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A Foray into Kentucky continued...

At Holmes Mill, it was frosty and very still. We parked and took to the track, only to find horrible newness. Even the dicards were clock dated[6]. Having tucked away two L&N nails deteriorated beyond recognition, we wandered right into the view of a dog, whose ensuant barking triggered a canonade which echoed down the valley. Bad start! We cleared out in a hurry for the next site.

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There was a nice-looking bunch of sidings at one of the mines, but the fences, the occupied guardhouse, and the variety of activity generally, told us to move on. This indeed was usually the case with the mine areas, which appear to be far more prosperous than I'd imagined.

We got lucky near Rutheford, KY. A hut of sorts is there, built all of ties, which face out, as if the builder had kindly anicipated our visit. All the nails were in! We got permission, or at least, passive assent from a neighbor, who said the owner of the hut lives in Ohio. Oh, well! We made quick work of the structure, proffering 32 nails. These aren't rare or in great shape, but they are L&N nails, ranging 24 to 37, and

Jeff Oaks' book, Date Nails and Railroad Tie Preservation can be purchased on his web site.

that's what we'd come to get. And, in a few ties strewn along the riverbank on the opposite side of the road, we snared two 23s and a 31. The type (04) 31, 32, and 35, the 2" 33, and the type (19) 37 were all new for us. We returned to the car with lightear hearts...

On the other hand, we did not drive 400 miles just to yank a few nails out of a hut. So, when we reached Harlan, without any more nails, despite several stops to check fenceposts[7] and loose piles of discards, we half-decided to make straightaway for Interstate trackage in Virginia, then finish the day with more N&W nailing.

We swung east on Route 119. Just west of Cumberland, at Chad, KY, a big yard reposes on the north side of the road. We stopped. The mine there appears abandoned; a long line of Clinchfield hoppers stretched from one end of the yard to the other. This was, in spite of numerous holes[8], a great site. Counting culls, we pulled 171 nails, mostly out of ties buried in black mud. They are as follows: 8 25s, 6 26s, 3 (01) 27s, 1 (10) 27, 17 (07) 28s, 7 (10) 28s, 22 29s, 19 30s, 6 31s, 2 32s, 9 34s,41 35s, 15 36s, 1 38, 2 14' SWP switch nails, and 12 culls.

Jeff and Steve

Six of these were new varieties for us. By the time this assault was over, we were pretty well caked in slop, but it was pure pleasure.

In Benham, our next stop, the yard has been thoroughly stripped. A round raised 20 was, and still is, there. You might need a blasting cap to pry it loose. It is trash now anyway, since we as well as our precursor made a violent go at it and failed.

NOTES:

[6] After the L&N stopped using date nails in ties (1939) they "clock dated" their ties. This invlolves drilling three holes, one representing the center of the "clock", and the other two the hands. Using a code, the year can be determined by the positions of the holes. [back]

[7] Many farmers would use discarded ties as fenceposts. This is usually a great source for old nails. [back]

[8] That is, numerous holes in the ties where date nails once were. [back]

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