Hi,
I model Conrail in the late 90’s near the harrisburg/Altoona area.
I have considered buying an athearn genesis MP15ac. Does anyone think that this interaction between conrail and csx would seem realistic. I was thinking maybe the csx would be a local train and interchamge with the conrail mainline.
Why not. In a couple years Conrail would be part of the CSX anyway.
Loco pooling would find some cross railroad sharing so I wouldnt put it past it would happen.
Working an interchange could find each’s power needing to do a move on the other’s track.
See it here in Tn. all the time.
I thought NS bought part of Conrail 51%, and CSX bought 49% of Conrail. I see Conrail all the time here at the CSX line. Maybe I am thinking of NYC being bought out. [D)]
I live near the old Reading RR mainline. NS took over for Conrail who got it from PC who was the merged entity of the NYC and PRR. The PRR took over the Readingat some time that I do not recall, but CSX power I’ve not seen in PA since moving here three years ago. On the other hand, in my frequent tarvels to NY and NJ, all the lines outside of PA that I cross are CSX. What I find odd is the leased power that I have seen between Reading and Harrisburg, has been those two western megalines, BNSF and UP. Not that it never happens, just haven’t personally seen it yet. Afterall, I don’t live on the tracks. Past Harrisburg, I have not ventured. Overpasses along the interstae highways are still tagged Conrail in most places that I travel(one CSX tag and two NJ Transit come to mind, but conrail signs are still the majority)
Clear as mudd so far?
Leased power, trackage rights, temporary by-pass rights(or whatever they call it officially when a competing line has a problem)and interchange traffic are all valid reasons for foreign power on your tracks. Sadly, my inventory of power looks like a rainbow. If I tried to match a locale to the lines represented, Amtrak, PC, M&StL, UP and Sante Fe, I’d be forced to find a spot in Illinois to model. Fortunatly, and sadly as I love my old trains, the new fleet of DCC equipped modern era diesels will be undecorated so I can freelance my imaginary world to my tastes. If your CSX loco is headed to Altoona, don’t forget to wave to the rail fans at the horseshoe curve.
thanks for the feedback
There is a small CSX yard in Lansdale, Montgomery Co… It is located directly next to the SEPTA station, right on Main Street. I’m sure that there is an Interchange somewhere nearby because, as was previously stated, PA is now mostly NS territory.
As a side note, I’ve also seen shared motive power including BNSF, UP, and CP in the philadelphia area.
Prior to Split Date (1 June 1999), it would have been unusual to see a CSX MP15 in the Harrisburg/Altoona area, as the interchange was in Hagerstown, MD. At Split, the entire area went to NS, with interchange remaining at Hagerstown.
You’d be more likely to see CSX and CR switchers interacting in Philadelphia or Pittsburgh.
Nick
How’s this. Horseshoe Curve saw a Southern pacific on her way through. So think that leaves evrything else as an option
I have been doing quite a bit of research, and found out that csx does in fact have trackage in Pennsylvania, and has trackage about half way to altoona. Like i said before i model the altoona area and Cambria County (Johnstown Pa and surrounding area). This model will seem realistic enough for me. On the other hand is Atlas’s C40-8 any good? I’m not sure because I have never had A QSI sound system and i’m not sure weather it is QARC equiped. ANyone help?
I have (3) Atlas B40-8’s, one of which is QSIsound. My personal opinion, dollar for dollar, they are really good. I am very happy with slow speed performance, they pull well, and the one with sound sounds pretty good. It is crisp and clear at all volume levels. I would guess that the C40-8, like my B40-8’s comes in atleast 2, if not 3 levels; 1. Silver=DCC ready/no snd. 2. Gold=DCC equip’d/no snd. 3. Gold Master=DCC+QSI snd.