The Hangout

[Anonymous]

Hey all you CSX and CSX pre-merger railroad fans!!! This is the place you've been looking for!!! I know this really belongs on the trains forum, but it will get better response here. This is the place to talk about and pose questions about CSX or pre-CSX railroads! If you keep posting on this thread, it will stay on page one. So use it wisely. No profanity, please.[:)]

[gvdobler]

I live out west so I don't know anything about CSX and a merger. I do see some cars with their name occasionally.

What's the pro's and con's of a merger? That should get a response on both sides.

Jon - Las Vegas

[dano99a]

who knows what CSW stands for .....

Answer this and it explains the pros and cons of a merger.

[:)]

[AntonioFP45]

I miss the pre-merger CSX ancestors. For me, Seaboard Coast Line brings fond memories as I was fortunate to encounter friendly crews, cab rides, and so many photo opportunities. Going to the huge locomotive terminal at the Tampa Uceta Yard to take photos was a "no big deal" event. If you didn't walk on the tracks and were polite, the yard crews were very accommodating. Tagging freight cars back then? Almost non-existent!

As a teenager, I was happier than an aardvark on an anthill!

Well, times have changed so much since the late 70s. CSX today seems to do an exceptional job of shooting itself in the foot. Though they're not 100% at fault as our liberalized lawsuit happy society is a big contributing factor.

Unfortunately there have been many incidents where employees have been mistreated. Yes, the bad apples deserve to be "straightened out" however raking everyone else isn't the answer. Check out www.csx-sucks.com

I don't necessarily agree with everything featured, but one sees the stark realities of railroading today. It's not just CSX, but corporate America in general is not employee friendly. But this is the atmosphere that we as a society have helped create.

As the saying goes: "You reap what you sow."

[AntonioFP45]

By the same token though, it's not all doom and gloom. I've read stories of many CSX employees that are satisfied with their jobs and do the best they can to work safely, keep a clear head and get along with people. Having worked at a bus transportation company for 15 years, I learned that when "incidents" occur, to document-document and then document any unusual incidents that might potentially get me or a fellow employee in trouble! Supervisors were notorious for accusing the innocent along with the guilty.

By keeping a log book, whenever my bosses "accused me" of not following some procedure I could show them the entry I made where some supervisor told me "to do this instead of that". Based on what I've read from railroad employees, the atmosphere on a railroad is similar.

Peace!

[twhite]

Can't help you much with CSX, that merger is still about forty years into the future for me, but I have 'borrowed' a couple of Chesapeake & Ohio steamers to help my railroad get through the 'power-crunch' of WWII---an Allegheny, a couple of 2-6-6-2's and one of their great-looking 4-8-2's. Wouldn't mind getting ahold of a 2-8-2, also. I think that C&O had some of the best-looking steamers going. Always thought of it as the Rio Grande of the East. And oddly enough, those big beasts look right at home in my Sierra Nevadas. Like I said, can't help you with CSX, but I'm sure a BIG fan of C&O.
Tom [:P][:P][:P]

[dano99a]

QUOTE: Originally posted by twhite

Can't help you much with CSX, that merger is still about forty years into the future for me, but I have 'borrowed' a couple of Chesapeake & Ohio steamers to help my railroad get through the 'power-crunch' of WWII---an Allegheny, a couple of 2-6-6-2's and one of their great-looking 4-8-2's. Wouldn't mind getting ahold of a 2-8-2, also. I think that C&O had some of the best-looking steamers going. Always thought of it as the Rio Grande of the East. And oddly enough, those big beasts look right at home in my Sierra Nevadas. Like I said, can't help you with CSX, but I'm sure a BIG fan of C&O.
Tom [:P][:P][:P]

[tup]
CSX is still trying to figure railroading out in my opinion

[AntonioFP45]

Dano99a,

Yep! You've definetly seen the light at the end of the tunnel. Let's hope CSX does eventually.

[dano99a]

I still think they should have just kept the Chessie name but that still doesn't get around the executives that run the show (which is the source of the problem from what I have heard)

[Anonymous]

A merger is when two or more railroads combine for financial or corporate resons. The CSX runs near my dad's business, so i see trains often. I really don't see much wrong with it. Sure, they have some issues but they're all right. CSX stands for something like Chessapeake Southern etc. I'm probably wrong, but i'm only 13 and still learning.

[AntonioFP45]

CSXguy,

Here it is for you:

"C" is for Chessie System.
"S" is for Seaboard System Railroad
"X" is the multiplication system.

Chessie Seaboard Multiplied as the combination multiplied the size, potential and fleet. was created in 1986.

We understand that you're 13, so the issues I mentioned above won't seem like a big deal. When you graduate from high school you will hopefully continue your education at either a Tech College or a 4 year college. Afterwards when you start your career, what I stated above will make much more sense to you.

I wasn't making CSX out to be "an evil empire", but a typical corporation where many decisions are made on a daily basis that affect operations, employees, customers, etc.
Some decisions are smart, others seem insane. CSX is still paying dearly for buying half of Conrail. From the reports I've read, they're suffering financially to the point where a lot of needed maintenance is "put off" and only the most critical is being addressed.

For example: For a while now CSX has been cutting down on locomotive servicing sites. As a result engineers have been complaining of filthy, smelly toilets on new modern locomotives. (toilets are located in the nose).

Freight cars are no longer being repainted at the frequency they were back in the 80s. Taggers are having a ball!. There is a "graffitti resistant" industrial clear coat available on the market. CSX can't afford it now and doesn't consider it a priority. Again, appearance (image) takes a back seat.

Steel bridges in U.S towns that were painted every few years sit rusting as money for painting is frozen.

They're trying to get away from the small shippers to concentrate on shippers that move large quantities of items. To the CSX and UP brass, the amount of money generated from small shippers, is not enough to justify paying crews, assembling and running trains,and locomotives. Many shippers have been reportedly upset

My own personal view is that while a giant merger like CSX or UP is created for financial and efficiency benefits, the down side is the top management brass and the lower rank supervisors are often out of touch with each other. Communicatin and good service seem to suffer in various areas.

Again, these are just my opinions, but mega-mergers have their beneifts and flaws.

O.K, I'll stop rambling.

[Anonymous]

CSX is way to big IMO

[AntonioFP45]

QUOTE: Originally posted by CNWfan5525

CSX is way to big IMO

Not just CSX, but UP, NS, CN, BNSF.