CSX Transportation Historical Society

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CSX - Columbus SD, NS Sandusky Dist., 08-19-2014 -- Part 1 of 3

Rail Fan Adventure --

On Tuesday of the five-day C&O Historical Society Convention in Dublin, OH Herb Parsons and I decided to spend a few hours trackside on the former C&O main line north of Columbus.  Our hotel was only a short distance from the track, so our first stop was Powell.

Coming out of the Scioto River valley in downtown Columbus, there is a 16-mile grade north (railroad west) the crests west of Powell.  The hill reaches 0.50 percent in two locations.  That is not very steep unless you are trying to get a heavy coal train up it.  In steam days a helper was needed.  In the ‘80s a pusher was used again, but now the powerful AC locomotives have tamed Powell hill. 

1.  Signals - view 1.

Signals - view 1.

2.  Signals - view 2.

Signals - view 2.

3.  Signals - view 3.

Signals - view 3.

4.  CSX 5282-49 with w/b T909-19 (Marfork Mine, WV to Arcelor-Mittal Steel at Burns Harbor, IN) 120 loads.

CSX 5282-49 with w/b T909-19

5.  CSX 5282-49 with w/b T909-19 (Marfork Mine, WV to Arcelor-Mittal Steel at Burns Harbor, IN) 120 loads. View 2.
CSX 5282-49 with w/b T909-19. View 2.
 
6.  BNSF 4405-9685 on e/b K080-18 (Cicero, IL to Yorktown, VA).  103 CBTX crude oil tankers plus two buffer cars.

BNSF 4405-9685 on e/b K080-18.

7.  BNSF 4405-9685 on e/b K080-18 (Cicero, IL to Yorktown, VA).  103 CBTX crude oil tankers plus two buffer cars. View 2.
BNSF 4405-9685 on e/b K080-18. View 2.
 
8.  CBTX is the reporting mark for CIT Group/Capital Finance Corp.
CBTX is the reporting mark for CIT Group/Capital Finance Corp.
 
9.  This BNSF covered hopper was stenciled “spacer car” or “buffer car.” 
BNSF covered hopper stenciled “spacer car”.
 
10.  CSX 7666-404 lead e/b K711-18 (Carey, OH to Coshocton, OH).  This is a limestone train from National Lime & Stone to AEP’s Conesville power plant just west of Coshocton on Ohio Central (former PRR).  It is used in the scrubbers to remove SO2.

CSX 7666-404 lead e/b K711-18.

11.  CSX 7666-404 lead e/b K711-18 (Carey, OH to Coshocton, OH).  View 2. 
CSX 7666-404 lead e/b K711-18 . View 2.
 
12.  ANGX is the reporting mark for The Andersons Rail Group.
ANGX reporting mark for The Andersons Rail Group.
 
13.  AEX is The Andersons.  Primarily a grain and agriculture based company, they are big in railcar leasing and repair also.

AEX is The Andersons.

14.  AEX is The Andersons. View 2.
AEX is The Andersons. View 2.
 
15.  MQRX is Macquarie Rail Inc., a large leasing company. 

MQRX is Macquarie Rail Inc.

16.  MQRX is Macquarie Rail Inc., a large leasing company. View 2.
MQRX is Macquarie Rail Inc. View 2.
 
 Parts 2 and 3 will continue the rail fan journey.

Train images used by permission of Everett N Young

last update - 29 Oct 2014