8900 series. The unique repaint piqued interest among the railfan community as fans expected CSX to place these in revenue service to reduce its fleet of leased locomotives. In
late August, rumors were laid
to rest when CSX transported all 12 former Norfolk Southern SD40-2s in two deadhead moves of six locomotives from Huntington to Boise, Idaho, for rebuilding into its growing fleet of SD40-3 rebuilds. All 12 former NS SD40-2s will be rebuilt into 4000-series SD40-3’s through an in-house rebuild program between CSX and MotivePower Industries, Inc. in Idaho. The locomotives were photographed at numerous places on their deadhead journey to St. Louis, Mo., where they were interchanged to Union Pacific for the remainder of the journey west.
2015 CSX Santa Train
CSX officials announced in August that rising pop star and The Voice Season 8 runner-up Meghan Linsey will be the celebrity guest on the Santa Train when it makes its 73rd journey to bring gifts to Appalachian families on Saturday, November 21. In partnership with CSX, Dignity U Wear, Food City, and the Kingsport Chamber of Commerce, the
annual run will visit numerous
communities on its 110-mile journey from Pikeville, Ky., to Kingsport, Tenn., in late November.
The tradition dates back to 1943 when predecessor Clinchfield Railroad operated the first Santa Claus Special with the support of local businessmen in Kingsport.
KANSAS CITY SOUTHERN DANNY JOHNSON
Intermodal Increases
During August, observers along the Me- ridian, Miss., to Shreveport, La., main- line noted an increase in the frequency and number of Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern intermodal trains. UP and NS coordinate to operate expedited inter- modal trains between Los Angeles and Atlanta via the Shreveport gateway and KCS between Shreveport and Meridian. Until recently, UP and NS operated
one eastbound and one westbound ex- pedited intermodal train via this route, I-ZLCAI (NS Train 226) and I-ZAILC (NS Train 225), respectively.
Lately,
the number of expedited intermodal trains has increased such that two, and
FRA Inspection Car Visits Alaska Railroad
One of Alaska Railroad’s three remaining black GP40-2s has the honors of hauling the FRA’s geometry inspection car DOTX No. 219 to Anchorage on September 9. The unusual piece of equipment was delivered via carfloat from Seattle, Wash., to Whittier, Alaska., the night before. It is seen here along the Seward Highway just north of Girdland Station. The car performed a system-wide inspection of the ARR tracks before returning to the Lower 48.
PHOTO BY MICHAEL SULLIVAN
Traffic Slump Sends Locomotives to Storage
Like many Class I railroads, Canadian National has placed many units in strorage due to sagging coal, crude, and frac sand traffic. By September, approximately 75 engines were stored serviceable at the former Illinois Central yard in Centralia, Ill. Many C40-8s, SD70Is (such as No. 5616 on September 2, 2105), SD60s and SD60Fs were awaiting an upturn in business.
PHOTO BY MARK MAUTNER
8 NOVEMBER 2015 •
RAILFAN.COM
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