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Trackside Lounge: 1Q 2011

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Posted by CShaveRR on Friday, February 18, 2011 7:54 AM

Zug, were you up on the roof of the car?  I used to get a pretty good view of the tops of covered hoppers from my vantage point, and there's usually plenty of old stuff just sitting up there--sometimes even sprouting.  I'm glad that I always chose to worK with windows closed.

Did you notice de-K?

Carl

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Posted by CNW 6000 on Friday, February 18, 2011 8:40 AM

CShaveRR

 Here's what we caught, in order:

Eastbound scoot

Westbound scoot

Eastbound stack train (had to wait for the preceding scoot to clear the platform)

Eastbound manifest (MCBPR?  Very long, with a DP unit about 3/4 of the way back.)

Westbound manifest (MPRCB or MPRDM, most likely)

Eastbound WEPX coal train (3 units on the point, one DPU)

Westbound ZSKDL--should have counted the reefers on this one; he was long!

Eastbound manifest from North Platte

Now that sounds interesting.  Glad you and Pat were able to get out and about.

Zuz,
Funny that you mentioned smelly railcars-I was thinking the same thought earlier in the week.  When I caught a grain extra (G843) I was on an overpass (see my pic last page) and about halfway back the cars took on a very musty, dank odor as they were passing.  The crazy thing is they looked "clean" on the outside almost like they were washed...or maybe slightly newer.  I'm willing to bet that cleaning out a railcar is a "Dirty Job"...calling Mike Rowe...

Dan

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Posted by zugmann on Friday, February 18, 2011 9:30 AM

CShaveRR

Zug, were you up on the roof of the car?  I used to get a pretty good view of the tops of covered hoppers from my vantage point, and there's usually plenty of old stuff just sitting up there--sometimes even sprouting.  I'm glad that I always chose to worK with windows closed.

Did you notice de-K?

 

Nope, we're not allowed up there.  That's ok, I have no desire to scale those crappy ladders. 

Old soybean meal isn't any treat, but this was even worse than that...

It's been fun.  But it isn't much fun anymore.   Signing off for now. 


  

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Posted by WMNB4THRTL on Friday, February 18, 2011 9:53 AM

And don't people eat that stuff??!! EEWWWWW!!!!

On a different note, I'm currently studying out of some RR books I got and have a couple (for now) questions:

1. What does '2-hour call' mean? Does it mean 2 hrs notice for call-in maybe?

2. It mentioned something about seeing the crew haul their grips up into the cab? Does that mean their gear for the day?

Thanks, stay safe and enjoy the warm(er) weather. Carl, should be a nice day to railfan, you lucky guy. One of these days, I'm gonna have to see how I can get in on some local action of the sport here.

Nance-CCABW/LEI 

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Posted by CShaveRR on Friday, February 18, 2011 10:09 AM

Hi, Nance!  I'm trackside right now in Elmhurst, waiting for Pat to finish with the dentist (I did fine, thanks--no de-K).  An intermodal train was heading in when I got here, but nothing has come since (it's only been a few minutes).

1.  It basically means that if they want you to work a job that starts at 0700, they have to call you by 0500.  A two-hour call is fairly standard, but around here, due to various traffic considerations, people got a three-hour call.  Anything less than the allotted time is a "short call".  People who held jobs with regular starting times and assigned rest days didn't get a call per se.

2.  The grip is a big leather bag, with handles, that nearly everyone carries.  You'd keep your rulebook, timetables, a change of clothes (plus an extra set of underwear if your engineer today was "Wild-man"), as much food as you thought you needed for the ride, and anything else that might come in handy.  Due to the fact that I used to bike to work, I used a backpack as my grip.  It contained all of the above (minus the extra clothes), plus gloves, tools, binoculars, and a few other indispensable items.  I checked once--it weighed a good 27 pounds, before I put my lunch in there.

Oops...I hear crossing bells!  Time to pay attention.


Carl

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Posted by jeffhergert on Friday, February 18, 2011 10:22 AM

Right on both counts.

The "2 hour call" means the employee is called by the crew callers (or robot caller) 2 hours before on duty time.  Call times vary depending on local conditions/agreements.  It can be anywhere from 1 hour to 3 hours, depending on where you're at.  Generally, the longer times are at locations (large cities, etc) where it can take longer due to traffic to get to work.  I normally get a call of 90 minutes.  Sometimes it might be a bit longer, sometimes a bit shorter.  When working the extra board sometimes someone will lay off at the last minute or has an accident on the way to work, you might get a real short call.  They usually tell you to do the best you can to get there, but don't get yourself hurt doing it.  (The shortest call I ever had was in a situation like that, the crew was already on duty when one of them got sick at the yard office.)

