I'm new here but was sort of surprised over the weekend when I saw two CSX locos and a NS loco as power in trains going down Tehachapi grade. Is this normal, had never seen them out here before?
It is actually very normal. The major RRs in this country have run-through power agreements. Some trains are joint efforts between an eastern and a western road, so power will just stay on to save time. A common example for me is the Q390/Q351 here in NY. This train comes off the UP in Chicago and keeps it's UP power to CSX's Selkirk Yard near Albany, NY. It then returns on the westbound counterpart. So it is not uncommon to see foreign power on each other's roads. It happens on a rather regular basis, and allows us modern modelers to add some variety to our motive power fleet.
Never noticed it before, guess I'm paying more attention now. Thanks for the info, it does give some options and variety of power options.
Like Harron said, motive power can get around thanks to run through agreements, power pools, and leases. While railfanning the SP and UP here in SoCal, I've seen locomotives from CSX, NS, IC, CR, BN, KCS, WC, Georgetown RR, Guilford (ok, it was owned by Helm, but still in Guilford paint), CN, CP, Soo, and just about every lease company you've heard of (and a few you probably haven't ). Lots of variety to make railfan trips more intersting! [ 06. February 2003, 03:21: Message edited by: SP 8299 ]
I'm with you Greenshirt, I was in southern Indiana and saw a NS, UP, and Conrail lashed together to haul a long steel coil train. I was very surprised to see all three together It was pretty
I was an engineer on the Central RR of Indiana and we also used to pool power with the NS out of Cinn. OH to great bend OH to off load soy beans to barges on the Ohio river
Welcome to the TrainBoard Larry! (We just might be related if your ancestors came from Wales and you are related to Pres. Woodrow Wilson or Gen. Benjamin Wilson of the Confederate states?)
