Rail News: CSX Transportation is Selling Six Rail Lines

These right of way sales may be opportunities for museum operators who could continue to service customers and making additional income from running historic trains such as STREAM trains.

Here is an older article from the Albany Times Union on the West Albany sale.
Amtrak uses that line to get from Boston to Albany.
I wonder what the impact would be if they don't find a buyer.

The sale should extend to all lines not part of the Iron Triangle.

I thought the CR breakup was designed so that CSX would serve Boston via ex NYC lines.  Guess that is not working.

Traffic on the St. Lawrence Sub has dropped off some in the last few years -- mostly containers with a couple of locals.  NYS&W might be a buyer but only at the right price.  Same thing on the B-ville line -- reduced business over the last ten years or so -- I believe one local that may not run daily.  Again, NYS&W or perhaps, FGLK might be persuaded if the price is right.

Poppyl

 That's what I get for spending my last cash on toy trains! I can't invest in this opportunity. 

It's interesting to me to see what can grow out of something like this event. Hopefully there's some railroad personnel that can gather the resources and make something out of this.

It's interesting to me to see what can grow out of something like this event. Hopefully there's some railroad personnel that can gather the resources and make something out of this.

Would CSX be selling these lines if they were profitable?

C W Burfle posted:

Would CSX be selling these lines if they were profitable?

BINGO.

They are not profitable for CSX because of the arcane work rules and union agreements that tie their hands with regard to creative marketing and operating plans. However, they could be profitable in the hands of a smaller, more efficient operator that has the flexibility to change the operating plan without incurring the overhead costs that CSX would have.

Rich:

I agree with you to a point.  

CSX hasn’t had a real sales force in at least five years now and the number of sales people they had left in the field took a big hit in January/February of 2017 when Gooden and Ward forced the remaining old sales guys into retirement.

If a railroad has more or less given up trying to sell their service and decided to focus only on a shrinking basket of captive traffic; whose to say the lines being offered couldn’t be made profitable for CSX if they’d only make an effort?

Curt

Sell the new container yard in Ohio to UPS or FedEx.  Or maybe UP or BNSF?

Massena Line

This is a Class III terminal railroad operating in out of Messena, New York. It operates over 3 miles of track from the  CSX Terminal yard in Massena,  The Alco plant, is the railroad's only customer. It was built in the early 20th century, beginning operations in 1900.

This maybe part of the CSX Transportation biding process.

Gary: Rail-fan

The Marietta line should/ could be a real money maker. I grew up in Marietta. It serves several large chemical plants, a carbo black plant, two ferro alloy plants, and several other industries.  A short stretch of it includes the old Cincinnati mainline. Whoever gets this line is going to make some bucks. The whole line was upgraded to welded rail some years back for unit coal trains.

Boston & Albany Line

The Boston and Albany Railroad was a railroad connecting Boston, Massachusetts to Albany, New York, later becoming part of the New York Central Railroad system, Conrail, and CSX Transportation. The line is currently used by CSX for freight

The line, originally the Boston & Albany railroad, once ran into Boston, but now is publicly owned as far west as Worcester, with the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority operating commuter service on the route.

From the Times Union: Posted by: by C.W. Burnie

CSX Transportation is considering the sale of as much as 8,000 miles of its 21,000-mile network, including its line from Albany to Worcester, Mass., outside Boston, according to industry publication Trains.com.

The line, originally the Boston & Albany railroad, once ran into Boston, but now is publicly owned as far west as Worcester, with the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority operating commuter service on the route.

What I am looking for: I was unable to find any photos of the Boston & Albany Railroad flag painted on a diesel locomotive.  If you have amy photos please post on this thread? or what is their history as related to diesel?

Thanks: Gary

 one diesel was painted B&A in the mid 30’s. Can’t remember what it was. The  B&A  ceased being a independent road during WWII so no first generation diesels wore the B&A logo.

By 1951 all steam was either transferred west or scrapped and only NYC diesel was seen going forward.

Don't know where you got that date of operation but it's incorrect

Now when it comes to the B&A I would love CSX to sell it.  Mass funds re-double tracking it all the way to Pittsfield and increasing passenger service, but I can dream.

superwarp1 posted:

 one diesel was painted B&A in the mid 30’s.

Curious as to what "diesel" the B&A would have had in the "mid 30's"? 

Can’t remember what it was. The  B&A  ceased being a independent road during WWII so no first generation diesels wore the B&A logo.

By 1951 all steam was either transferred west or scrapped and only NYC diesel was seen going forward.

Don't know where you got that date of operation but it's incorrect

Hot Water posted:

superwarp1 posted:

 one diesel was painted B&A in the mid 30’s.

Curious as to what "diesel" the B&A would have had in the "mid 30's"? 

Can’t remember what it was. The  B&A  ceased being a independent road during WWII so no first generation diesels wore the B&A logo.

By 1951 all steam was either transferred west or scrapped and only NYC diesel was seen going forward.

Don't know where you got that date of operation but it's incorrect

 

Rusty

Thanks Rusty. I didn't think there were many diesel in the mid 1930s. May of 1939 makes more sense.

Well I knew it was 30’s something.  Thanks for posting

Well, as far as I know, north of Belpre is the carbon black plant. Then there is a steel service warehouse, but itpossibly does not use much rail. The old Union Carbide complex has 4 rail served industries: Everready, two big chemical plants, and the ferro alloy plant. On north the former Goodrich plant in Marietta, and then way north above Waterford is Globe Metalurgical. All of the mentioned locations are heavy users of rail, unless CSX has run them off in the last 2 years. This does not include the big Chemical complex in Belpre.  There are other potential rail users that a short line might develop.  CSX has really ignored this whole line since the coal power plant closed. I have been expecting a sale here. Let's hope a progressive operator gets ahold of this. I have worked at several of the online industries and I know what the potential could be.