Loading up their grips is exactly that.  Your gear (both RR and personal) that you need for the day and at the motel, for those who layover at the other end.  One of our on duty points has put in a scale, one like you would see in a doctor's office.  It's purpose is (if we want) to weigh our luggage to see how much we are lugging around.  There's a sign asking if we know how much our stuff weighs.  I don't know that anyone has weighed their baggage.  (It's probably a prelude to them charging us freight for our gear.  I can see it know, 10 cents a pound)

Jeff

  

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Posted by Paul_D_North_Jr on Friday, February 18, 2011 11:37 AM

jeffhergert
  [snip]  One of our on duty points has put in a scale, one like you would see in a doctor's office.  It's purpose is (if we want) to weigh our luggage to see how much we are lugging around.  There's a sign asking if we know how much our stuff weighs.  I don't know that anyone has weighed their baggage.  (It's probably a prelude to them charging us freight for our gear.  I can see it know, 10 cents a pound) 

Jeff  

Laugh  Just like the airlines - the 1st bag is free, up to 50 lbs.; above/ beyond that, $25 or $50 per bag (closer to 50 cents to $1 per lb.) 

More seriously, several people I've talked to say that the airlines now do a lot like that to discourage bags over 50 lbs. due to the risk of personal injury to the staff at the check-in counter - ever look at some of the slightly-built people who have to man-handle those things ? -  to the 'baggage-smasher gorillas' down in back and out on the tarmac.  On our last trip via SouthWest (3 flights), 1 bag was consistently between 45 and 50 lbs. - and each time it got a tag with a red-and-white striped border around it and the actual scale weight scribbled on it as a warning to those who would be handling it that it was pretty heavy.

So fair warning, Jeff - if the grip is over 50 lbs., it's probably too heavy - time to take some of the old rulebooks, TTs, or big heavy boots out of it . . . Smile, Wink & Grin . . .it wouldn't do at all to have a crewmember fall backwards off the ladder or steps because his grip or backpack caused him/ her to lose their balance . . .  Surprise

- Paul North. 

"This Fascinating Railroad Business" (title of 1943 book by Robert Selph Henry of the AAR)
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Posted by zugmann on Friday, February 18, 2011 1:20 PM

I have a carhartt bag for a grip (the rulebook alone weighs 50 lbs).  Best part is that it has "rails" under the bag, so you can toss it up and it will slide across the platform.  And yes, it has already slid the whole way across and down the other side.

It's been fun.  But it isn't much fun anymore.   Signing off for now. 


  

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Posted by tree68 on Friday, February 18, 2011 2:33 PM

I have a utility/tool box I use as a grip - got it at a tool store.  Sturdy, fair amount of room.  I don't usually have to worry about food, but the lantern, gloves, etc are there, along with the rulebooks.

I used to carry some historical information as well, but really did need to weed things out as it was just too heavy.

I had a canvas bag before that worked pretty well, but I'm liking the metal box better. 

LarryWhistling
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Posted by zugmann on Friday, February 18, 2011 2:42 PM

tree68

 

I had a canvas bag before that worked pretty well, but I'm liking the metal box better. 

Oh no,  you're one of those that carries a boxcar around for a grip!

It's been fun.  But it isn't much fun anymore.   Signing off for now. 


  

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Posted by CShaveRR on Friday, February 18, 2011 3:23 PM

Just found out that Mike Yuhas (of "Trackside with Erik and Mike" fame) is awaiting coronary bypass surgery on Sunday, after experiencing chest pains today.  Our best wishes go to him and to his surgeons.

 

And, in better news, Pat and I became a great-aunt and -uncle for the first time today...one of our nieces gave birth to a healthy daughter this morning.

Carl

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Posted by Paul_D_North_Jr on Friday, February 18, 2011 3:59 PM

Now I'm remembering that someplace I read that 'back in the day', the standard grip on the PRR was essentially a smallish briefcase with pressed cardboard sides and brass corners, hinges, lock, and other fittings.  The seatboxes on the K4s steam locomotives (and other classes) were sized especially to accomodate them.  PRR MOW people liked those 'grips', too. 

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Posted by tree68 on Friday, February 18, 2011 4:34 PM

zugmann
Oh no,  you're one of those that carries a boxcar around for a grip!

There are several on the RR.  Then, again, there's a couple of old soft leather briefcases, too. 

It takes up less space in my truck than the canvas bag did.  I don't carry a drill, although sometimes it seems like I should. 

