Thanks for the heads up on the STB boggle; wasn’t quite sure. I don’t that Tony Ingram is completely behind the “ONE PLAN” that is currently in effect and was implemented in July, but a lot of my overtime to Chicago has disappeared. Many people I have worked with are stunned at how fast trains are getting into the Chicago yards recently. Set outs and pickups have also been reduced to only a few trains instead of most of the trains, so this saves time. I’m actually sort of impressed that something CSX implemented to improve train velocity is actually working. I wonder if any other CSX employees in other areas have noticed changes due to the ONE PLAN.
Seems to me that one time in the 1970’s, there was some talk between AT&SF and EL about merging, but it never got past that stage. That would have been an interesting combination.
Given the track problems and issues with questionable management, what are the odds of CSX becomming the Rock Island of the 21st century? [:O]
Maybe it’s time to “unmerge” some of the railroads that make up CSX. How about a return of the old B & O?! Bigger isn’t necessarilly better. Wisconson Central and MidSouth had a lot of success. Although wasn’t that due in part to management concerned with keeping customers happy and treating their employees with respect (among other things)?
From the outside it’s always hard to tell what is going on, but the CSX track between Atlanta and Catersville is in great shape, the best I’ve seen it since moving to the area in 1987. In peak times this route sees over 50 trains a day. M of W employees are frequently doing routine rapairs and upgrades. I believe the speed limits have recently been increased thru some locations and the number of recrews and idle trains seems to be down.
A few years back, the double track was extended to Marietta and the Acworth siding increased in length. There is always areas for improvement but it would be hard to find where CSX has cut back on this particular line. I don’t know if this has anything to do with the maintenance standards, but this line along with the Catersville to Chattanooga line is leased by CSX from the State of Georgia.
That being said, anytime you pay over $100 a share for roughly $50 a share stock and you buy around 40% of the outstanding shares of a company (Conrail), you are asking for future financial trouble. I don’t know the answers, but NS may have them. They bought the other roughly 60% of these over-bid shares and seems to be doing fine. “Corporate genetics” may play a large part in NS’s success since its predecessors seemed to be better managed than CSX’s predecessors.
It just may be that the Wall Street crowd (investors) could get a haircut if push came to shove in the question of survivorbility of the Aconmym (CSX) company.[:(][?] But here is a thought: With all their unproductive realestate in the panhandle of FL maybe a sale to an ambitious RRA would keep CSX out of dutch with creditors and have a chance at the expidited freight business to and from FL.
Pardon me for being a bit off topic. Say joe, by any chance I didn’t happen to meet you on a very cold October night back in Deshler, Ohio at the railfan park by any chance, did I? I was the young man with the blue bicycle that had a flat tire, stuck trying to make my way out of Deshler? If so, it was good talking to you, and thanks for your advice and help. take care - joey
Things seem to be running more smoothly at New Castle and Willard. There was a similiar plan in effect before the Conrail takeover and the railroad was running fairly well then too. A conductor mentioned that he saw a footnote on his copy of the ONE PLAN. It said “First published 1965”.
You know to all of you in this forum I say this. I am amazed in the Union Pacific Railroad in how there doing a much better job than the CSXT ever would.Everyone has there problems just like the UP did. And even though the CSXT is having theirs now. Just think,They will too,Do the same just like the UP! The Railroads need to work TOGETHER. The CSXT “CAN” fix there problems…It will just take time. Just give them more time!