On a recent trip down to Norfolk, the family and I decided to take a harbor cruise on the Elizabeth River. Our nautical trip would take us past NS's Lamberts Point coal loading facility and can best be described by saying it is both a huge and awesome facility. Research on this facility turned up the following information. It is considered the largest and fastest coal loading facility in the northern hemisphere. The facility's rail yard can accommodate 6,200 loaded hoppers. Pier 6 is 1,850 long while the Elvia is a mere 755 feet in length. On the NS website, it states "Twin tandem rotary dumpers feed the ship loaders for a combined dumping capacity of up to 8,000 tons per hour."
Photo 1: Two boats carrying Navy Seals pass by the Lamberts Point facility on a training exercise. In the background can be seen some of the loaded NS hoppers.
Photo 2: Shows the Malta registered bulk carrier Elvia being loaded at Pier 6.
Photo 3: Note the two NS loaded coal hoppers on the right hand side of the image.
