Southbound freight on the NEC

I'm not sure... what do you think?

travelrobb wrote:This afternoon, en route from NYP to Princeton Jct., we passed a freight train heading south/west on 2-Track. It had 40 cars, headed by an NS and a CSXT engine (in Conrail colors). This was between Elizabeth and Linden. I've never seen a freight train on this stretch of the NEC before, and certainly not in daylight. Anyone know what was up?

Conrail SAA runs a transfer from Oak Island Yard to Metuchen (and back)almost everyday. Lately, they have been using a C40-8 (CSX) and GP38-2 (NS) for power. I forget the symbol.

travelrobb wrote:How do we know it was a NS move? It had an NS engine and a CSXT engine? And wouldn't Amtrak have dispatched the train? Amtrak would decide what track it runs on, no?

I live and work along the NEC. I usually observe 2 or 3 trains running in each direction during the day. They generally look like mixed freights and never intermodal TTOFs. Before the Linden GM plant closed, I would see a few switchers and smaller locals.

Since Amtrak dispatches the SEPTA and NJ Transit trains that run on the NEC through NJ, why not the CSX freights?

yea i was just about to say, If amtrak dispatch's the other commuter trains, they dispatch the freight trains as well

Pretty sad that a freight train on the NEC would be considered newsworthy. Anyone remember the days when passenger and freight trains actually-gasp-used the same tracks and no one gave it a second thought?

If you want to see freight on the NEC, go hang out around Perryville, MD at night.....NS runs 5-10 through freights through there that go to DC, B-more, Deleware, etc.

amtrakhogger wrote:[
Conrail SAA runs a transfer from Oak Island Yard to Metuchen (and back)almost everyday. Lately, they have been using a C40-8 (CSX) and GP38-2 (NS) for power. I forget the symbol.

ME-ten (the "one" key is broken on my keyboard, it wouldn't actually be spelled out).

Not sure if it runs 7 days per week, but I hear it most days arriving into Oak Island (Newark) in the mid afternoon. The connection from the NEC to Oak Island comes off at "Lane" Interlocking from track 2.

It's actually a Conrail (Shared Assets) train.

gravelyfan wrote:

amtrakhogger wrote:[
Conrail SAA runs a transfer from Oak Island Yard to Metuchen (and back)almost everyday. Lately, they have been using a C40-8 (CSX) and GP38-2 (NS) for power. I forget the symbol.

ME-ten (the "one" key is broken on my keyboard, it wouldn't actually be spelled out).

Not sure if it runs 7 days per week, but I hear it most days arriving into Oak Island (Newark) in the mid afternoon. The connection from the NEC to Oak Island comes off at "Lane" Interlocking from track 2.

It's actually a Conrail (Shared Assets) train.

YPME10 Mon-Fri
YPME84 Sat-Sun