Western Colorado - Somerset Branch of the Union Pacific RR
Today I was surveying up at the Bowie Coal Mine. I heard a train blowing its horn and the sound of the horn was different from what I am used to hearing. ( First thought was that it sounded like the horn on an Amtrak Train ). As the train came into view I looked and I saw a coal train with CSX Power and all CSX coal gondolas going up valley to one of the coal mines located up in Somerset. I have been watching trains here for a long time - since 1977 before the old D&RG turned to Union Pacific. First time I have seen CSX Train here in Western Colorado.
Steve
Isn't that interesting! Every once in a great while I see CSX trains here in Richmond VA with Union Pacific locomotives in the lash-up. Also, it's not unusual to see run-through trains on CSX's River Line on the west bank of the Hudson River with Union Pacific power. I AM surprised to hear of CSX units in Colorado, much less a whole train.
The best information I can come up with is that these trains are going to a mine or loadout at West Elk, Colorado, for loading with coal for export from an east-coast port.
Trains? Yes...there are at least four of them in the works, with about 105 cars apiece.
Carl
Railroader Emeritus (practiced railroading for 46 years--and in 2010 I finally got it right!)
CAACSCOCOM--I don't want to behave improperly, so I just won't behave at all. (SM)
OK -
West Elk Mine in Somerset is the last mine at end of track. Where did you get that information ? All the unit trains here are 105 cars, I think that the max allowed by they who make the rules.
CSX units are common in Denver, but usually on BNSF. (usually on COFC & Junk Trains)
On the western slope, especially on the North Fork Branch - that's a little odd.
Yes - I thought it was odd.
Maybe some one threw a switch somewhere when no one was looking.
Switchmans sleeping, train hundred and two is On the wrong track and headed for you.
Firelock76 Isn't that interesting! Every once in a great while I see CSX trains here in Richmond VA with Union Pacific locomotives in the lash-up. Also, it's not unusual to see run-through trains on CSX's River Line on the west bank of the Hudson River with Union Pacific power. I AM surprised to hear of CSX units in Colorado, much less a whole train.
Very Interesting to see 'Foreign' power and equipment so so far a field from their normal operations. In this day of lots of trackage rights that foster run through of power. Admittedly, CSX equipment on the Western Slope in Colorado would be particularly odd.
In this area on the BNSF we see pretty regularly a Triple Crown Train ( from Ft Worth, Area (?) to (?). It is pretty noticable as it always has NS power leading. A couple of times a week SK&O operates a rock train for the Quarry east of Moline,Ks to Wichita. They seem to always have SK&O power on it. (Interestingly, the SK&O runs at fairly low speeds, But when I have observed the train, they seem to roll pretty quickly, blowing the soot out of their WAMAX units) There is also regular move of unit coal down the Ark City Sub into Texas. My guess is that BNSF supplies the crews on run through trains, but probably the SK&O has trained crews that operated between Winfield and Wichita (?)
These trains were mentioned on Trainorders.com. The UP calls them CUDWE. I don't know what "UD" is..."WE" is "West Elk".
Have seen UP diesels on the Wabash main line that runs thru Buck Creek,Indiana where NS is
With the run-through agreements that the carriers have with each other it is not that unusual to see on carriers power on another carriers tracks. CSX will regularly have 200-300 units off line on various carriers and will also have a similar number of foreign line units on it's rails.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
They do get around...CSX units are fairly common on coal trains here in St.Paul MN.
Since these trains seem to reach UP rails at St. Louis, there's no reason to add (for cab signals) or change out the power, since there are no changes to any other part of the trains from origin to destination. This is sort of the converse of the perishable trains, which retain UP power all the way to Selkirk (Rotterdam Junction). This will apparently become a regular operation to look forward to, and will probably lead to interesting comparisons about how CSX and UP clean and otherwise maintain their locomotives.
CShaveRR These trains were mentioned on Trainorders.com. The UP calls them CUDWE. I don't know what "UD" is..."WE" is "West Elk".
Johnny
Many times the foreign power I've had in engine consists seem kind of ratty. I've always just figured that in general run through service, they send us their junk, we send them ours. Once in a while however, you will find a real gem. One that you wish could be used as a leader instead of our own.
Jeff
There's a unit coal train that NS runs through Huntsville, AL just about every day that usually has BNSF power embedded in the lead, and almost always a BNSF pushing in the back. I've even seen a BNSF unit as the lead.
one day here in terral TX I was railfanning on my favouite Union Pacific line and saw a full train of CSX diesls pulling a freight load I didn't know what to think of it I just figured it was trackage rights. but it was the first time I ever saw this
jeffhergert Many times the foreign power I've had in engine consists seem kind of ratty. I've always just figured that in general run through service, they send us their junk, we send them ours. Once in a while however, you will find a real gem. One that you wish could be used as a leader instead of our own. Jeff
I see plenty of skuzzy CSX locomotives locally, although to be fair not as many as a few years ago. I don't think I've ever seen a nasty looking UP locomotive in a CSX lash-up.
Most of those are headed for Kingston, Tenn as they come to Harriman and turned on the Y to go TVA.
In the post I wrote Prior to this I was relating to coal traffic thru Huntsville,Al
In 40+ years of working - I cannot ever recall a crew calling 'foreign' power anything other than a POS. No matter what carrier owned the power and no matter how new or old it was.
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