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STB approves Norfolk Southern acquisition of D&H lines
Does this mean a D&H heritage unit in the near future.
No. The D&H is still very much with us and property of CP.
This acquisition really does make much more sense to bring these route miles into the NS fold. Especially when reading Trains article on Harrisburg PA and how this give NS a direct link to Boston area via its PanAm deal if not mistaken.
Always thought BNSF and NS made a good fit. However, any thoughts on a NS and CP fit? Creates a transcontinental rail line without upsetting the UP/BNSF & CSX/NS competition on west and east coasts while giving East Coast Refineries a direct connection to western oil and sets up a pretty strong intermodal competitor for west coast boxes via Vancouver.
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Of course, Canada’s pride would be hurt or maybe not, A Canadian HQ for tax purposes if their is one with an operational US setup. At same time, CN would need to look hard for which I see a CN/KCS combo creating the first true NAFTA railroad and fourth competing intermodal line in Mexico to Chicago corridor.
An NS D&H Heritage Unit can still be a possibility because all NS has to do is ask CP nicely and purchase a license to the D&H name, logo and image. I would think that what NS is paying for these lines the right to do a Heritage Unit should be part of the deal. I would like to see them do one anyway simply because they own part of D&H just like they own part of many other fallen flags. For that matter they ought to do a CP and a Guilford one seeing as that history comes along with the deal too. As if… 
Will this affect any of the short lines in the area?
I think that you will see NS do small deals like this, maybe a deal for PanAm in the future, or they could go bold and try and FEC purchase or KCS. A KCS purchase does the same thing that a NS-CP merger would do without all the red tape.
That would be an interesting combo in the container world, a NS takeover of KCS. That would give UP/BNSF direct competition for West Coast container traffic via Mexico. However, I believe British Columbia is ahead in ramping up Vancouver’s port capacity vs. Mexican investment to date to take a bite out of the US west coast port market. US long shoremen are doing their best to drive traffic away. It is also unique to note that Portland no longer has a containership calling its port
Before cp. rail took over the D&H the line it was doubled tracked, from binghamton to schenectady i wounder if norforlk southern would consider putting back the secound track since rail freight has increased and also they would put back the old albany main line that ran from delanson to the port of albany ,it would save time &money then having the trains run all the way to saratoga and back down to the port of albany. also they would hook up with csx from selkirk at the port . the old albany main crossed the csx tracks at voohesville so you can install a switch track to the csx main line and also run to selkirk . money wise this makes cense, maybe norforlk&southern will consider it?
I don’t believe the current level of traffic would justify double track from Binghamton to Schenectady at this time, but maybe in the future. Currently there have been more N.S. freights running with trackage-rights than C.P. freights operating on their own line. I suspect N.S. anticipates an increase in traffic on this line for them, whereas C.P. didn’t see that happening for them. I think that over-all this deal will improve the future for both of these carriers in and for the “Great North-East”. What’s the ‘big-deal’ about those Heritage Units anyway? I just can’t see the N.S. having any RS3s,PAs or even GP-38-2s in D& ‘lightning-stripes’ added to their locomotive roster. See, to me those would be some ‘true’ Heritage Units. Heritage runs deep on the D&H, and is much more than a ‘fake photo’ of some 21st century diesel locomotive to satisfy someone’s ego.
The “big deal” with a Heritage unit is that in today’s corporate world of conformity, it gives a nod to the past without having to sacrifice the needs of today’s locomotives, I don’t think ego has anything to do with it and all my photo’s of the heritage units are real photos, not one of them is a fake. A new ES44 would look great in D&H stripes.
Chris, Your explanation is very understandable and makes sense to me. Thanks for clarifying it for me. I agree that a new ES44 in D&H stripes would look great, but an ‘old’ D&H Sharknose, PA1, RS-3 or GP38-2 would look even greater. Oh well, I guess we have to accept reality, is a point well taken. Thanks !
I,m adding from a couple of weeks ago , regarding a secound track to be reinstalled . If you go to the schenectady amtrack station you will most likely see cp trains or norforlk & soutnern trains waiting one track over from the station , for a green light to proceed this is because amtrack shares the tracks going north and south from this point to canada and vermont, it is fare to say trains sit at this location from 15 mins to 1 hour to get the all clear , talk about wasting time and money a secound track would elemate this problem. freight and passenger trains sharing a single track in both directions is a accident waiting to happen . i would think the people at norforlk&southern would see this and and fix it !
Paul, Very good point you make ! Won’t the new installation of the second track between Schenectady and Albany, in some way eliminate this bottle neck ?
yes it would,and if they put back the old albany main line from Delanson to the port of albany it would save at least two hours of man power and time instead of going up thru saratoga and back down to the port , norforlk&southern would have to invest money to replace a bridge over the kauterous creek and new rails but in the long run it would be well worth it!
regarding the the secound track between schenectady and albany this would do nothing for norforlk&southern , that part is owned by csx with rights for amtrack to use and csx local freights only sorry, also you can,t turn the trains to go in that direction thats why putting back the old albany main from delanson would work