Trains.com

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

For Those Of You Who Model & Take Interest In CSX, Why? Please Show Me Your Modelling Work.

4190 views
44 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    May 2010
  • From: SE. WI.
  • 8,253 posts
Posted by mbinsewi on Sunday, January 17, 2021 3:52 PM

Engi1487
I have to thank Henry for helping me find an answer to this.

Whatever controversy there might be about the CSX, is more than likely what info Henry has given.

Mike.

  • Member since
    March 2020
  • 290 posts
Posted by Engi1487 on Sunday, January 17, 2021 3:01 PM

ROBERT PETRICK

I like CSX. I like the Bright Future livery. I model CSX. Not exclusively . . . but nevertheless . . .

And I like at least two if its predecessor railroads: Seaboard Coast Line (and its predecessor Seaboard Air Lines) and Atlantic Coast Line. So much so that I scratchbuilt a model of the corporate headquarters in Jacksonville, Florida to place on my layout. Of course, I substituted my own railroad logo . . . but hey!

 

Not entirely sure why the OP asked me to defend my decisions, but I am happy to do so.

Robert

 



Hey Robert, I am not asking you to defend your choice of railroad to model, I am just asking why. I hope my question didnt come across as that. Good work on your scratchbuilt version of the CSX headquarters building with your own railroad logo on it.

I have to say you have ispired me, as I now like CSX

  • Member since
    December 2015
  • From: Shenandoah Valley
  • 9,094 posts
Posted by BigDaddy on Sunday, January 17, 2021 2:49 PM

This article from Trains gives a little more insight into job cuts of Harrison

Unions hated him wherever he went.  I think that's what the OP picked up on in online comments about the railroad. 

I model the pre CSX era so I don't have a dog in the hunt.

Henry

COB Potomac & Northern

Shenandoah Valley

  • Member since
    March 2020
  • 290 posts
Posted by Engi1487 on Sunday, January 17, 2021 2:30 PM

mbinsewi

 

 
Engi1487
 I understand in a basic sence that amoung the railfanning, train and railway ethusiasts, they have mixed feelings oon CSX as a railroad, as its name sounds more corprate like compared, and its logo looks borring.  I would like help understanding what caused these feelings among the railroad enthusiasts and into model railroading possibly?

 

Still waiting for the OP to define "mixed feelings" and "what caused these feelings".

I read it as:  there is a problem and a controversy about the CSX, and what caused this.

If there is "mixed feelings",  I think Henry's response might have hit it.

Still waiting.

Mike.

 



Hi Mike,

I am afraid I dont have a true definition at the moment. I ask as over time watching videos and posts about railfans opinons, is why I asked, and at the moment dont have a source for any at the moment as there are too many to count.

I have to thank Henry for helping me find an answer to this.

  • Member since
    May 2010
  • From: SE. WI.
  • 8,253 posts
Posted by mbinsewi on Sunday, January 17, 2021 11:29 AM

Engi1487
 I understand in a basic sence that amoung the railfanning, train and railway ethusiasts, they have mixed feelings oon CSX as a railroad, as its name sounds more corprate like compared, and its logo looks borring.  I would like help understanding what caused these feelings among the railroad enthusiasts and into model railroading possibly?

Still waiting for the OP to define "mixed feelings" and "what caused these feelings".

I read it as:  there is a problem and a controversy about the CSX, and what caused this.

If there is "mixed feelings",  I think Henry's response might have hit it.

Still waiting.

Mike.

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: 4610 Metre's North of the Fortyninth on the left coast of Canada
  • 9,352 posts
Posted by BATMAN on Sunday, January 17, 2021 11:16 AM

ROBERT PETRICK
Not entirely sure why the OP asked me to defend my decisions, but I am happy to do so.

I don't think the OP is asking anyone to defend modelling CSX, rather he is asking what has drawn you toward CSX or what appeals to you about CSX.

I think I understand what he is asking having spent 36 years in logistics. I would have the opportunity to visit five different RRs occasionally and while they are all railroads there was/is a distinct individual feel about them I would notice. Maybe it was the from the top-down corporate culture of a company or the size and wealth, who knows. It was the same with all the courier companies/Post Offices of the world I dealt with. I could tell you exactly what companies facility I was in just by the vibe.

Brent

"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."

  • Member since
    January 2014
  • 1,500 posts
Posted by ROBERT PETRICK on Sunday, January 17, 2021 10:51 AM

I like CSX. I like the Bright Future livery. I model CSX. Not exclusively . . . but nevertheless . . .

And I like at least two if its predecessor railroads: Seaboard Coast Line (and its predecessor Seaboard Air Lines) and Atlantic Coast Line. So much so that I scratchbuilt a model of the corporate headquarters in Jacksonville, Florida to place on my layout. Of course, I substituted my own railroad logo . . . but hey!

