I have lived on the old LV line in Roselle Park NJ for over 30 years and have seen many trains. Over the last few years I have seen CXS and NS loco hook ups from time to time as I did this morning on an out bound (Westward) auto train and often wondered why CSX and NS would join up power. 99% of the time it’s just CSX power and other road names or just NS, old conrail locos and others. Does anyone know why NS and CSX hook up together? It is very rare…
Thanks, Rob in RP…
CSX & NS have a limited number of run-through train operations. Once the power from one company is put on a train that is run-through to the property of the other company, the receiving company will use the power as it sees fit to fulfill it’s operational needs. If the NS would have sufficient NS power available at the termination of the run-through operation, the power will normally be lined up on a return run-through move. If the NS would have a power shortage at the termination of the run-through, it would use the power as necessary to run it’s priority trains, presuming that the return run-through was one of lesser priority.
When it comes to locmotives on foreign propertys, possession is 100% of the equation as in todays Class I railroading, power is power, use what you have to fulfill your business commitments.
Thank you baltacd…
Possession can be very expensive when foreign line units don’t make it back home in a timely fashion. Yesterday I overheard a Locomotive manager pleading with our chief to get a KCS unit on anything west as it was costing us $30k plus just sitting in the shop.
You mean foreign power lashups aren’t done specifically with the railfan in mind?[:O]
I thought it was meant to make the train more photogenic.[%-)]