Just saw Wisconsin Central #6652 (F45?) spliced between a CSX C44-8 and a UP SD-(?). They were on a CSX mixed freight, heading east out of New Orleans. South Mississippi seems a little far from Wisconsin to be a run-through .... ? Hank
No doubt CSXT and WC are equalizing horsepower hours and miles. Railroad use a complicatedc formula on run through locomotive so that each one gets roughly the same use of each others' motive power. For example, say a run through runs 500 miles on one railroad and 300 miles on the other. Each railroad furnishes 5000 hp for the train. After each run, the longer haul road owes the shorter haul 1,000,000 hp-miles, which can be equalized by allowing the shorter haul road 1,000,000 hp-miles on the run-through units in non-run through service. Also, if a yard has a train to get out and the only power is foreign power, do you think the YM & TM are going to care what color the locomotives are? They'll move the freight and offer a payback later.
Gregg, thanks for the explanation. I had read various news briefs about this, but never understood the concept. Makes sense now. That explains why I had seen "strange" short liners coming through Gulfport, e.g. Montana Rail Link, Indiana & Ohio, etc., but didn't understand why they were on the southern extreme of CSX. I could understand Amtrak F-40's under lease to help out, but Susie-Q and D&H back five years before the Conrail break-up, and then Guilford MEC .... Thanks, Hank
Hank, re: the Susie-Q locomotives. If they were the -8-40-B's, CSX actually put up the money for these units while NYSW was operating the D&H and they were turned over to CSXT when CP took over.
I'll be darned - yes, they were B40-8's. I had never heard that about CSX financing the Susie-Q. There are quite a few tentacles to CSX, aren't there? Although UP may be the largest rail line in terms of mileage, sounds like CSX may well be the largest company in terms of Gross, e.g. trains, barges, containers, ships, financing, ad nauseum ... ? Thanks Gregg. [ 16 March 2001: Message edited by: Hank Coolidge ] [ 16 March 2001: Message edited by: Hank Coolidge ]
I have seen some WC power here on the CN . Actually I have had a WC unit trailing more than once . When I do see WC power it is always trailing here on the CN . [ 16 March 2001: Message edited by: Davecn5623 ]
Didn't WC swap SD45's for CSX's ex-Conrail SD80MAC's? WC wanted to try AC power for their Taconite trains through the UP(that's Upper Pennisula) of Michigan during winter months. I beleive they're running as DPU's loaded and two on the point empty. I'm not sure how long the trade lasted. But that would explain the WC a long way from home. Eric
I havn't seen the SD80MAC's up here yet, or ever. I think they stayed in the Green Bay area. I wanted to see them up close with all the ore jennys in tow...