 

Not entirely sure why the OP asked me to defend my decisions, but I am happy to do so.

Robert

LINK to SNSR Blog


  • Member since
    December 2015
  • From: Shenandoah Valley
  • 9,094 posts
Posted by BigDaddy on Sunday, January 17, 2021 7:55 AM

CSX spent a small fortune to hire Hunter Harrison, so he could implement precision railroadingHe was in poor health at the time and lasted less than a year.

I don't know if any of the following is true, but people on the webcams claimed employees were leaving and maintenance was suffering because of his cost cutting.

Engi1487
I have to ask the memories of the forum who model and take interest in CSX, to share their stories, show their layouts and model railroading work.

We lost Brakie, a former CSX employee.  He always had stories.  Back in my railfan days, I took this picture at Cumberland

Thomas Viaduct

Henry

COB Potomac & Northern

Shenandoah Valley

  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Morristown, NJ
  • 808 posts
Posted by nealknows on Sunday, January 17, 2021 6:05 AM

I've been a model railroader and a railfan since the early 70's when I was a teenager watching trains in the Penn Central & Long Island Railroad yards in Sunnyside, Queens, NY, home of the GG-1's ( rode in one from Sunnyside to NY Penn)!

Seeing east coast railroads was a thrill at that age. At first I modeled Conrail and Penn Central since there wasn't a lot of LIRR trains (HO Scale) out there for a teen to buy. As I gre older and moved to NJ, I saw more of the railroads I liked including CSX. in the early 2000's when I was able to buy a house and build a permanent layout, I wanted to have more trains to model that I saw; mainly CSX. While I liked the YN2, the YN3 became my favorite, as well as easier to custom paint!

One day I was sitting on Route 78 East in New Jersey near the NJT / CSX / NS Interchanger which heads to Jersey City, and I saw the Juice Train. Back then it was all Tropicana reefers; at least that particular train had them. I knew right there my railroad would have that train with CSX on the head end. 

As my latest layout is up and running, it has a model of a Tropicana Juice Facility, completes with a lot of Tropicana cars and a dedicated Tropicana switcher. My mainline trains are pretty much CSX engines with some Conrail sprinkled in and my shortline / local trains are my freelance-private railroad name. 

Since I like CSX so much, I just bought the 3 new Heritage units Scaletrains.com came out with: First repsonders, Veterans and Law enforcement.

That being said, when I travel and have a chance to railfan, I will do so regardless whether it's a railroad I model or not. It's part of the hobby and you never know when you see something that will inspire you.

In closing, I will say this: Hello, my name is Neal and I'm a trainaholic. My last EBay purchase was 3 days ago....

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: Maryland
  • 12,897 posts
Posted by ATLANTIC CENTRAL on Saturday, January 16, 2021 11:23 PM

mbinsewi

 

 
Engi1487
 I understand in a basic sence that amoung the railfanning, train and railway ethusiasts, they have mixed feelings oon CSX as a railroad,

 

Explain, and define "mixed feelings"  It's a merger of the Chessie System, and the Seaboard Coast, along with others.

A link to the CSX merger family tree:

https://trn.trains.com/railroads/railroad-history/2006/06/csx-merger-family-tree

Mike.

 

I too would like to understand these "mixed feelings"?

I live in the heart of what was once the home of the B&O, and I know lots of modelers who model all roads and eras, including CSX.

I will admit I don't know or spend time with hardly anyone who is a present day "railfan" who is not a modeler. That is a population of people I don't really have any contact with, so I don't know (or care) how they feel about CSX.

And I'm not a person who spends time on virtual railfan, or owns a scanner and sits by the tracks, that will simply never happen.

I do know a short list of CSX employees, and like all employees of big companies, they make jokes about what they don't like about their bosses or their jobs.

I am only posting in this thread because I am curious about the OP's "mix feelings" comment, and because if I was somehow more interested in present day railroading, and was going to model a real prototype in present day railroading, I would likely model CSX.

But then again I am not the sort of person who "follows the crowd", or even knows what the crowd thinks, on topics like this.

My interest in present day railroading is casual at best. I can't tell you what any of these new locos are, I don't really know much about what goes on today on the railroads.

And maybe that is why I don't have any negative impressions of CSX?

I see lots of trains all the time. My house is just a few miles from both the CSX northeast mainline and the AMTRAK northeast corridor mainline here in the northeast part of Maryland. 

I still refer to them as the "B&O" line and the "PRR" line...........

Right where we are, Norfork Southern also moves some freight over part of the AMTRAK line.

There are only so many hours in the day, so a long time ago I adopted this motto - I was once well rounded until I learned what I really like.

I like trains from the 1950's....

Just curious what prompted this post from the OP?