Here's hoping Mike comes out of his situation better than ever.

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Posted by Deggesty on Friday, February 18, 2011 6:48 PM

Paul_D_North_Jr

 jeffhergert:
  [snip]  One of our on duty points has put in a scale, one like you would see in a doctor's office.  It's purpose is (if we want) to weigh our luggage to see how much we are lugging around.  There's a sign asking if we know how much our stuff weighs.  I don't know that anyone has weighed their baggage.  (It's probably a prelude to them charging us freight for our gear.  I can see it know, 10 cents a pound) 

Jeff  

Laugh  Just like the airlines - the 1st bag is free, up to 50 lbs.; above/ beyond that, $25 or $50 per bag (closer to 50 cents to $1 per lb.) 

More seriously, several people I've talked to say that the airlines now do a lot like that to discourage bags over 50 lbs. due to the risk of personal injury to the staff at the check-in counter - ever look at some of the slightly-built people who have to man-handle those things ? -  to the 'baggage-smasher gorillas' down in back and out on the tarmac.  On our last trip via SouthWest (3 flights), 1 bag was consistently between 45 and 50 lbs. - and each time it got a tag with a red-and-white striped border around it and the actual scale weight scribbled on it as a warning to those who would be handling it that it was pretty heavy.

So fair warning, Jeff - if the grip is over 50 lbs., it's probably too heavy - time to take some of the old rulebooks, TTs, or big heavy boots out of it . . . Smile, Wink & Grin . . .it wouldn't do at all to have a crewmember fall backwards off the ladder or steps because his grip or backpack caused him/ her to lose their balance . . .  Surprise

- Paul North. 

Paul, do you remember when, traveling by rail, you could check a trunk that weighed 150 pounds? Now, both Amtrak and VIA limit carry-on and checked baggage to 50 pounds.

When we have traveled recently, we have had a large suitcase which we sometimes check and a small one, and I have had to be careful to not overload the big one. VIA and Amtrak (sometimes) have put a tag on it, reading "heavy." Apparently the passenger roads employ wimpy people to handle baggage now, though I have seen some who would have no trouble handling up to 100 pounds.Smile

Back when I was in high school, I worked in a general store, and had no trouble handling 100 pound bags of flour, cowfeed, cotton seed hulls, and cotton seed meal (though some of the meal would sift through the fine cloth of the bag and leave a yellow stain on my pants)--simply hoist the bag up and carry it on my hip. 200 pound bags of fertilizer were exceedingly bothersome, even with the use of a handtruck. I could even carry a nail keg in each hand, though a keg of nails or of horseshoes was more trouble (especially when emptying it into the bin--knock the head in, pick the keg up and hold it horizontally and shake and toss the contents out of the keg into the bin).

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Posted by jeffhergert on Friday, February 18, 2011 7:17 PM

tree68

 zugmann:
Oh no,  you're one of those that carries a boxcar around for a grip!

 

There are several on the RR.  Then, again, there's a couple of old soft leather briefcases, too. 

http://www.harborfreight.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/small_image/175x/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/i/m/image_432.jpg

It takes up less space in my truck than the canvas bag did.  I don't carry a drill, although sometimes it seems like I should. 

Here's hoping Mike comes out of his situation better than ever.

That's what I use, too.  I'm on my second one myself.  The handle is the first thing to go.  See a lot of them, very popular for the rule books, et al.  I don't have the drill either, although I think there are some pliers and maybe a screwdriver in it somewhere.

Every so often I take stuff out of my suitcase to lighten it up.  It's always something that I packed for some reason, but never seemed to need.  That is until I'm on the first trip after I take it out.  Then the need arises but I don't have it with me. 

Jeff

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Posted by WMNB4THRTL on Friday, February 18, 2011 7:27 PM

I too, Carl, was using a backpack. It seemed to work quite well, except it got ridiculously filthy from the floor, as you can well imagine!! I like the hands-free aspect of it a lot though.

Nance-CCABW/LEI 

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Posted by CShaveRR on Friday, February 18, 2011 9:26 PM

I'd never put my backpack on the floor--it was usually in the spare chair up in Tower A, or on the bench with the computer monitor when the chair was needed.

I think backpacks are frowned upon as grips these days.  I seem to recall a brakeperson on one of the eastern railroads being dragged to her death when her backpack was snagged on a train moving on an adjacent track.  I honestly didn't know how far back my backpack extended until I saw my shadow one time!

