I apologize if this isn't the right forum for this kind of question but since CSX is the descendent of our favorite railroads and there might be some fans in the society, I decided to take a chance. I recently moved to Los Angeles, CA, from Winston-Salem, NC. (a huge change) I currently live near the old SP route which bissects downtown. I've noticed approximately one in four freight consists has a CSX locomotive. A few times I've even seen all CSX consists! I've spotted far more eastern locomotives out here than I've ever spotted of western locomtives back home, even though this is UP/BNSF stomping ground. Is it merely "swapping" motive power or is there something more??

-- Andrew Callo (acallo@dcf.net), February 07, 2000

Answers

The Class 1's all have lease agreements and swap power as repayment. They are used on a per-hour basis and they report back and forth with the loco-hours consumed on each other's line. I can tell you, working here in TAmpa, at Yeoman Yard, I see a lot of foreign power:UP, BNSF, NS(usually dedicated consists - and usually with their own ETD on the rear. Seems some of their equipment is proprietary to their own equipment, most of the HTD and ETD equipment used on the other roads is NOT compatible with NS equipment.) Mostly, I am seeing leased units from a major leasing firm: HLCX, HLGX, FURX, GSCX, GATX, HATX, and others. SOme days a real "fruit salad" of colors (Shades of the old Lehigh Valley)

-- walt rogers (wjriii@gte.net), June 11, 2001.

I have noticed that as well. Not to long ago I saw a BNSF SD-90MAC at CSX's Collier Yard near Petersburg, VA and two weeks prior I saw a Sante Fe "warbonnet" in Rocky Mount, NC.

-- Grady F. McKinley (gradymck@bellatlantic.net), July 26, 2000.

Just to underscore the answer, was in N. Carolina mountains few days ago and saw a Conrail locomotive being used as a pusher on an NS coal train southbound from Asheville to Hendersonville. In this case though probably just an engine NS got in the Conrail breakup that they haven't gotten around to repainting yet.

-- bob lowry (rlowry98@aol.com), June 23, 2000.