ok hello all, i know that conrail got divided up between NS & CSX but was it NS with the bigger share? im not sure,any way did the RR that got the bigger share get to pick the better locomotives and equipment? or was it divided equally? im just curious to know if one road got most of the newer ones and the other road was left with the older ones. thanks in advance. James
The 58% (NS)/42% (CSX) ratio was observed in virtually each individual series of locomotives and freight equipment. If I’m not mistaken, the NS share of SD80MACs are still the only AC power on that railroad.
As for freight equipment, the numbers of the cars relettered NYC (which is the CSX reporting mark for ex-Conrail equipment) appear to be pretty much at random within the various series, but the 58/42 ratio is maintained in nearly all cases. One set of rebuilt 60-foot box cars was divided up so that all of the CR cars were numbered above all of the NYC cars. NYC appears to have gotten all of the secondhand Bethgons, but CR (NS) seems to have retained the rebuilt hoppers.
After the split a large number of older “less desirable” locomotives were returned to lessors or sold as well. For example, a number of the SD50s we used to run on coal drags are now on KCS, UP as their units or other places as leased power. Quite a few were sent to Shared Assets too. Many C30-7s and B23-7 and B36-7s were simply sold off. Many GEs went to South America.
LC
when i was coming into oakland via amtrak and on a siding was a conrail dash-8
very dirty bue was leading a long intermodal train
Limitedclear and Cshaverr have it right. www.thedieselshop.us
We still have a large number of Conrail lettered boxcars and engines here in the metro area of Detroit, Michigan. Especially see quite a few of the engines and boxcars near the Conrail Sterling Yard in Sterling Heights, Michigan.
I have also observed the Conrail units very frequently in Northern Ohio.
Lots of Conrail-lettered equipment around, but the reporting marks are what must be checked. If it is still lettered CR, then NS owns it. If it’s lettered NYC, CSX owns it.
Locomotives remaining in Conrail paint are a little harder to figure. If the number on the cab is in yellow, it’s a CSX unit. If it’s in white on a black background, it belongs to NS.
Guidance appreciated!
NS owns all the Conrail and predecessor marks EXCEPT NYC, which CSX owns.
NS and CSX divided the locomotive fleet exactly 58/42. They even looked at overhaul dates and repair history to figure who got what.
Rumor has it that NS was interested in “horse trading” (pun intended) so that some of CR’s minor models (C39-8 for example) wouldn’t get split, but CSX wasn’t interested. Maybe they thought NS was trying to pull a fast one?
There are some sites out there that list what Conrail engines went to which Railroad after the split. Former Conrail engines that went to NS primarily had either white or black patches on the sides of the engines with new numbers applied. Many former Conrail engines still on the rosters of NS and CSX are being repainted… NS’ share of ex-Conrail SD40-2’s in the Altoona helper pool are seeing the paint booth in more rapid succession over the past few years, though some Conrail-Blue helpers can still be seen on the Mountain between Altoona and Johnstown. Being that NS does not seem to like AC power, it makes one wonder why NS didn’t give all the 80MACS to CSX…However, NS’ group of 80MACS earns its keep on the coal routes near Pittsburgh on the old Mon Line. The MACS also run regularly on mine runs on the South Fork Secondary Line, which diverges off the NS Main at South Fork, Pa to two loadouts between South Fork and Central City. The MACS also run on locals between Altoona and Johnstown, and also take loaded drags to and bring empties from a power plant at New Florence, Pa, just West of Johnstown,Pa…As stated above,some power has been retired, such as GP38’s, and older GE power. NS is getting 52 SD70M-2’s and 50 GE ES40DC’s. NS will be receiving an additional 138 Locomotives in 2006, making one wonder if any more older Conrail power will be retired once the new power arrives.