The ex-BN units were a quick way to pick up high horsepower (3600 hp each) at a bargain basement price, to run the increasing stack business, out of Little Ferry. They were the best money could buy, at the time, and enough were purchased, to allow (in theory) the ability to rotate units in and out of service, with shop time being planned for. All units were pressed into service, and they saw little, if any maintainance, other than the mandated 92 day inspection,s as well as bi-annual, and annual inspections. Units were run to failure, and they were noted by us, to be the "oiliest" locos in service. Those F-45's were cold, drafty and not well liked, by the crews. Whether they were purchsed, to run OCS type trains, remains known only to Walter, and perhaps Joe S., for sure. They saw a trip or two, in that capacity, but they were everyday locos, when they ran, in TV and SU service. The Alcos were preferred leaders, as were the 1800's, which were quiet and warm, with a decent ride. SD-45's were next, with the F units last. The first GE we had, was a demonstrator, which wasn't much fun to run. (every time it idled down, we thought it was shutting down) The ordered locos finally arrived, in groups of four. They ended up on CSX, after a couple of years, with the SD-70's coming years after them. These were leased, not much later, as the money they were worth as leased units, allowed for other locos to be leased by Walter, with a nice profit, per unit, still being able to be put into the bank. Even later, the odd collection of locos seen now, was assembled, and the collection will likely continue to grow, as "bargains" are found. I agree, that the future is not very bright, with CSX and NS having a strangle-hold, on the traffic around the "Q". NS, CSX and the D&H/CP Rail can, and do, have service from NYC, to anywhere else on the east coast, and into the midwest. Not much of a call, for a railroad that has to hand over those cars, to one of the mentioned roads, at one end of the line, or the other. It's an uphill battle, for every carload, and Walter deserves a lot of credit, for making a go of it, as well as he has been, since the destruction of Conrail. Regards
Traveling Engineer, Coast to Coast, Border to Border.
Any Train, Anytime, Anywhere.....