"Dirt" train

OldBuzzard Apr 3, 2004

  1. OldBuzzard

    OldBuzzard New Member

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    Well, they sent out another load of Radioactive dirt from Fernald on Monday. I kept forgetting to bring home the info on the engines, so I'm a bit late on posting it.

    This time it had what seems to be an rather odd combination of engines.

    From front to back:

    CSX 6491 GP40-2
    CSX 2320 Road Slug
    CSX 9045 CW44-9
    CSX 7883 CW40-8
    Conrail 7480 C39-8

    I still haven't gotten any pics of the cars, but will try to get some soon.
     
  2. chessie

    chessie TrainBoard Supporter

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    I can see the string of big GE's, but the slug set seems a little out of place.... maybe they also use the train as an "engine move"?

    Harold
     
  3. OldBuzzard

    OldBuzzard New Member

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    Well, it appears that the slug combo is replacing the GP38-2 that was on this run. I'm seeing it every Mon, Wed, and Fri, when they do the normal run to the chemical plant.

    The GP38 was almost always with the 'dirt trains' too, and I think that they only go to Richmond with the dirt, and the 'big' ones take it the rest of the way.

    Part of it may be due to the fact that there are 2 grades to pull just after they get started. In fact, on the 2 'test runs' that they did, and on about the first 4 or 5 'live' loads, they had to stop, back up, and make a 2nd try. Evidently they were losing traction on the first grade.

    They sent out another dirt load on Monday, and I have another 'mystery'.

    This time they had from front to back:

    Slug Combo
    'Mystery Engine'
    Union Pacific 2489 SD60M
    Union Pacific 4932 SD70M

    Now, for the 'Mystery Engine'

    It was an SD40-2 with the number 3080. However, there was no name on it. It did have the letters GCFX under the number that was under the window on the cab.

    It was a very light blue, kinda like Robin's Egg, with maybe a bit of grey added. It had two dark/bright blue stripes around the main body. The nose was white, with 4 'chevrons' on it. The chevrons were the same color blue as the stripes, and were outlined with silver.
     
  4. chessie

    chessie TrainBoard Supporter

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    Your mystery engine is a fairly common site around here.... CSX has long term lease units from FURX , CEFX ,GCFX and others.... they add variety [​IMG]

    Harold
     
  5. OldBuzzard

    OldBuzzard New Member

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    Heh...just after I posted that, I sez to myself.
    "Self, why don't you try a 'Google Search"? Well, Self said, "DOH"!!!!

    I found some pics, so it's not all that 'mysterious' any more [​IMG] [​IMG]

    I gotta say, it was a nice looking engine. Pretty clean, and seems to have been painted not all that long ago. I really like the color scheme.
     
  6. chessie

    chessie TrainBoard Supporter

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    Did it look like this?
    [​IMG]

    Harold
     
  7. OldBuzzard

    OldBuzzard New Member

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  8. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Harold-

    Your photo angle really got me this morning! I'm still half asleep. [​IMG] At first the engine appeared to be embedded in the top of the flat car......

    [​IMG]

    Boxcab E50
     
  9. chessie

    chessie TrainBoard Supporter

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    Harold-

    Your photo angle really got me this morning! I'm still half asleep. [​IMG] At first the engine appeared to be embedded in the top of the flat car......

    [​IMG]

    Boxcab E50
    </font>[/QUOTE]Yeah, it wasn't the best shot.... It was the first time I had seen one of those units, and I really wanted a shot... there was a train in front on the lead track(s); I just happened to catch a glimpse of the unit thru the "hole" created by the bulkhead flat... it does look like it is riding on the flat ;)

    Harold
     
  10. BrianS

    BrianS E-Mail Bounces

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    There are a number of the GCFX units, numbered above 3051, painted in the green and gray scheme of FURX as well.
     

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