Bristol railfanning

[thpbears]

Just left Bristol VA and seems trains are stacked up everywhere. A friend said that they are doing MOW work on the Rat hole so rerouting is bringing then through Bristol.

[Bill Richardson]

What is MOW work?

[NSyorktown]

"Maintenance of way" work . . . complete sections of right-of-way are taken off-line, for routine grading, tie replacement, etc.  If the parade of tie cranes, tampers, ballast regulators, and related equipment can have access to a line for a day or so, they can efficiently improve miles and miles of track.  But if they constantly have to stop and put equipment on a siding for every passing train, it can take forever.

It sounds like MOW crews had full access to the CNO&TP line, with scheduled trains re-routed elsewhere.

[Bill Richardson]

Thank you for the explanation.