i live in fort worth,tx and like to watch trains. ive noticed something i cant get a good answer to.maybe someone knows about this.is csx selling out to up cause i work off riverside drive.there is a t cross track by my work.ive seen alot of csx trains in the middle of up trains lately.and they are headin west.can anyone tell me whats goin on with this.[:D]
Up’s been having problems with it’s physical plant lately. To many cars to move and not enough crews and engines. Most likely those csx units are on lease. They trade locomotive hours. So it’s common on all the class ones to see foreign power.
Andrew
I live in Waxhaw, NC on CSX main between Atlanta, GA/Hamlet,NC. I see UP power on a daily basis. If I did not know better I would think this was UP territory.
power borrowing. see up on csx here all the time.
stay safe
Joe
Besides seeing the many lease units on CSX foreign power is always interesting. It keeps you on your toes. It allows people that can’t afford to take a trip to see the western roads to be able to see them in the east and vice versa.
Andrew
I was so impressed after seeing my first CSX mixed with UPs that I had to go out and buy one to run with mine…
I was amazed at how few people didn’t know that CSX means Chessie System times many others.
I enjoy Trains manazine a lot I live in Tacoma Wa.
Would enjo any Mail from anyone who likes to looks of The New
SD70ACe ?
watchingtrains@yahoo.com Larry Stewart
Just to clear things up CSX stands for Chessie Seaboard times many more[:I]
I watch the 2-track CSX (former B&O) mainline to Chicago at a spot just west of Hicksville, Ohio. UP & BNSF engines can be seen pulling trains on a daily basis. On my last visit (Feb 10, 05) I was rather stunned to see a blue EMD demonstrator leading a westbound intermodal, numbered 9046. I haven’t yet been able to identify that engine. Can anyone tell me what it was? Also spotted Wisconsin Central #7495 as second unit hauling a solid string of CSX Coke Express loads west that day. Espee #6370 rolled past on Jan 21, just to show you never know what to expect!
The location I use is a fantastic one. . . secluded and friendly with a high vantage point, most unusual for the Ohio flatlands. If any of you Ohio or Indiana fans care for specific directions just ask. CSX Q110, the eastbound UPS train, usually passes by in the early afternoon. You should see how the dispatcher clears the path for that thing!
For FPE101: EMD is for Electro motive Division. It is one of their engines. they build them.
ralph zimmer n9kym@aol.com
[quote]
QUOTE: Originally posted by csxmu
Stands for what? Chicken [censored] Express??? [:-^]
I live in the place where not much happens railroad wise. When I do see stuff move it’s either CSX or NS. It’s old conrail territory but I see more NS.
I wasn’t lucky enough to be born into an area with a high traffic double main cross of two large railroad like the one in Rochelle. Maybe railroads will be around in my next life.
Thanks to those who responded to my EMD demonstrator question. I guess I should have been more specific, however. The manufacturer isn’t my problem. I’m wondering what model #9046 is, based either upon previous trackside sightings by other railfans, or according to a EMD roster of some sort. If the first 2 digits of the road number are any indicator, maybe it is an SD90???
Things were quiet along the CSX tracks to Chicago on 2-12-05. Nine locomotives headed four trains. Of the 9 engines, 3 belonged to UP (with 1 more a Conrail unit), just to show the frequency mix of off-road power being used. CSX GP40-2 #4421 was performing local switching chores at St. Joe, Indiana.
A heads-up to any film makers living near the northwest Ohio area. You can easily pace trains over a 6-mile section of the Norfolk Southern mainline between Butler, IN and Edgerton, OH by following Route 6. Note: it’s best to leave Butler and pick up the eastbound trains to keep any oncoming car traffic out of your viewfinder. You’ll be shooting into the sun, unfortunately, for Rt 6 is north of the tracks. Come on a cloudy day! A nice mix of off-road power may be seen along the NS tracks here, as well. . . UP, BNSF (in orange, BN green, and Executive green paint), plus Conrail units are commonplace. KCS #2010 was in a westbound on 2-9-05. Many NS units pass by in that new, light gray/green paint scheme. Does that color have a name???
