CSX Transportation Historical Society

-->

CSX - Maintenance of Way Are Us - 2024 Winter

Rail Fan Adventure --

1. UP 5442-7405-6589 idle on the point of rock train W092-06 on 12-08-2024 at the east end of Shelby.
UP 5442-7405-6589 idle on the point of rock train W092-06 on 12-08-2024 at the east end of Shelby.

2. The crew takes 6589 back to the west end and puts it on as a DPU.
The crew takes 6589 back to the west end and puts it on as a DPU.

3. UP 6589 is now a "C44AC" having previously been a GE AC4400CW built in 1997.
UP 6589 is now a "C44AC" having previously been a GE AC4400CW built in 1997.

4. W092 rips by the east end of Marrowbone (Regina is the post office). The crew thinks they have 12,727 tons and 3,960 feet of train, which the UP power is sufficient to handle.
W092 rips by the east end of Marrowbone (Regina is the post office). The crew thinks they have 12,727 tons and 3,960 feet of train, which the UP power is sufficient to handle.

5. As usual, heavy trains slow as they hit the steep 1.5% grade at Elkhorn Yard. But W092 gets slower...and slower...and slower!
As usual, heavy trains slow as they hit the steep 1.5% grade at Elkhorn Yard. But W092 gets slower...and slower...and slower!

6. At this point, W092 is creeping along at 0.5 m.p.h. The engineer calls the dispatcher and tells him that someone got the car count wrong, and that he is over tonnage. There is no help nearby, so W092 is instructed to keep moving. I understood that he made it to Kingsport eventually. Older locomotives with DC traction motors would have been damaged at such low speed and high amperage. BLMX (Aggregates Equipment LLC) is 234,400, 2,518, and was built by Freight Car America at Roanoke in 06-2016.
At this point, W092 is creeping along at 0.5 m.p.h. The engineer calls the dispatcher and tells him that someone got the car count wrong, and that he is over tonnage. There is no help nearby, so W092 is instructed to keep moving. I understood that he made it to Kingsport eventually. Older locomotives with DC traction motors would have been damaged at such low speed and high amperage. BLMX (Aggregates Equipment LLC) is 234,400, 2,518, and was built by Freight Car America at Roanoke in 06-2016.

7. CSX 515-7566 approach FO Cabin between Pikeville and Fords Branch on 12-02-2024. Eastbound W094 has 55 air dumps of rip-rap stone to be used to repair flood damage south of Erwin TN.
CSX 515-7566 approach FO Cabin between Pikeville and Fords Branch on 12-02-2024. Eastbound W094 has 55 air dumps of rip-rap stone to be used to repair flood damage south of Erwin TN.

8. I proceeded on to Shelby to record this eclectic bunch of air dumps entering the yard. CSX 913334 was built by DIFCO Inc. of Findlay OH, in 07-1992. The load limit is 181,800 and it is labeled to hold 50 cubic yards of material. DIFCO was the Differential Steel Car Co. It was acquired by Trinity Industries in the early 2000s.
I proceeded on to Shelby to record this eclectic bunch of air dumps entering the yard. CSX 913334 was built by DIFCO Inc. of Findlay OH, in 07-1992. The load limit is 181,800 and it is labeled to hold 50 cubic yards of material. DIFCO was the Differential Steel Car Co. It was acquired by Trinity Industries in the early 2000s.

9. CSX 913800 has a load limit of 150,800 and 40 cubic yards. DIFCO built it in 08-1969. My 1974 Car And Locomotive Cyclopedia shows B&O AD91. That car is described as 150,000 "77 ton" and with 40 cubic yard capacity. AD91 was built in 1971, so 913800 could very well be ex C&O/B&O. DIFCO offered air dump cars with 40, 50 and 60 cubic yard capacities. DIFCO says they could raise to 50 degrees and dump to either side in 8 seconds!
CSX 913800 has a load limit of 150,800 and 40 cubic yards. DIFCO built it in 08-1969. My 1974 Car And Locomotive Cyclopedia shows B&O AD91. That car is described as 150,000 "77 ton" and with 40 cubic yard capacity. AD91 was built in 1971, so 913800 could very well be ex C&O/B&O. DIFCO offered air dump cars with 40, 50 and 60 cubic yard capacities. DIFCO says they could raise to 50 degrees and dump to either side in 8 seconds!

10. CSX 995349 is ex-Conrail 53505. This former SD42A class has a load limit of 187,300 and 1,350 cubic feet. It took some digging to determine that PACCAR (Pacific Car & Foundry) built these for Conrail in 1978 at their Renton WA plant. PACCAR has many lines of business, but the most familiar are Kenworth and Peterbilt trucks.
CSX 995349 is ex-Conrail 53505. This former SD42A class has a load limit of 187,300 and 1,350 cubic feet. It took some digging to determine that PACCAR (Pacific Car & Foundry) built these for Conrail in 1978 at their Renton WA plant. PACCAR has many lines of business, but the most familiar are Kenworth and Peterbilt trucks.

11. Herzog Contracting 2401 is 145,700, rated at 40 cubic yards and was built 12-1981. I haven't found a builder stencilled on Herzog cars.
Herzog Contracting 2401 is 145,700, rated at 40 cubic yards and was built 12-1981. I haven't found a builder stencilled on Herzog cars.

12. HZGX 2445 is stencilled as being built 12-1975. These cars look good, indicating they have had heavy maintenance at a recent date.
HZGX 2445 is stencilled as being built 12-1975. These cars look good, indicating they have had heavy maintenance at a recent date.

All for now.

Train images used by permission of Everett N Young