Connecticut Southern (CSOR) Discussion

Back to the new Hartford offices/shops. I was fortunate to have been invited to attend the ribbon cutting/grand opening on April 5, 2012. Here's the recap of the shindig, along with a bunch of photos of the event.

http://bit.ly/IeJBeS

Thanks for looking!
Tom

Those are really outstanding photos Tom. I am thrilled that Rail America is so bullish about rail freight in Connecticut. It seems like that shop has the capacity to handle a larger fleet of locomotives than they have on hand hopefully they can quickly grow into it.

AR1

Ale Rider1 wrote:Those are really outstanding photos Tom. I am thrilled that Rail America is so bullish about rail freight in Connecticut. It seems like that shop has the capacity to handle a larger fleet of locomotives than they have on hand hopefully they can quickly grow into it.

AR1

Thank you!

According to the GM, the aim is to not only to be able to repair the power there in a more humane environment than what was in East Hartford, but to also begin doing car repairs there as well - providing another revenue stream for the railroad. Just another service for them to offer...

http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news23702.html

"Bouyed by a resurgence in the shipping market, Connecticut Southern Railroad spent $1.4 million acquiring and building a new facility to give its workers cover, raise revenue and create a permanent Hartford location. The operator of 79 railroad miles through central Connecticut operated out of a rented East Hartford outdoor facility for 16 years, but in January the company moved into its new location on Windsor Street in the capital city. It hopes for a payback on its investment in as little as four years...."

Thanks for posting / linking to that. Pretty well done article by regular media standards.

AR1

Looking to model The CSOR in HO Scale. How many customers do they service and how would I get a list?

trainguy2024 wrote:Looking to model The CSOR in HO Scale. How many customers do they service and how would I get a list?

http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/CTshortlines/

If you join this group, there is an older Excel list of current/former customers. Not the most up to date, but better than nothing, and it gives you a good idea of the business in the mid to late 2000's.

BWP

Was in Hartford for business the last two days, and passed the Windsor Street yard three times. All the motive power I saw was EMD - 3 NECR units (2 in NECR paint and another in patched up gray paint) and 2 of the ex UP SD40-2's . No GE's around. Windsor ST looked busy - I think on Tuesday afternoon they had three crews working.

Sorry no numbers.

AR1

The SD40-2s are 3398 and 3715; the geeps would be NECR 3843 (grey), NECR 3844, and NECR 3849.

FWIW the GEs are still active, they just don't show up on the daytime road jobs as much since the SD40s arrived.

I drove by the Hartford yard the other day and noticed that the last 2 B39-8's are sitting behind the shops. The 8554 sat there for a while before it was sent up to NECR. I haven't seen any of the B39's out on the road in a few weeks now.

Also, the RailAmerica GP38 is back down on CSOR and NECR #3849 has gone back to New England Central.

To my knowledge only the 8552 and 8554 are getting scrapped. The 8579 and 8530 are presumably on the NECR.

Are they trying to consolidate to a EMD road especially with the possible G&W buyout pending government approval?

At 9:25 AM today, 9/26/2012, a CSO Engine was switching out the Murphy Road C&D Facility. Actually the engine was a NECR, but it was a CSO job.

I assume this is the Hartford location??

http://www.courant.com/community/new-br ... 1550.story

Railroad On Verge of Rehabbing Bridge From Hartford To East Hartford - lists some CSOR customers "east of the river"

CT will will pay $3 million toward replacing rusted support beams and worn ties and braces on the bridge.