Sheldon 

    

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Northfield Center TWP, OH
  • 2,538 posts
Posted by dti406 on Saturday, January 16, 2021 10:08 PM

As a friend of mine who worked for the B&O used to sign his posts on several forums.

The only thing I want with CSX on it is my Paycheck!

In my model railroading world the BN, CSX and now BNSF does not exst.

Rick Jesionowski

Rule 1: This is my railroad.

Rule 2: I make the rules.

Rule 3: Illuminating discussion of prototype history, equipment and operating practices is always welcome, but in the event of visitor-perceived anacronisms, detail descrepancies or operating errors, consult RULE 1!

  • Member since
    May 2012
  • 1,855 posts
Posted by angelob6660 on Saturday, January 16, 2021 9:16 PM

Since I designed my layout for Conrail, I had too fix the track and building locations to also model the New York Central. 

Unfortunately my redesigns and revisions haven't helped me modeling both railroads.

Back 10 or more years ago I was to continue with the Conrail merger with CSX up until the year end of 2007. It would have a few Dark Future locomotives and majority of them being Bright Future. 

Never had a problem with CSX, except I never cared for the boxcar logo. It looks fine as a corporate logo not as railroad wearing symbol.

Modeling the G.N.O. Railway, The Diamond Route.

Amtrak America, 1971-Present.

  • Member since
    May 2010
  • From: SE. WI.
  • 8,253 posts
Posted by mbinsewi on Saturday, January 16, 2021 9:00 PM

Engi1487
 I understand in a basic sence that amoung the railfanning, train and railway ethusiasts, they have mixed feelings oon CSX as a railroad,

Explain, and define "mixed feelings"  It's a merger of the Chessie System, and the Seaboard Coast, along with others.

A link to the CSX merger family tree:

https://trn.trains.com/railroads/railroad-history/2006/06/csx-merger-family-tree

Mike.

  • Member since
    January 2017
  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
  • 18,255 posts
Posted by SeeYou190 on Saturday, January 16, 2021 8:36 PM

Of course I don't model CSX, but I have a good friend in Tampa that does.

He lives near the Yeoman Rail Yard, and he has seen CSX every day. The blue, gray, and yellow CSX paint scheme is very handsome, and the logo looks fine to me.

-Kevin

Living the dream.

  • Member since
    April 2018
  • From: Northern NY (Think Upstate but even more)
  • 1,306 posts
Posted by Harrison on Saturday, January 16, 2021 8:15 PM

Engi1487

 I understand in a basic sence that amoung the railfanning, train and railway ethusiasts, they have mixed feelings oon CSX as a railroad, as its name sounds more corprate like compared, and its logo looks borring.

 I would like help understanding what caused these feelings among the railroad enthusiasts and into model railroading possibly? I find that I like it, as I like all railroads and the liverys they use on their equipment. I do like the boxcar logo CSX uses, as it perfectly shows its a railroad transportation service that using its rorlling stock equipment, transports goods around for clients and customers to be delivered at their respective destinations, like every other railroad.

 I have to ask the memories of the forum who model and take interest in CSX, to share their stories, show their layouts and model railroading work.

 

I railfan the CSX quite a bit, simply because it's the railroad in NY that runs the most trains. While it's not my first choice to model, I have thought about modelling the CSX's water level route, primarily because it's fast paced, intermodal heavy railroading. It doesn't have much to do with the CSX's outward appearance, more of the operational standpoint. I personally find the "Dark Future" paint scheme, well, a bit dark. I much prefer the YN2 "Bright Future" units, and I can't say I even like them as locomotives. Well, that's my opinion on the matter. 

Harrison

Homeschooler living In upstate NY a.k.a Northern NY.

Modeling the D&H in 1978.

Route of the famous "Montreal Limited"

My YouTube

  • Member since
    March 2020
  • 290 posts
For Those Of You Who Model & Take Interest In CSX, Why? Please Show Me Your Modelling Work.
Posted by Engi1487 on Saturday, January 16, 2021 7:53 PM

 I understand in a basic sence that amoung the railfanning, train and railway ethusiasts, they have mixed feelings oon CSX as a railroad, as its name sounds more corprate like compared, and its logo looks borring.

 I would like help understanding what caused these feelings among the railroad enthusiasts and into model railroading possibly? I find that I like it, as I like all railroads and the liverys they use on their equipment. I do like the boxcar logo CSX uses, as it perfectly shows its a railroad transportation service that using its rorlling stock equipment, transports goods around for clients and customers to be delivered at their respective destinations, like every other railroad.

 I have to ask the memories of the forum who model and take interest in CSX, to share their stories, show their layouts and model railroading work.

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Users Online

There are no community member online

Search the Community

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Model Railroader Newsletter See all
Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!