Gulf (Milepost CF 120.8)
Gulf is a town in south central Chatham County. It was incorporated in 1913 but was long inactive in municipal affairs. It was an early 19th Century center of trade and coal mining. The geographic center of North Carolina is located nearby.
During my trip in September of 1999 I was able to take some photographs of the revised trackwork. Originally, there was a crossing at grade and junction between the A&Y and the old Norfolk Southern. Today the ACWR and the new Norfolk Southern interchange cars here. Some scrap loads go to Sanford, but mostly grain cars are interchanged here. Before the revised trackwork in 1999, there was an interesting "Gulf shuffle" during the interchange in order to move the cars around but keep the locomotives at the lead of their respective trains. The revised trackwork will likely eliminate this and now allows for larger trains. Below are some photos I took of the grade crossing, interchange tracks, and some aggregate hoppers parked there to provide materials for the trackwork. This junction is not too easily reached by main roads! Doubt if I could find it on my own. Thanks again to Gareth McDonald for his help and insights.
This is the sign designating the dividing line between the new Norfolk Southern and the ACWR at the junction.
To the right is a shot from inside the triangle formed by the interchange tracks. The ACWR comes from the right hand side and the NS runs along where the cars are spotted.
Left: here is another shot looking down the NS line with the track off to the left going to the ACRW.
Right: this shows another leg of the NS heading off around a bend a bit further down the line from the juncition heading towards Sanford.
Left: This shot out the car window at the grade crossing, shows the NS line heading into the junction where the cars are spotted.
Right: this is MoW equipment still needed as the track work progresses.
