Norfolk & Western Railway Company
Harris Mine - Kopperston Project
Kopperston, West Virginia
 R&S
served as the project manager and did the detailed engineering,
permitting and construction management for this $45 million dollar
endeavor. The project was to create a system that would combine
coal from two separate production facilities, store and load unit
trains. Initially capacity was specified as 2 MTPY, however, through
enhancements to design and operations, the system capacity has
been increased to about 3.8 MTPY. Roberts & Schaefer Company's
operating division (TranService) currently operates the facility
for Norfolk & Western Railway Company under contract.
 The
project created one reclaim tunnel under the existing Harris Mine
storage pile, three conventional belts to feed the overland conveyor
from the reclaim tunnel and a 3.9 mile long overland cable belt
conveyor to deliver coal to the Kopperston area. Conventionally
designed coal storage silos, conveyor feed system, and a new train
loadout structure were created at the Kopperston area. As part
of this R&S did extensive environmental impact studies and
permit applications for filing with the appropriate agencies.
R&S provided all the engineering resources to overcome challenges
of providing electrical distribution, belt dynamics and civil
engineering in materially adverse terrain. Over four miles of
road with more than 100 CMP culverts were created in mountainous
terrain minimizing erosion, not polluting streams, and providing
a facility to meet the customer's requirements.
 Roberts
& Schaefer Company operates the Harris Mine overland conveying
and rail loading system near Beckley, West Virginia. As a result
of this operating expertise, and an advanced understanding of
the equipment and facility design, R&S was able to design and
execute a Preventative Maintenance system which minimizes downtime
and overall maintenance costs.
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