Trains on CSX St. Lawrence Sub (CR's Montreal Secondary)

Didn't CSX spend months running test trains of empty containers on this same line to prove to one of the shipping outfits they could maintain the schedule between Albany and the terminal up north?

Per radio traffic today: One military train out of Drum this morning, another coming of the post this afternoon. I think I heard mention of KCS power in the discussions somewhere...

tree68 wrote:Per radio traffic today: One military train out of Drum this morning, another coming of the post this afternoon. I think I heard mention of KCS power in the discussions somewhere...

W869 passed by lacona at 7:30 with empty DODX flats leading with KCS units.

Q621 heading up with all CN power. Also the Q193 once agine had BNSF power leading.

I begin to think CSX has lost their minds.

Northbound went up, single engine, maybe 75 wells with about a dozen loaded and a touch over 30 freight cars on the rear, which is fairly typical.

But instead of a 4000-HP new GE, the power was one 2600-series GP38-2.

I expected him to stall just on the first grade, but somehow he got it up and moving at close to track speed.

The Q621 is heading north with all CN power, Leading is the 8811.

A rail train went up this afternoon with a big GE long hood forward. Just rail cars and unloader plus a piece of track equipment, no caboose or old boxcars with it.

This evening two GEs went up light.

Northbound going up just now has an ex-HELM or HATX blue and purple leaser trailing with blue ovals on the side of the hood, could not make out the lettering, looked like it was renumbered 306 but I may have that wrong too. Maybe a Vermont Railway unit for the New York & Ogdensburg?

Former HLCX leaser, but it is owned by Vermont Rail now, it is VTR 205, it has now been given NY&O logos and assigned to the NY&O to replace NYOG 14 due to increasing business. It will be working with VTR 801 on the NY&O.

Glad to hear about increased business for the NY&O. There is certainly potential
for that line, and, the area in general. I wonder if this will mean an increase in
employment on the line?

CN 5413, ex-IC SD70, second unit going north at 11:45 am.

I did look through pictures of the VTR units online to see they had a couple in the leaser paint but neither one quite matched what I remembered seeing. I think they added a light blue patch on the cab side as well.

Photos of VTR 205 with NYOG Decals.

Photo by Gert Wirth
http://photos.nerail.org/showpic/?20170 ... 5&BOOL=ALL" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Photo by Richard Deuso
http://photos.nerail.org/showpic/?20170 ... 5&BOOL=ALL" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Maybe this new grain transload facility is kicking in?
http://www.vermontrailway.com/news_page ... 18_16.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Although given that groundbreaking was just this past October, it might be too soon to be up and running yet.
JS

VTR 205.....GP38-2? Would look sharp painted in full VTR colors.

Q621 went north with CREX 1517 Leading { CitiRail } Just past lacona at 11am.