Fortunately for me, my backpack also has a handle on one side so it can be transported like a grip when needed.  It's considerably lighter these days...I'd hate to drop the work-laden backpack and break a toe or something.  Wink

 

C.S. Harrier Wink Whistlinghere...this Forumist ventured east to the location where crossovers are being installed at CP Y019 on the Overland Route.  There is still no actual placement of new switches since the three reported last fall.  However, two of the three switches that will be installed in a westerly direction from the Grace Street grade crossing have been built into two-piece assemblies for installation at the appropriate time.  These switches will be placed in Track 2, and each will necessitate one of the outer tracks being removed from service during the time needed to move them into position as well.  East of Grace Street, two more switches are needed, and it appears that one of those has been fabricated.

The next installment of this thrilling saga will appear soon, I hope.

Carl

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Posted by WMNB4THRTL on Friday, February 18, 2011 9:57 PM

Yea, I guess mine should go on the bench seat in the middle but I left that open for my trainer to sit on. I don't think any of them ever did, too busy supervising, thankfully! Glad to have that watchful eye, I am!! That's real sad about that accident. I'll have to switch my grip or be extra careful. I guess I might not have thought of that angle. 

PS Gee, thanks; with friends like that...Whistling

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Posted by AgentKid on Saturday, February 19, 2011 1:29 AM

WMNB4THRTL

2. It mentioned something about seeing the crew haul their grips up into the cab? Does that mean their gear for the day?

Way back in the day, Operators like my Dad, who didn't own a car until after he was married, traveled from job to job by what ever train was going in the right direction. He carried everything in a grip. I always thought that was the name of that type of bag until my Uncle referred to it as a Diamondstone. I don't know if that was a Canadian only brand name or not. I have been racking my brain ever since I read Nancy's post for the other name my Dad would use. It was leather with a cardboard floor insert.

Whatever it is called, it is ubiquitous in Canadian pictures of railroaders carrying their gear, from early in the 20th Century until the 1960's.

It stood up on its' own like those big cases Lawyers carry that have the two lids that interlock at the top and was about the same length and width. But when you looked at the bag from the end, when it was closed, the top half of the bag was round like a duffel bag. It was hinged in such a way that the sides folded toward each other and locked at the top. It was a more complicated hinge arrangement than that used on a soft leather briefcase.

Sadly, it met its' demise in a flood in the basement of my parent's place in the eighties.

Bruce

 

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Posted by WMNB4THRTL on Saturday, February 19, 2011 10:08 AM

Thanks, everyone. From my archives (of questions), can anybody please show me, or link me to, a photo of an anti-climber? I get the concept; I just can't picture what one would look like. Thanks in advance.

Nance-CCABW/LEI 

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Posted by Paul_D_North_Jr on Saturday, February 19, 2011 11:03 AM

Links to photos (none mine) of anticlimbers - see the captions for details:

NS EMD SD60M - http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=341380 

SP EMD GP38-2 - http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=322001 

Metrolink EMD F59PH - http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=320029 

CSXT GE AC4400CW - http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=165799 

NS GE C40-9W (Dash 9 - 40CW) - http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=124530 

I've also seen them with like 3 horizontal 'fins' or 'blades', but can't find a photo of that right now. 

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Posted by WMNB4THRTL on Saturday, February 19, 2011 11:21 AM

Awesome; thanks a bunch, Paul. That really helps. I had thought to flip through the pics but I didn't even know what to look for. .

Nance-CCABW/LEI 

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Posted by CShaveRR on Sunday, February 20, 2011 3:10 PM

Saw a bunch of freight action this forenoon from my window in the counting-room at church (was filling in for another offering-counter who was cooking my dinner for me tonight at the church auction--we still needed a third person, as Pat and I couldn't work together without someone else in the room to keep us honest).  This was my first time doing this task--next time I'll sit on the side of the table that faces the tracks!

Carl

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Posted by Modelcar on Sunday, February 20, 2011 7:35 PM

I've looked at all the engines in the photos showing the "anticlimbers"....I'm rather sure what they are for, but what does the design feature of it "sticking out from the front" of the engine do that makes it effective in doing that job.....?

Quentin

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Posted by WMNB4THRTL on Sunday, February 20, 2011 8:43 PM

Hi Quentin,

 This is from the Railroad Glossary here on the site. Hope it helps.

Anti-climber
Extensions to the frame at each end of a diesel locomotive, which prevent objects that a moving train might strike from "climbing" up onto the engine and causing injury to the crew and damage to the equipment.

