NS and the NEC

Trains Magazine Locomotives
1

It’s been 20 years since I’ve crimped wires and turned a wrench on locomotives at Enola with Conrail and almost as long since my last visit to my home state of PA. As a result I’ve become disconnected from many things there. I was involved heavily at the time in installing LSL’s (Locomotive Speed Limiters) and ditch lights. The LSL’s being integrated with the EL cab signal equipment and in later locomotives as a cpu based EH system. The installations were the result of the 1987 wreck in Chase, MD. Looking at photos of ex-Conrail SD40-2’s from recent years I notice the LSL indicator lights that were on the side sills just behind the cab are gone.

Does NS still use the NEC? If not, what is the alternate route? If so, do they have an alternative to the LSL, which was primarily to be used from Perryville MD to Wash DC?

When cutting in the LSL’s, the trains were heading to Pot Yard from Enola…at the time.

Mark H

2

http://www.nsdash9.com/roster.html Seems to be quite alot of locomotive types there with LSLs.

3

NS does operate some local service on the NEC, mostly in the overnight hours. I’m not sure if they operate any through trains.

4

There may be some detour moves over the NEC to bypass the CSX retaining wall collapse in Baltimore. Not sure if the gauntlet tracks in the B&P and Union Tunnels are still in service.

5

Hi, Mark -

I rode quite few of the LSL test trains out of Enola early on. In fact, I rode the first one out of Oak Island headed to Pot Yard with the Harmon Electronics guys in tow. I remember the requirement for the light on the side of the cab or sill. I know that LSL is still required on the NEC and NS has equpped a good chunk of the fleet with Ultracab (Cab signal + LSL). I don’t know if the requirment for the sill light is still in force though.

6

There WILL NOT be any CSX detour moves over the NEC.