Due to the low heat value in lignite, it is usually not transported very far from the mine. Most power plants that use lignite are either mine mouth operations or within 50 miles of the lignite mine. The Texas Utilities Electric's Monticello power plant sits between two lignite mines. However, beginning in 1978, a KCS train called the Tidewater Turn shuttled lignite 35 miles from the Thermo mine near Sulphur Springs to Monticello with six modified F7s. The three A units had power plants and were connected to B unit slugs. On November 14, 1979 the Tidewater Turn rolls through Pickton with engine 4059 in the lead.

PRB Coal

Tidewater Turn lignite train run around