http://www.wvrails2010.com/734release.php

Thanks, CSX, you rock.

With posts like the above, is it any wonder class-1s are hesitant to assist in events like this?

I'm also amused how they say how disappointed they are in the decision in CSX, yet CSX is one of the sponsors. Wonder if they'd sponsor another event in the future.

Burning bridges is never a good idea.

Just sayin'....

BOOO CSX! Can't move a steam engine 10 miles. I have my reasons to dislike modern day railroad companies (CSX, NS) because of their dislike of steam.

Again, my post above is still relevant.

As I understand it , NKP 765's movements would have been limited to a few hundred feet of rail without NS. Let's not chastise CSX without knowing the whole picture, and even then its not in our best interest to do so. There is also some time to possibly see a solution.

Joshua

Normally, I could understand that "there's not enough room/time to move this piece of equipment over our rails", but the fact that they are willing to move one of WMSR's GP30s confuses me.

Has it really come to the point where a major Class 1 is unwilling to allow any form of steam engine over their rails? Is it really that difficult/insrable unsound to move a (reasonably large) steam engine for 10 miles? And for a deadhead (read: no passengers) move, no less? I feel like I have to throw logic out the window for this, especially remembering how cooperative Norfolk Southern was last year for moving 765 and 4449 to Owosso.

I'm not more angry than I am confused. And dissapointed. Ah well, maybe next year...

(Still planning to go to WV Rails)

Because I am sure that the higher-ups at all the Class 1's lurk here....

Yes, it is disappointing and also takes away one of the big attractions to get people to the event after a lot of hard work by the organizers, but voicing my displeasure here certainly didn't burn a bridge that I don't have to start with and I truly doubt I have crippled any hope for mainline steam in the years to come.

And as a sponsor of the event on a piece of rail that used to be theirs and tentative approval a couple of months ago, 10 miles of towing isn't a lot to ask.

First, there's more than one class 1 executive that has more than a passing interest in heritage. Hence why some railroads roster Fs and even steam engines. You think none of them read RYPN? Or will get sent a link? We must not know the same class 1s.

Unless we know the circumstances, 10 miles can be a long way. Tentative is not the same as definite.

These threads start off innocently enough, then there's a huge piling on how class-1s and RRs today all suck, then we get threads wondering why modern railroads don't want anything to do with railfan/history.

Yeah.

CSX is likely like many other corporations where the operations department undoes the PR that marketing accomplishes. Large American railroads have done a pitiful job in the past 50 years connecting to the general public. Only in the last decade has that situation begin to improve and CSX's "1 ton of freight 423 miles on one gallon of fuel" is the best in my opinion. Their sponsorship of the event is another improvement. I have little doubt that CSX has good reason to not move the locomotive, after all it is not the type of operations they are accustomed to. However I also have little doubt that CSX could have accomplished the move if they had really wanted to. CSX has earned the bad press here and elsewhere by failing to follow through. To give a tentative yes and a final no is a poor practice whatever industry you are in.

Guys, give it a rest for now. I'd bet there are plenty of things going on behind the curtain, so to speak. 734 could roll in at the last moment.

Knowing what I do of that engine and of the people who care for and maintain her, I can't imagine there would be any significant mechanical reason that 734 could not move dead-in-tow for that distance. Yes, CSX may not want her under steam, and yes, main and eccentric rods may have to come off for the trip. Not ideal, but relatively easy to do, certainly easier than trucking the thing to SBV.

Let the process work, the corpulent female has not yet sung.

Howard P.
Kumbaya, NY

I'm trying to get my money back for the freight charter, and I will not be attending if I can do that. Sorry, I hate to sound like the infamous Superheater, but I'm really not interested if there's no big steam and would like to save my money for an occasion that will include some.

This really s#$ks for Jason, and I'm sorry about that for him. I was really looking forward to seeing 734 in new territory.

I am surprised that there is no known reason for denying the move. If no reason is given, stating the reason must be more undesireable than the speculation that will follow deying the move without a convincing reason.

Who knows what's up.

Perhaps something got screwed up getting the 734 listed in UMLER, or its AEI tags were delayed, etc...

There are rules that need to be followed with this stuff, and many many ways it can go wrong. I think it's unfair to lay the blame anywhere until the whole story is known.

I have no special knowledge of the circumstances here, but suspect when the dust settles this is more likely a solid bearing issue and not a steam locomotive issue per se. CSX has been adamant about not moving equipment with solid bearings and making an exception now exposes the railroad to future demands for more exceptions.

Alan Maples

Interesting that there is such a piling-on on nasaracer32.

That's great that CSX is still "sponsoring" the event (whatever that means now...the sponsorship may have only included the costs to move the engine), but lots of folks have staked a lot on that "tentative" agreement, from the event organizers all the way down to families that may have made expensive vacation plans to see this engine.