Sure. Locomotives in the diesel age are used beyond the boundaries of their home railroads relatively frequently. Before SP and UP merged, I frequently saw UP units in SP locomotive consists. On occasion, I’ve even seen CSX and NS units. And even before Philip Anschutz merged the SP and the D&RGW back in the late 80’s, it was quite common to see Rio Grande units in Northern California.
Andre
Did you take that picture? If so, where?
It isn’t uncommon these to see locomotives far from home. For example, UP has a joint operation with NS bringing Triple Crown roadrailers to the Twin Cities. Sometimes we see a lone NS engine pulling the train. I suspect that if they don’t take the time to change power in Chicago, a number of UP engines end up out east. Power is power regardless the color, and the accountants will figure it out in the end.[swg]
I did not take the picture but i know it was taken in Sebring, Ohio. I found on the conrailcyclpedia website.
Well just last night i saw a UP, an NS, and 2 more UP pulling a stack train east through Rock Springs Wy. Too bad i had just taken my last picture and hadn’t got a new roll of film put in.
Cool pic,we get to see UP,and the old Conrail engines here in Louisville,Ky. About 2 blocks from our house are the CSX/NS tracks.[:)]
Back in Conrail times I used to see a lot of CSX and NS power with some UP or BNSF, these days I see many BNSF, UP, Guilford, CN and CSX units, on NS rails.
I watch a video on Conrail’s Cleveland Sub taken in the 80s and 90s and found that even then Conrail use anybody’s power. UP, ATSF, BN, Toledo Ore Docks, various lease power and even CP and CN. The only power I don’t recall on the video seeing was NS and KCS but maybe the film crew didn’t catch those roads that day.
When I bring trains in/out of some of the big yards in Chicago I usually see engines from at least the big 4 RR’s and several leased motors as well. At CSX Barr yard I even saw one of those new low emission switchers (green goats). At Proviso Yard I saw the most engines I’ve ever seen in one place. There had to be at least 75 UP engines of various types sitting by the pit, it was quite a sight. Most of the engineers I ride with aren’t qualified into Proviso because we rarely go there, but I’ll never forget that sight.
Are one of the side panels open on the first UP loco?
Just the other day on CN up in Green Bay, WI, A442 left for Chicago with a NS/NS/NS/WC/BNSF/BN/WC/WC consist with only the NS’s running. Back in WC days we didn’t have that. It was mostly WC’s all over and you were lucky to see a NS or CSX north of Fond du Lac and now you can see just about everything. I don’t mind all the color.
I have seen pictures in California with solid sets of NS power and likewise I have seen lots of foreign power here in Columbus OH (mostly BNSF).
Saw 2 former conrail c30-7s hauling a a ballast train on CSX .Went of the Toledo sub came down the wye and was heading west.All the ballast cars had cr marks.
stay safe
Joe
It’s gotten to the point that I’m surprised when I see a CSX locomotive here in Pensacola, Fl.[:)]
But seriously, there has been a LOT of UP, BN and even some SP power around here lately. Dave
Could they be running off horsepower hours that are owed???
Tonite we dispatched a consist of 7 engines for 442 south UP sd70 , UP -9, BNSF -9 , SP SD40-2T , CN SD75, CN -9, WC SD45
All running
Randy
I wonder if this kind of sharing went on in the steam era?
I would think that cross-“border” power moves were very frequent during the time of the USRA around WW1. That was at least a theoretical reason for the USRA locomotive committee developing ‘best-practice’ standard designs, that were suitable for a much wider range of local conditions than much of the existing power at the time.
Anyone with detailed information about how often the USRA worked locomotives away from their ‘normal’ territories (as opposed to moving them to other regions and operating them as ‘home’ power?)
Why does A442 always have so many different locomotives? I really never did completely figure that one out. I have my ideas but why? Its a great train to watch and photograph during the daylight. I have only caught this train twice and both times it was NS and WC power…nothing special.
This rather keys into the discussion in another thread about rack locomotives. In days of steam, the railroads (hopefully) designed/bought locomotives that took care of their needs. While a neighboring RR might have similar needs, lengthy run-throughs would take the locos out of their “design” areas. This even was the case within a RR, as few would consider sending the “Limited” out with an 0-6-0 yard goat.
The diesel of today can generally hold down just about any assignment it can be given, from yards to locals to mainline, and sometimes even passenger, although HEP is an issue there. Sure there are still some dedicated locos, for special purposes, but not like there were. Further, since most diesels operate similarly, the concern is now less locomotive operation than it is territory.