofGA P-Line). The second line ran from a backwoods junction with the NS at Nuchols to just west of Hursboro, all that was left of the former CofGA Union Springs-Troy-Montgomery cluster. The second branch was part of a larger branch that came out of Columbus, GA on its way to the Mead Paper Mill in Cottonton, AL. The PBSR "Hurtsboro line" pulled away at Nuchols, Ga and went due west toward Union Springs. A silica plant and Georgia Pacific veneer log yard were the only customers on this line, with the units usually based at the log yard which was at the physical end of the line. I had the chance to see all the motive power, and witness the several times weekly trudge to the interchange at Opelika on the Lafayette Branch side. Also included are still shots of units on the Hurtsboro line and sister railroad Southern Alabama RR (SUAB), also owned by operator Abernathy Group.
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NS 141947 makes up a cut of loaded pulpwood cars on their way to the Georgia Pacific mill in Saffold, GA on the CIRR. The loads came from Opelika, off the PBSR
Title:  NS 141947 makes up a cut of loaded pulpwood cars on their way to the Georgia Pacific mill in Saffold, GA on the CIRR. The loads came from Opelika, off the PBSR
Description: 
Photo Date:  1/1/2004  Upload Date: 6/27/2010 11:12:26 PM
Location:  Columbus, GA
Author:  Hank Stephens
Categories:  RollingStock
Locomotives: 
Views:  606   Comments: 1
Older Magor Southern woodchip car with shaker plates along the top. Wet or frozen woodchips could be a problem and Southern worked to prevent stress fatigue on its cars caused by improper shake-out vibrators.
Title:  Older Magor Southern woodchip car with shaker plates along the top. Wet or frozen woodchips could be a problem and Southern worked to prevent stress fatigue on its cars caused by improper shake-out vibrators.
Description: 
Photo Date:  1/1/2004  Upload Date: 6/27/2010 11:12:27 PM
Location:  Opelika, AL
Author:  Hank Stephens
Categories:  RollingStock
Locomotives: 
Views:  176   Comments: 0
I took pictures of examples of typical NS woodchip cars used in the PBSR operation on the LaFayette Branch.
Title:  I took pictures of examples of typical NS woodchip cars used in the PBSR operation on the LaFayette Branch.
Description: 
Photo Date:  1/1/2004  Upload Date: 6/27/2010 11:12:28 PM
Location:  Opelika, AL
Author:  Hank Stephens
Categories:  RollingStock
Locomotives: 
Views:  175   Comments: 0
Typical NS painted ex SOU Greenville built woodchip hopper shuttled back and forth to the sawmill at Lafayette by the PBSR
Title:  Typical NS painted ex SOU Greenville built woodchip hopper shuttled back and forth to the sawmill at Lafayette by the PBSR
Description: 
Photo Date:  1/1/2004  Upload Date: 6/27/2010 11:12:29 PM
Location:  Opelika, AL
Author:  Hank Stephens
Categories:  RollingStock
Locomotives: 
Views:  168   Comments: 0
PBSR train is headed out of the transfer and to the CSX mainline for the short trip to the actual Lafayette Branch. The wait for CSX trains could at times take hours, as this was not a dispatcher priority on the AWP-WofA sub on the right of the picture.
Title:  PBSR train is headed out of the transfer and to the CSX mainline for the short trip to the actual Lafayette Branch. The wait for CSX trains could at times take hours, as this was not a dispatcher priority on the AWP-WofA sub on the right of the picture.
Description: 
Photo Date:  1/1/2004  Upload Date: 6/28/2010 12:26:37 AM
Location:  Opelika, AL
Author:  Hank Stephens
Categories: 
Locomotives:  PBRR 3986(B23-7)
Views:  458   Comments: 0
PBSR working the Opelika transfer swapping loads for empties in the harsh shadows of a mid summer sun.
Title:  PBSR working the Opelika transfer swapping loads for empties in the harsh shadows of a mid summer sun.
