Edgar Browning, author of several books on vintage construction projects, posted this photo to Facebook tonight. Does anyone know what exactly they're doing? Looks like the shovel is digging a new cut.

I'm sure Edgar would appreciate any additional info anyone could share.

Thanks in Advance.

My best guess would be double-tracking a cut?

From this photograph, one could likely conclude that the ACL is "borrowing" material from one side of its right of way to be used to build, or build up, a fill somewhere nearby. As you can see, the flatcars have temporary pieces added so the decks form a continuous platform, which gives a maximum load. The sides of the car have downward sloping curtains that serve two functions. First, they keep any of the fill from falling onto the stone ballast of the main track. Second, they fill will fall away from the track when removed from the car decks by a sled plow or small dozer. The material is not going far, if it were, the cars would need some type of side walls, and the car to car platforms would have to be removed to accommodate moves through turnouts and curves.
I don't know Rocky Mount, but there are yards and siding there. So maybe this was part of a project being installed at that time. With the date on the photo, a dedicated researcher might find the local paper digitized on-line, or consult with the local reference librarian to see if the paper was reporting on something that would involve the railroad. Even the ACL annual report might mention this if it were part of a notable capital improvement. Was there a company magazine then? It might be noted there.

It looks like the cars are set up to be unloaded through the use of a cable plow, dragged down the string of flatcars, with the dirt going off the sides. This might be indicative of construction/widening of a fill elsewhere nearby. Alternately, instead of the cable plow, a crawler dozer may just drive down the string of cars and push the dirt off.

Michael Seitz
Missoula MT