I see so many CSX and NS power on Conrail tracks these days – and fewer Conrail locomotives – that I am beginning to wonder who crews those trains? Are those Conrail employees at the head end, or crews from CSX in the CSX locomotives and NS crews in the NS diesels?
Conrail was absorbed by CSX and NS. The only part of Conrail remaining is Conrail Shared Assets (SAA). SAA has its own employees that operrate its trains over CR SAA trackage in NJ. CSX and NS assign power to SAA for its use. Those locomotives may or may not be former Conrail units.
LC
Conrail has no engines of it’s own. All of Conrail’s power was split between CSX and NS. Most of that power has been repainted for the new owners.
As LC said, SAC (Shared Assets Conrail) uses power leased from CSX or NS. Remember, both CSX and NS operate into SAC territory. So that train could have CSX power and a SAC crew, or a CSX crew. Or NS power and a SAC crew, or NS crew. Or any combination of CSX and NS power and SAC, CSX or NS crews.
Nick
The only trains crewed by shared assets employees are some locals and yard jobs. All the road freights and some locals are either NS, CSX and CP. I am refering to the New Jersey Operation(North and South), there is also a Michigan shared assets operation. I work as a conductor to Oak Island in Newark and to Pavonia in Camden. Sadly the Conrail units are being repainted to NS or CSX schemes.
Jim
Jim,
What is the route used between Newark and Pavonia?
Shared assets Lehigh Line(ex Lehigh Valley) is used between Newark west to Manville NJ and then the CSX Trenton Line (ex Reading) then back to shared assets ex Pennsy.
Jim
Jim,
You may have seen me. In more temperate weather, I sometimes do my train watching at Potter on the ex-LV, sitting on a concrete block just off to the side of the signal tower south of the Inman Ave. grade crossing. Other times, I watch from my car parked trackside at the grade crossing in South Plainfield. Unlike many others, I can only spend 30 minutes tops, but I enjoy the break.
On the ex-LV, is there now a just a single track between Manville and Potter? I see that a new second track is being installed. Is that going all the way to Manville, too? Do you know if there will be a crossover at Potter?