Description: 
Photo Date:  1/1/2004  Upload Date: 6/27/2010 11:44:50 PM
Location:  Opelika, AL
Author:  Hank Stephens
Categories: 
Locomotives:  PBRR 3986(B23-7)
Views:  296   Comments: 0
PBSR 3986 waits at the Opelika transfer for the NS local to drop empties for it to move back to LaFayette. I watched for the handover of operations from NS to PBSR and only after seeing this unit and knowing NS had long completed a roster purge of B23-7
Title:  PBSR 3986 waits at the Opelika transfer for the NS local to drop empties for it to move back to LaFayette. I watched for the handover of operations from NS to PBSR and only after seeing this unit and knowing NS had long completed a roster purge of B23-7
Description: 
Photo Date:  1/1/2004  Upload Date: 6/27/2010 11:12:30 PM
Location:  Opelika, AL
Author:  Hank Stephens
Categories: 
Locomotives:  PBRR 3986(B23-7)
Views:  356   Comments: 1
Prior to the start of the "Lafayette Branch" operation of the PBSR, the ex NS GE that became synonomus with the operation worked on the "Hurtsboro line". Here it sits with hoppers full of glass making grade silica (sand) at Seale, AL
Title:  Prior to the start of the "Lafayette Branch" operation of the PBSR, the ex NS GE that became synonomus with the operation worked on the "Hurtsboro line". Here it sits with hoppers full of glass making grade silica (sand) at Seale, AL
Description: 
Photo Date:  1/1/2004  Upload Date: 6/27/2010 11:12:31 PM
Location:  Seale, AL
Author:  Hank Stephens
Categories: 
Locomotives:  PBRR 3986(B23-7)
Views:  671   Comments: 1
PBSR 3059 sits at Nuchols, AL on the PBSR "Hurtsboro Line" It would soon end up working on the Troy, AL based Southern Alabama RR (SUAB), another Abernathy operation.
Title:  PBSR 3059 sits at Nuchols, AL on the PBSR "Hurtsboro Line" It would soon end up working on the Troy, AL based Southern Alabama RR (SUAB), another Abernathy operation.
Description: 
Photo Date:  1/1/2004  Upload Date: 6/27/2010 11:12:32 PM
Location:  Nuckols, AL
Author:  Hank Stephens
Categories: 
Locomotives:  PBRR 3059(GP30)
Views:  1032   Comments: 1
PBSR 2676 is a former WLE unit (note American Flag on short hood) of obvious Southern Railway heritage with its tuxedo paint and ALCO trade in trucks. The unit rests at the Georgia Pacific log yard to the west of Hurtsboro where the line physically ende
Title:  PBSR 2676 is a former WLE unit (note American Flag on short hood) of obvious Southern Railway heritage with its tuxedo paint and ALCO trade in trucks. The unit rests at the Georgia Pacific log yard to the west of Hurtsboro where the line physically ende
Description: 
Photo Date:  1/1/2004  Upload Date: 6/27/2010 11:12:33 PM
Location:  Hurtsboro, AL
Author:  Hank Stephens
Categories: 
Locomotives:  PBRR 2676(GP35)
Views:  868   Comments: 0
PBSR 2676 is an old Alco trucked Southern unit that came home one last time under third-hand ownership on trackage it likely once travelled in its original owner colors. This time it is the PBSR Hurtboro Branch instead of the Union Springs Subdivision o
Title:  PBSR 2676 is an old Alco trucked Southern unit that came home one last time under third-hand ownership on trackage it likely once travelled in its original owner colors. This time it is the PBSR Hurtboro Branch instead of the Union Springs Subdivision o
Description: 
Photo Date:  1/1/2004  Upload Date: 6/27/2010 11:12:22 PM
Location:  Opelika, AL
Author:  Hank Stephens
Categories: 
Locomotives:  PBRR 2676(GP35)
Views:  536   Comments: 2
PBSR is moving the empty woodchip cars around the inside track of the transfer, headed toward the CSX side. After dropping the cars, he will then shove out the loads and swap them for the woodracks in the storage track
Title:  PBSR is moving the empty woodchip cars around the inside track of the transfer, headed toward the CSX side. After dropping the cars, he will then shove out the loads and swap them for the woodracks in the storage track
Description: 
Photo Date:  1/1/2004  Upload Date: 6/28/2010 12:26:30 AM
Location:  Opelika, AL
Author:  Hank Stephens
Categories: 
Locomotives:  PBRR 3986(B23-7)
Views:  317   Comments: 0
The GE shoves over the CSX-NS diamond. Signal work on CSX has seen the SOU signal protecting nrothbound CSX movements replaced by new signals at the end of the newly installed "pushbutton" signalled siding.
