Eastern Railroad Discussion > Some Clinchfield rumblings.

Not sure the state of the Clinchfield right now... what's running that way (if anything), but word is that Charlotte's going to be getting an ID pool to Kingsport. What traffic they'll be running I dunno, but I've heard CSX is getting at least a part of the contract for Marshall Steam Station back, so it could be that.

CSX has indeed run a few coal loads to Terrell in the last week. I believe they have run as N759 loaded and E759 empty. I can't verify that they have all run by way of the Clinchfield, but some of them certainly have. The NS line east of Asheville is still out of service at Ridgecrest, so they have been running their coal trains by way of Roanoke and Salisbury with a run around move at Claremont or Oyama sidings to access their lead to the power plant. I wonder if the CSX traffic is temporary while the NS line is out of service or if it is permanent?

It doesn't answer the question...but the Clinchfield is one heavy duty bit of road...if they can find a use for it they will certainly use it. It's a tale of the times that it can't be exploited fully; but I am sure local management if no one else is wearing out the phones looking to put business on that line. If it doesn't materialize in reasonable time...it could be short line time, and that would be a shame.

"A shame"? to become a short line? Not really. The original size Clinchfield would be just a modest size Regional railroad now. Regionals and short lines have a much better record of growing business, especially carload business than the big boys. Look at what the Reading & Northern has done with lines Conrail felt they had to shed. Three things to consider: The seller (CSX) does not have to put the lines up for bid for sale or lease, all existing interchanges with other railroads have to be honored, and employees of the new railroad even if they are paid less still contribute to railroad retirement. I would think CSX and maybe NS would have several trains a day to use all or some of the Clinchfield route even if it was a Regional. Initial savings could be made by de-activating the CTC system (but keep the signals in place) if there are only 1-4 trains a day. PTC could solve that if it will work in the many tunnels. The obstacles I see to purchase/lease are that fact that I think it is in good shape so the new operator needs deep pockets which means action by one of the well-established companies that now run other Regionals and short lines. And it is a challenging, difficult railroad to manage; I have the track charts.

Well I can tell you the crr isn't being leased or sold off, plus sales or lease just don't work that easy, the owning carrier dictates the rate of car loadings and who will operate it, it doesn't matter how much money you have. So the shortline talk is laughable. As much as foamers think the class ones are wanting to shed it isn't that much mileage really. The day the Georgia Sub gets cut then maybe you can stick an ear to the wall lol, I'll just leave it at that.

What is the current traffic levels on the clinchfield? Especially between in the Va segment?

Thanks
Gary

Posted from iPhone

JLinDE Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> "A shame"? to become a short line? Not really. The
> original size Clinchfield would be just a modest
> size Regional railroad now. Regionals and short
> lines have a much better record of growing
> business, especially carload business than the big
> boys. Look at what the Reading & Northern has done
> with lines Conrail felt they had to shed. Three
> things to consider: The seller (CSX) does not have
> to put the lines up for bid for sale or lease, all
> existing interchanges with other railroads have to
> be honored, and employees of the new railroad even
> if they are paid less still contribute to railroad
> retirement. I would think CSX and maybe NS would
> have several trains a day to use all or some of
> the Clinchfield route even if it was a Regional.
> Initial savings could be made by de-activating the
> CTC system (but keep the signals in place) if
> there are only 1-4 trains a day. PTC could solve
> that if it will work in the many tunnels. The
> obstacles I see to purchase/lease are that fact
> that I think it is in good shape so the new
> operator needs deep pockets which means action by
> one of the well-established companies that now run
> other Regionals and short lines. And it is a
> challenging, difficult railroad to manage; I have
> the track charts.

Yes, a shame...shortlines don't pay squat, and that is union corridor. Further as a CSX engineer I have serious hate for anyone that would take our jobs.

engineerinvirginia Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> JLinDE Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > "A shame"? to become a short line? Not really.
> The
> > original size Clinchfield would be just a
> modest
> > size Regional railroad now. Regionals and short
> > lines have a much better record of growing
> > business, especially carload business than the
> big
> > boys. Look at what the Reading & Northern has
> done
> > with lines Conrail felt they had to shed. Three
> > things to consider: The seller (CSX) does not
> have
> > to put the lines up for bid for sale or lease,
> all
> > existing interchanges with other railroads have
> to
> > be honored, and employees of the new railroad
> even
> > if they are paid less still contribute to
> railroad
> > retirement. I would think CSX and maybe NS
> would
> > have several trains a day to use all or some of
> > the Clinchfield route even if it was a
> Regional.
> > Initial savings could be made by de-activating
> the
> > CTC system (but keep the signals in place) if
> > there are only 1-4 trains a day. PTC could
> solve
> > that if it will work in the many tunnels. The
> > obstacles I see to purchase/lease are that fact
> > that I think it is in good shape so the new
> > operator needs deep pockets which means action
> by
> > one of the well-established companies that now
> run
> > other Regionals and short lines. And it is a
> > challenging, difficult railroad to manage; I
> have
> > the track charts.
>
> Yes, a shame...shortlines don't pay squat, and
> that is union corridor. Further as a CSX engineer
> I have serious hate for anyone that would take our
> jobs.

interesting view.

how about the people that ELIMINATED jobs while they were making millions and while the carrier/company's revenues were INCREASING?

yea, i don't have a problem with somebody working for a shortline.........

66

The “serious hate” should be reserved for the management hat decided they couldn’t make money where a short line could.

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