"SHINBRIER" ALMOST HEAVEN by "dizzy" harris. 

JACK TAYLOR E-MAIL TO DIZ HARRIS

Dear Mr. Harris: I was born and raised in Bluefield, W. Va. in 1937, graduated from the old BEAVER HIGH SCHOOL in 1955. Just retired off the railroad here in Norfolk, Va. 31 Dec. 1999. I have really enjoyed visiting your web site as it brings back many good memories. I still travel up into that area quite a bit as my wife is from Tazewell, Va. I love to take pictures of trains so I am always going down into that area to do some videoing and do some still shots. I have always been interested in the wreck at Maybeury in 1937 because my Dad was a car inspector in the Bluefield Yard at that time and HE INSPECTED THAT TRAIN and gave it a brake test before it left Bluefield that evening. I have been interested in finding the old COALDALE TUNNEL. Two years ago I went to Maybeury and talked to some of the old timers who still remembered that wreck. And I just met a man in our church here in Norfolk who was born and raised at Switchback and was six years old when it happened. I climbed up the hill and walked the old mainline back east to where it crossed another trestle up the mountain. Since it had been torn down I had to go back. But the old stone pilings for the trestle at Maybeury and the other two back east are still there. I followed the back road and parked and went on up the mountain by foot. I believe I found where the west entrance of the old tunnel was. I had some old pictures of it taken back in the 1930's and the debris that was around there matched what was taken in the pictures. On the east end I had to park at COOPERS and walk back towards the new tunnel that was built in 1950 along with the relocation of the main lines of the railroad. The old mainline branched off to the right of the new tunnel. The old mainline was grown up pretty bad on the east side so I could never get a good idea where the east entrance was at. Needless to say, I did all of this in the early winter or spring months. I would not get caught up there when the weather was warm and the SNAKES would be out. But maybe I will get the chance to go back soon. The stone abutments for the old bridge there at COOPERS are still visible at the road and in the creek. Well thanks again for a great site. I was especially interested in the old steam photos. I had the privilege of workng on the 611 and 1218 from 1984 thru 1994 when they were in excursion service. Take care and God Bless. Jack Taylor.

I received another e-mail from Jack. He said, " The last time I was up in that area I had both of my sons with me ( who are both current railroaders here in Norfolk ) and we found the concrete supports for the two trestles east of Maybeury. They were visible from the little road that goes along side the mountain. I also found out that the original mainline ( Eastbound ) came on down toward COOPERS, but dropped down lower and connected to the track that heads toward BRAMWELL, but it came on around the mountain and connected in there at BLUESTONE. The other mainline came down out of COALDALE TUNNEL and crossed over the trestle into the COOPERS TUNNEL. It wasn't until later that both mainlines used the tunnel and trestle there at COOPERS."....Yours in Christ. Jack Taylor

If you would like to exchange some area railroad talk with Jack his e-mail address is ColonelJack@aol.com

I'm sure he would enjoy hearing from you.