Title:  The GE shoves over the CSX-NS diamond. Signal work on CSX has seen the SOU signal protecting nrothbound CSX movements replaced by new signals at the end of the newly installed "pushbutton" signalled siding.
Description: 
Photo Date:  1/1/2004  Upload Date: 6/28/2010 12:21:32 AM
Location:  Opelika, AL
Author:  Hank Stephens
Categories: 
Locomotives:  PBRR 3986(B23-7)
Views:  708   Comments: 1
Two things are gone forever, and two things remain. PBSR has shoved its cut of empty woodchips across the diamond and prepares to gather the empty woodrack in the storage track. These will then be swapped for the load in the transfer to the left and the
Title:  Two things are gone forever, and two things remain. PBSR has shoved its cut of empty woodchips across the diamond and prepares to gather the empty woodrack in the storage track. These will then be swapped for the load in the transfer to the left and the
Description: 
Photo Date:  1/1/2004  Upload Date: 6/28/2010 12:26:34 AM
Location:  Opelika, AL
Author:  Hank Stephens
Categories: 
Locomotives: 
Views:  108   Comments: 0
Trainman Ronnie Reaves flags the rear of the PBSR train as it has to make a quick trip over the NS-CSX diamond to pick up empties in the west transfer. Tie and surface work has Opelika full of tie gondolas, making storage track for normal operations a pr
Title:  Trainman Ronnie Reaves flags the rear of the PBSR train as it has to make a quick trip over the NS-CSX diamond to pick up empties in the west transfer. Tie and surface work has Opelika full of tie gondolas, making storage track for normal operations a pr
Description: 
Photo Date:  1/1/2004  Upload Date: 6/28/2010 12:10:15 AM
Location:  Opelika, AL
Author:  Hank Stephens
Categories:  RollingStock
Locomotives: 
Views:  153   Comments: 0
Smoking it up in Opelika--the PBSR has made its swap and is now making a short heated run to Roanoke Jct on CSX trackage rights. The train is coming out of the transfer through the switch on the bottom left and will run a little over a mile to the physic
Title:  Smoking it up in Opelika--the PBSR has made its swap and is now making a short heated run to Roanoke Jct on CSX trackage rights. The train is coming out of the transfer through the switch on the bottom left and will run a little over a mile to the physic
Description: 
Photo Date:  1/1/2004  Upload Date: 6/27/2010 11:45:13 PM
Location:  Opelika, AL
Author:  Hank Stephens
Categories: 
Locomotives: 
Views:  103   Comments: 0
Southern Railway loved brown cars-- this scheme was the epitome of Southern Railway in the 70s and 80s.
Title:  Southern Railway loved brown cars-- this scheme was the epitome of Southern Railway in the 70s and 80s.
Description: 
Photo Date:  1/1/2004  Upload Date: 6/27/2010 11:12:23 PM
Location:  Opelika, AL
Author:  Hank Stephens
Categories:  RollingStock
Locomotives: 
Views:  96   Comments: 0
SOU 133583 is sans its billboard style logo due to years of fading and hauling woodchips. This unit is part of a cut of cars the PBSR had to run across the NS-CSX diamond to retrieve. They are now being shoved to the east side three track transfer yard
Title:  SOU 133583 is sans its billboard style logo due to years of fading and hauling woodchips. This unit is part of a cut of cars the PBSR had to run across the NS-CSX diamond to retrieve. They are now being shoved to the east side three track transfer yard
Description: 
Photo Date:  1/1/2004  Upload Date: 6/28/2010 12:13:01 AM
Location:  Opelika, AL
Author:  Hank Stephens
Categories:  RollingStock
Locomotives: 
Views:  108   Comments: 0
NS 199498 is a NS black out of a Southern Railway Greenville type hopper.
Title:  NS 199498 is a NS black out of a Southern Railway Greenville type hopper.
