From what you describe, sure would seem that they, CSX, could generate decent revenues off this line! So why they'd lease it out....? Is there a circumstance I'm not seeing? Boxcab E50
This line (like most railines on the east Coast) follows rivers. Washouts are common, expensive to maintain. Several curves are extremely sharp so the rails wear quick in places. Every couple weeks an additional Geep will come through this area with maybe 8 to 12 Difco Dump cars with large rocks and ballast just to fill in river banks along the line. I know of one place where just three years ago CSX built a fancy 10 or 12 foot concrete retaining wall with steel pilings............now it's about in the bottom of the Buckhannon River. It probably true all along the line.
More info on the Kalispell Line operation. The back up unit, also having been seen at Plum Creek Timber in Columbia Falls, is an ex-Chessie GP-30. Eastern Idaho RR #4203. I have seen posts elsewhere stating this is an NREX or some such unit. It is not. That is incorrect. Perhaps it once was. Not applicable these days. Also, this thing is ill. When I first approached the tracks, I thought the old sawmill was on fire again. A huge plume of smoke was overhead. No. It was the 4203. Wheezing away. Mosquitos beware! They had both engines on the train today. As they dragged in a huge train! Holy cow! Biggest train in town for many long years! Boxcab E50
Pat- Trust me. When I said I thought the old mill was on fire, there was that much smoke! An aged ALCo with turbocharger failure would have been jealous! Yes. It was otherwise a nice sight to view a GP30 in action. Boxcab E50
Well, one of the leaser units that was supposedly here three months ago, has finally shown up. It is WAMX 3807. Ex-Conrail. Looking well worn. I do like the spark arrestors. A type usually seen on older SW engines. Boxcab E50
Well, apparently the boys broke their toy. WAMX 3807 has been seen dead at Columbia Falls. And has been replaced by a leased BNSF unit #2109. Boxcab E50
Well, they didn't keep the BNSF unit very long! There's a new toy in town this afternoon. And naturally I did not have the camera along. (Oh boy, is Andy going to scold me on this one!) The new visitor is Bangor & Aroostook #364. A long way from home! Tomorrow I will try and catch her. Hope the holiday traffic isn't too heavy! Boxcab E50
There have now been five different engines, in five months of operations. Kinda hard on their equipment. Or something.... Although some has been well worn to begin with... Boxcab E50
Oops!!! Watco may have a small problem. On one of the two branches they'd recently assumed out here, the major shipper has just shut down. This leaves just a couple of small shippers on the Eureka Line. And I would doubt rail service will survive. Not good news. Boxcab E50
