Here's a leaser that I caught on CSX this week... more unusual than I usually catch: Anyone care to guess its heritage?? Harold [ 05. July 2004, 03:50: Message edited by: chessie ]
Harold, That is too cool! I didn't know DM&E had turned loose of any power. Maybe we'll catch that unit in Atlanta soon. Thanks for posting the pic. And yes Scott, you did real good.
Scott, Good eye..... I know it is an ex-DM&E unit (from the paint scheme), but I figured someone had the prior road # too... Thanks! Haroldd
Hey Richard, I caught one of those units on CSX a few weeks ago/........... I'll have to check the road #, but I remember it was a smoker! Harold
Those RLCX units are total junk. They were on long-term lease to BN from LMX in the late '80s and early '90s and have been stored for the last few years. The fleet was recently purchased by RLCX and leased to CSX. The units are basically past their useful lifespan. Not only are they GE units, but BN wasn't known for being the most gentle on their power. The units are the least reliable leasers on CSX and have the highest rate of road failures. At one point last week only two units in the 45-unit fleet were in service. I can't wait for them to finally die!
That there critter is a B39-8, originally leased by LMX to BN in a power-by-the-hour arrangement much like Oakway's SD60s. I've seen them run in all sorts of service, from single-unit Expediter TOFC freeights to general merchandise. And yes, they were rode hard & put away wet by BN. I'm wondering if all the refurbishment they got before being leased out again (if they got ANY refurbishment) extended beyond swapping out brakeshoes........ IIRC, the BN railfans called 'em "Sharks" because of the paint job. Of course, that was back when they were running......
Looks like the numbers were not changed on these units when they were relettered from LMX. Maybe we can drum up a photo of this unit when it was still running on the BN. Would provide a neat comparison.
Won't find much different... Except maybe from their first week of service on BN when they were actually clean.
Sorry, I can't stand it. I have to add another leaser pic. Caught these the same day as the ex LMX unit I posted earlier. It is the unit on the middle track. Sorry that this pic is not as sharp. I shot it with the 35mm and scanned it (my scanner has seen better days). Anyway, hope you enjoy it.
Junk or not, that group of GE's is not something we're used to seeing these days. Considering they're not parked in a scrapline, and in revenue service! Great catch! Jimmy
That looks like an ex N&W/NS C30-7. N&W was known to get every little bit out of an engine. I would think NS was the same way.