Description: 
Photo Date:  1/1/2004  Upload Date: 6/27/2010 11:12:24 PM
Location:  Opelika, AL
Author:  Hank Stephens
Categories:  RollingStock
Locomotives: 
Views:  200   Comments: 0
Another weary warrior in the NS legion of chip cars waits at Opelika for the PBSR train
Title:  Another weary warrior in the NS legion of chip cars waits at Opelika for the PBSR train
Description: 
Photo Date:  1/1/2004  Upload Date: 6/27/2010 11:12:25 PM
Location:  Opelika, AL
Author:  Hank Stephens
Categories:  RollingStock
Locomotives: 
Views:  92   Comments: 0
SUAB 9424 is a former IC GP18 complete with the factory slant nose and single windshield. The Southern Alabama RR was an Abernathy owned railroad that took over a remnant of the former CofGA Andalusia Branch. Abernathy's railroads were not known for loo
Title:  SUAB 9424 is a former IC GP18 complete with the factory slant nose and single windshield. The Southern Alabama RR was an Abernathy owned railroad that took over a remnant of the former CofGA Andalusia Branch. Abernathy's railroads were not known for loo
Description: 
Photo Date:  6/20/2007  Upload Date: 6/21/2007 1:29:12 PM
Location:  Troy, AL
Author:  Hank Stephens
Categories: 
Locomotives:  SA 9424(GP18)
Views:  625   Comments: 1
SUAB 9424 roster shot at Troy. AL in the early 1990s. This was start up power for the shortline, which now is owned by Pete Claussen and called the Conecuh Valley RR.
Title:  SUAB 9424 roster shot at Troy. AL in the early 1990s. This was start up power for the shortline, which now is owned by Pete Claussen and called the Conecuh Valley RR.
Description: 
Photo Date:  6/20/2007  Upload Date: 6/21/2007 1:28:50 PM
Location:  Troy, AL
Author:  Hank Stephens
Categories: 
Locomotives:  SA 9424(GP18)
Views:  1332   Comments: 2
CLSL 3059 is still in its worn SBD paint on the Southern Alabama RR shortline in Troy, AL in 1996. This unit worked on the Pinebelt Southern RR Hurtsboro line for a time also.
Title:  CLSL 3059 is still in its worn SBD paint on the Southern Alabama RR shortline in Troy, AL in 1996. This unit worked on the Pinebelt Southern RR Hurtsboro line for a time also.
Description: 
Photo Date:  6/20/2007  Upload Date: 6/21/2007 1:29:31 PM
Location:  Troy, AL
Author:  Hank Stephens
Categories: 
Locomotives:  CLSL 3059(GP30)
Views:  1129   Comments: 3
Southern woodchip hopper makes up part of the Pinebelt Southern RR train as it heads into the NS transfer in downtown Opelika.
Title:  Southern woodchip hopper makes up part of the Pinebelt Southern RR train as it heads into the NS transfer in downtown Opelika.
Description: 
Photo Date:  6/20/2007  Upload Date: 6/21/2007 1:29:56 PM
Location:  Opelika, AL
Author:  Hank Stephens
Categories: 
Locomotives: 
Views:  445   Comments: 0
PBSR 3986 works its interchange cars and NS tie gons at the Opelika intechange in the early 1990s
Title:  PBSR 3986 works its interchange cars and NS tie gons at the Opelika intechange in the early 1990s
Description: 
Photo Date:  8/20/2007  Upload Date: 10/17/2009 2:49:31 PM
Location:  Opelika, AL
Author:  Hank Stephens
Categories: 
Locomotives:  PBRR 3986(B23-7)
Views:  294   Comments: 0
PBSR 3986 works NS tie gons at Opelika as it prepares to switch out interchange cars.
Title:  PBSR 3986 works NS tie gons at Opelika as it prepares to switch out interchange cars.
Description: 
Photo Date:  8/20/2007  Upload Date: 10/17/2009 2:49:14 PM
Location:  Opelika, AL
Author:  Hank Stephens
Categories: 
Locomotives:  PBRR 3986(B23-7)
Views:  285   Comments: 0
PBSR 3986 leads a twenty car train of woodchip cars and typical Southern pulpwood cars on its way to interchange with NS at Opelika. Pinebelt Southern RR never bothered to even add correct reporting marks to this unit nor alter its NS livery.
Title:  PBSR 3986 leads a twenty car train of woodchip cars and typical Southern pulpwood cars on its way to interchange with NS at Opelika. Pinebelt Southern RR never bothered to even add correct reporting marks to this unit nor alter its NS livery.
Description: 
Photo Date:  6/20/2008  Upload Date: 6/21/2007 1:07:28 AM
Location:  Opelika, AL
Author:  Hank Stephens
Categories:  Yard
Locomotives:  PBRR 3986(B23-7)
Views:  607   Comments: 0

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