Nance-CCABW/LEI 

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Posted by Paul_D_North_Jr on Sunday, February 20, 2011 9:08 PM

Good question - at least I think so, because I had a hard time envisioning how they would work, too.  From some reading while I was compiling those photos: 

It's not that these modern anti-climbers are meant to engage each other, as with car bumpers or some other early versions of anti-climbers.  Instead, as the couplers would start to separate vertically during a collision or derailment event, the rising coupler will 'snag' under the shelf of the anti-climber if and while the locos (or maybe a car) are being pushed together (if they're separating apart horizontally, there's not that problem to deal with anyway). 

Links to a couple photos from 1982 or so which show why you want to have anti-climbers - both crews jumped before impact, and no one was seriously hurt - but read the caption under the second one for the details (Larry / tree68 especially):

 http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=309261  

  http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=309259 

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Posted by tree68 on Sunday, February 20, 2011 9:16 PM

Always handy to have a bulldozer in your back pocket...

While most of our line south of Thendara is fairly close to roads, there are many sections between Thendara and Tupper Lake that are miles from any sort of civilization, never mind roads, or even trails. 

LarryWhistling
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Posted by Modelcar on Sunday, February 20, 2011 10:00 PM

.....Those are very ugly wrecks...!  And fatilities would have been present if not for the crews jumping.  Fuel tanks ending up near the cab.....and plenty of scraping and or electrical to start the fire....

Thanks for the info fellows.  And I can see how that might very well prevent something heavy, such as a truck from elevating up at the cab....perhaps being "caught" by the "lip" on the steel extension.  As well as maybe catching on a coupler.

Quentin

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Posted by CShaveRR on Monday, February 21, 2011 10:05 AM

I haven't looked at it lately, but that video of the UP train derailed by the tornado...I think it could have ended very differently if the tank car had hit the locomotive not equipped with an anticlimber.  The way the tank was bouncing, had the coupler come in contact above the engine's coupler (anywhere on the unit) it could have continued up and into the nose, and who knows how much further, since it was a load with a lot of train behind it.


Going to be a miserable one outside today--freezing rain, followed by several inches of snow overnight.  We're going to walk or slide our way to the store in a few minutes, then we'll be content to stay in until sometime tomorrow.


Happy birthday to Quentin!  Hope you and Jean can get out and enjoy the day.  Good health to you for the coming year!

Carl

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Posted by blue streak 1 on Monday, February 21, 2011 10:13 AM

Trackside report:

Had to accompany wife to Hunington, Wva area to visit her sick mother. Home near NS so a report of various observations in no particular order.

1. Almost All loaded and empty coal trains have a NS unit leading and a leaser trailiing the consists.

2. Coal trains are running slower and are regularly being passed on the double track west of Kenova. This double track has been upgraded to bi-directional CTC signaling over the years from current of traffic rules with controlled CPs and running against current of traffic..

3. Several days there has been 3 double stackers each way with approximately 80 -100 wells.

4. NS installed a land line/RCL control removing the code line and power line at an interlocking with new signals but did not upgrade  the control boxes.

5. This interlorlocking is very interesting.

A. Signals are about 1600 ft apart. Both west bound signals are 3 head and east bound 2 head.

B. 2 separate gate ccrosing auto roads then inside the signals.

C. The full set of crossovers are inside the auto roads.

D. a controlled siding switch is at the middle of the crossovers accessible only from north track.

E. The siding has not one but 2 separqate dwarf signals; one at switch then protected by a interlocked split rail derail and a second dwarf inside of the factory gate.

F. factory is being talked about to become an ethonol plant.

G. The factory gate appears to have a dispatcher controlled opening and closing motor ability based on wiring to gate from a bungalow.

H. Factory appears to have about 5 miles of track inside of gate.

I. There are 2  signal bungalos at each of the signal heads,  2 small crossing bungalos at each road. another bungalo at each pair of crossovers and 1 at siding switch.

J. a further bungalo appears to be control for propane switch heaters.

K. a new bungalo (only new one at interlocking) for the RCL/land line control.

L. There is so much wiring both above and below ground and I would estimate at least 100 pairs in some places going bungalow - bungalow.

m. I can only imagine the engineering and work to upgrade this interlocking to a modern electronic system (RWM?)

6. CSX is busy too and I spoke to a CSX engineer and got some information

6. They are running short of conductors out of Rusell.

7. Definitely prefer AC locos to DC.

8. CSX had a parked NS empty coal train in Hunington. 

9. GE is supervising  work on their locos at russell.

10. DPU is comming to the CSX Rusell area as soon as GE can install equipment on enough locos and some reception issues are resolved.

11. Operating crews expecting a lot more coal traaffic.

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