While you’re in Butler, check out the old Wabash north/south track at the extreme eastern edge of town on Rt. 6. You can park near the diamond where that track crosses the NS 2-track main line without being questioned by anyone. A nice photo spot!
Happy Hunting!
fpe101
rt 18 will get you some csx action through nw ohio.any word or building of the wye at butler between the wabash and old nyc line yet??
stay safe
Joe
of the csx units everyone is seeing, how many have the new csx paint scheme
JoeKoh
I wasn’t aware that plans for a wye at Butler were in the air. Such a wye would certainly ease NS’s ability to access the old Wabash line, however! Were they to construct it, I’m sure they could then abandon other sections of their lines and thereby come out ahead in all operational / cost aspects. Thing is, I haven’t noticed much traffic routed along the Wabash line, maybe one train a day. The yards at Montpelier are generally empty each time I pass through there. Are the costs of the wye worth it? I’m curious to learn more.
I’ve traveled Rt. 18 many times to Defiance and beyond, but can recall no part of that highway that runs right beside the tracks for mile after mile as does Rt. 6, as I related earlier. Maybe you can direct me to a specific location?
I’ve been contemplating a trip to Deshler but held off for not knowing whether or not the traffic density there would make my long drive worthwhile. Does the north / south line through Deshler see much action? Otherwise, I’d see exactly the same east / west trains as I do near Hicksville since those trains are only further down the very same line to Chicago. I suppose I should just continue further east to Fostoria if I really want to see a show!
genestuemke
Maybe you can describe for me what CSX’s “new” paint scheme looks like to some degree of detail? I myself see a few AC-powered units with road numbers in the 600-699 range, with a lightning streak below the number to denote AC. Those brutes are always a thrill for me to watch simply because they’re so darn powerful! More common, however, are AC4400CW’s with road numbers from 1-599. (The lowest I’ve recorded is #77). Those have a yellow nose that leads into a yellow stripe along the running board, blue cabs that lead into a blue stripe above the running board, and an entirely bluish-gray carbody. Big, blue CSX letters appear on the sides just ahead of the radiator wings. Should I be looking for some other distinguishing paint characteristics? It will be interesting to keep an eye out!
Anyone out there-
Obviously, it is possible to m-u an AC powered unit with a DC since I see both kinds lashed together. But I have difficulty understanding how that can be accomplished, I guess. How does that work? Are speed and brake commands the only things transmitted from one locomotive to another, to the point that the type of power (AC or DC) doesn’t matter? Somehow, I got the impression that like-powered units ONLY (AC-AC or DC-DC) would run together. Obviously I’m wrong. I’d like very much to hear just how the whole system works!
The MU cable only passes a very limited set of information between the units. No air information is passed through this cable. It does convey positon of reverser, throttle position, dynamic brake setup, the position of the generator field switch, fuel pump, etc… In this fashion all locomotives can work with this information. An SD40 could be producing 2500 H.P. while an A.C. is pumping 4400 H.P. Both units are in #8 throttle forward power. Hope this helps.
Hogger54
Very informative information. Thank you! Your mention of the “generator field switch” was interesting. . . simply because I have no idea what that is for. Perhaps you can elaborate?
You remarks about a 2500HP unit and a 4400HP unit each being capable of producing only their maximum amount of horsepower in Run-8 of course make sense. That brings to mind yet another question, however. Why do I often see a pair of 4000HP CSX engines hauling 160 loads of coal, and then see a pair of 6000HP engines hauling 35 intermodal cars in a hotshot symbol train? The excess of power on the intermodals doesn’t make sense to me. Unless, of course, one engine is simply “for emergency” in case the lead unit suffers a break-down. The dispatcher certainly doesn’t want that train to fail to make a connection. Otherwise, I would think that one 6000HP unit would be capable of hauling such a train all by itself. . . as born out by the fact that 160 coal loads require only a total of 8000HP. What’s your opinion on this?
I see CSX on the ex ATSF line through Fullerton on a regular basis.There is a LOT more NS power through here,though.CN is also fairly common.