Tex-N: 3rd Division

3rd Division

Last update on 22 July 2002

The 3rd Division runs through a complete loop from Warm Springs through Fitchburg, Black Mountain, Alton, Gene Autry and Flagler back into Warm Springs. All operations at Warm Springs are part of the 2nd Division, however. The on-line industries served are: a furniture factory, a coal mine, a paper mill, some transfer warehouses, a cold storage facility, a grain elevator, and a machine factory. Plans for a siding in Flagler to serve the fruit growers there appear to be stuck in a gridlock in Flagler City Hall.

		Amherst Junction Passenger trains use this junction to get to the 2nd Division and to come into the station from there. Freight trains usually stay on the 3rd Division at this point.
		Fitchburg Several times a week, the Chair Manufacturing furniture factory receives raw materials and ships out fine finished furniture. Only short wheel-base locomotives are allowed on the siding, as the sharp rise in grade will derail larger engines.
		Hope Junction This junction marks the end of a bypass around Fitchburg for freight trains out of and into Warm Springs Yard. The 2nd Division is in charge of the bypass.
		Black Mountain As the largest single shipper on the TNRR, the Black Mountain Coal Mine ships out several car loads per day, sometimes twice per day. It also receives regularly fuel oil and occasionally lumber supplies. A passing siding facilitates traffic on the 3rd Division in both directions, and allows, together with one of the mine sidings, some car switching. The warehouse receives one or two car loads per week of various goods for local shops. Most of the time, the cars will be picked up empty.
		Alton The industrial area is one of the busiest locations on the TNRR. The Henderson & Altman paper mill receives several car loads per day for supplies (wood, fuel oil) and fills box cars with loads of paper. The Alton Cold Storage facility and the Field's Grain Company's elevator each ship several car loads per week.
		Gene Autry The Thurmond and Wright Machines Company receives several times per week 1-2 box cars full of parts from nuts and bolts and screws to metal plates and beams and motors. The cars are returned to TNRR filled with series and custom-built machines for customers across the country. The transfer warehouse serves many small customers in the area. It receives loads as needed. Rarely does a customer request an empty car. Gene Autry also is one of the few remaining locations on the TNRR with passenger service.
		Flagler In order to handle the production from new orange trees once they mature, a siding is planned to serve the juice plant. Partisan bickering in the city council is raising the specter of a serious delay of construction.