14 unit consist on CSX

[CSX5220]

Hi folks,

I hope this is the right sub forum for this thread. I managed to get a video of a 14 Unit Consist on a CSX Westbound autorack. I want to applogize for the quality and steadiness for the footage.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLQBk8TCiDA

 

[Klinger]

Typical CSX......9 of them were broken down

 

[Gandalf0444]

Typical CSX......9 of them were broken down

Even if they weren't broken down why would all 14 need to be running?:hehe:

 

[Torpedo423]

Very cool, I have seen atleast an 6 unit consist, but never that many


How about 16 steam locomotives?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQBk83R9Gig&feature=player_embedded

 

[psferg]

probably balancing power out. Back in the 80's, conrail used to run a disproportionate amount of eastbounds to westbounds on sundays into Boston. Every Sunday night they would run a westbound "light engine" move back to selkirk. it was not uncommon to see as many as 15 engines at a time... and 4 or 5 cabooses.

 

[cascaderailroad]

I was waiting for someone to mention that it probably was a "power movement".

Oftentime you will see many units on the Pittsbugh line running deadheaded in a consist, being sent east, or west, to fill the pool, when there is a shortage of locos somewhere.

I used to have a video of an Amtrak coal train on the Horseshoe, as it was headed by an Amtrak F40PH, (and four SD45's) that had just been rebuilt at Juniata Shops, and it was being load tested on the head end of a CR empty westbound coal train in the 1980's. The brand new paint still smelled wet !

 

[JCitron]

probably balancing power out. Back in the 80's, conrail used to run a disproportionate amount of eastbounds to westbounds on sundays into Boston. Every Sunday night they would run a westbound "light engine" move back to selkirk. it was not uncommon to see as many as 15 engines at a time... and 4 or 5 cabooses.

I remember seeing that. They also used to run a joint B&M and Conrail Selkirk to Lawrence run too up in the Merrimack Valley. This ran under the old PennCentral as well, and probably before that. I don't know if Guilford/PAR/PAS are doing that anymore with CSX.

When I was quite a bit younger, I had an opportunity to sign on with the B&M while Alan Dustin was still president. I didn't, but in a way I'm probably better off. A few months later after that visit, Guilford took over, and the whole system fell apart!

John

 

[psferg]

I think the primary interchange between CSX and the B&M is through Worcester now. The CSX power runs through to... Lawrence(?). I am amazed that those big 6 axle GE's can stay on the tracks up there.

Unfortunately, I am going to say you are probably right about not going with the B&M back then, considering the labor issues they had in the mid -80's. *sigh*

 

[kws4000]

But what about those steamers???? Man, that was beautiful, to say nothing of the noise!

I know we have enough steam engines here in the US to beat Middle Europe (Steamtown alone), so why can't we pull a stunt like that?

 

[cascaderailroad]

European Steam programs are awesome ...but US Steam programs can not collaborate together, as gaining a major railroad companies mainline permission to use track, insurance costs, and logistics problems never work out.

The closest you will see is: Cass http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izD1HRaSzss

 

[JCitron]

I think the primary interchange between CSX and the B&M is through Worcester now. The CSX power runs through to... Lawrence(?). I am amazed that those big 6 axle GE's can stay on the tracks up there.

Unfortunately, I am going to say you are probably right about not going with the B&M back then, considering the labor issues they had in the mid -80's. *sigh*

I've seen the units in Lowell and up inLawrence, and wondered too how they made it that far. I thought they were "borrowed" power considering that GTI (PAR)'s own equipment is in pretty poor shape. The old GP40s and GP40-2s are becoming a bit ragged now, and I don't think Fink will spend any more than he has to, to keep the route running.

I've heard about the interchange now being in Worcester. PAR has done a number on the system since 1982 when Mellon took over. The western main runs at a top speed of 10mph from Ayer to Worcester. They've done some track work in places, but I think that was to lift some of the ties out of the mud. Other than that very little work because the rest of the route, once they get to Ayer and up to Lowell, is owned by the MBTA and Amtrak so they get free maintenance and 130lb CWR!

It's too bad the B&M took it on the chin so hard after climbing out of bankruptcy. Alan Dustin did a lot of good work to get them out of the hole. The investment community I guess wanted a big return on their money and went for that knight in shining armor, who turned out to be a greedy monster instead.

John

 

[PereMarquette1225fan]

Recently, I rode a BNSF train powered by forty units.