Switchers

[jimnorthwood]

While driving north on Cummings Road on Saturday, I saw a CSX train in Walbridge Yard. The interesting part of this train was seeing two green switch engines tucked in behind the CSX power. The switch engines looked to be a matched set, and seemed to be lettered identically, though I didn't want to try to get close enough to read the lettering. Interesting to see switch engines these days, an increasingly rare breed.

Also, a couple of weekends ago a CSX train was headed north at Vickers. Power was a single switch engine, perhaps an MP-1500? That is the first time that I have ever seen a train on the TT led by a switch engine, at least in modern times. TT had Alco switchers, but they disappeared long ago. I don't recall seeing any switch engines around Walbridge or Stanley, or around any of the other Toledo yards for that matter, except for Lang when the Shore Line was around.

[matt]

Yeah, CSX doesn't use switchers around Toledo, the ones you saw were no doubt being delivered via CSX to someplace. The last switcher I saw was a few months ago, a light blue switcher from the Patapsco and Black River Railroad heading east on NS thru Toledo.

[GOLDEN-ARM]

The power you saw was on it's way to the I&O. They are the HLCX 1400-1401, little mp-15's, from mexico. Power is tight, on the I&O, and these are leased, to assist the running of the "roustabouts", which handle the local industries. I have run them both, and other than the fact they lack ditch lights on the cab-end, they are decent little engines. (We call them the "Mike & Ike" engines). They are working out of McCullough, or Washington Court House. Regards

[ToledoTerminalRy]

That is the first time that I have ever seen a train on the TT led by a switch engine, at least in modern times.

Back in the days of Conrail (10-15 years ago) I remember seeing 2 Conrail switchers SW-1200? but they always ran together and usually about once every other day untill one day they broke down right behind my house (that was so cool) and from then on I never saw them again.

[chessie8212]

I've seen a CSX switcher and slug set at Stanley once. That was some time ago. I remember it because it was the first ever time I had seen those in person on any road. Any particular reason that they don't use them around Toledo?