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Clinchfield Railroad Diesel Roster

The Clinchfield Railroad diesel roster was an all-EMD affair with GM switchers, road-switchers, and cab units making up the entire roster. For a complete/all-time Clinchfield Railroad diesel roster please click here. This list of surviving CRR diesel locomotives will be categorized by original numbers the railroad assigned its units and where they are today, whether in operation, cosmetically restored, or in some state of preservation at railroad museums and tourist railroads. Also, just as something to keep in mind if you are not aware, while some locomotives may be painted/preserved in CRR colors this does not necessarily mean that they are of CRR heritage (and likewise, some locomotives may be of CRR heritage that are not in CRR colors).

The Clinchfield Railroad is one of the less notable fallen flags, most likely due to its very small size, only a tad over 300 miles at its peak! However, the railroad does hold an important place in railroading history and is best remembered as another of the Appalachian coal haulers, lugging millions of tons of black diamonds from the mountains of Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina, and South Carolina. Along with the railroad’s association with coal it also served as a very effective north-south bridge line for traffic of railroads such as the Southern and Chesapeake & Ohio.

Electro-Motive Division (EMD)

· EMD F3Au #800: In operation on the Potomac Eagle Scenic Railroad as C&O #8016.

· EMD F7B #852: Preserved at the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum as CRR #852.

· EMD F7B #869: In operation on the West Virginia Central as Western Maryland #415.

· EMD FP7 #200: In operation on the West Virginia Central as Western Maryland #67.

Also, it should be noted that some former Clinchfield switcher and road units continue to remain in some state of operation and in active revenue service with Class Is, Regionals, shortlines, or leasing companies. To learn more about the disposition of these locomotives please click here to visit The Diesel Shop.

While this list will continually be updated it certainly does not completely cover every surviving unit, which was on the Clinchfield Railroad diesel roster. So, if you know of any other survivors out there, whether they are parked and gleaming in a museum or sitting out in the weeds along a forgotten siding please let me know so we can keep this list growing, and you will be given full credit for your help.

For more reading about the Clinchfield consider the book Clinchfield Railroad in the Coalfields by Robert Helm which details the CRR at what it does best, hauling coal! The book (which took 12 years to complete) gives a wonderful general history of the railroad in the Appalachians and includes many pictures and even interviews with former employees. If you have any interest in the Clinchfield you will quite likely enjoy Mr. Helm's book.

You may also want to consider the book Evolution of the American Diesel Locomotive by author J. Parker Lamb. As the title implies the book looks at the history and development of the diesel locomotives, covering 200 pages, from its earliest beginnings to the newest designs and models operated today. If you're interested in perhaps purchasing either (or both) of these books please visit the links below which will take you to ordering information through Amazon.com, the trusted online shopping network.

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