This website has been archived from TrainWeb.org/eastpenn to TrainWeb.US/eastpenn.

POWER SPLIT

We reported earlier this week that Conrail's equipment has begun receiving NYC and PRR reporting marks to simplify who gets what in the acquisition.  Sources at Conrail have been told that the locomotive fleet will not get any visibly identifiable markings before the STB decision.  Many people are also speculating what locomotives will go where.  Conrail's Juniata and other shop forces have been told that the overall decision has not been made on claiming locomotives.  Several classes have been "slated" to go to either CSX or NS, however no "official" word has been released by either.  We anticipate having a full list from CSX and NS in the next few weeks.  We will post that as it becomes available.- Kevin Burkholder

ExpressRail CONTINUES RECORD SETTING PACE

ExpressRail is the Port of New York and New Jersey's ship to rail on dock terminal in Elizabethport, NJ.  The terminal set records for the first three months of 1998, with gains of over 25% for the same time period in 1997.

The 32-acre facility allows a quick turnaround of transfers from cargo ships to rail cars and handled 35,254 containers in the first three months of 1998, up from the 28,103 containers handled last night.

ExpressRail is a joint project of Conrail, the rail operator, Maher Terminals, the terminal operator, and the
Port Authority.  Better service is expected in the future as rail service will become more competitive after the pending CSX/Norfolk Southern acquisition of Conrail.

The Port Authority announced its support of the CSX/Norfolk Southern acquisition in March. The ExpressRail terminal will be a shared asset serviced by both railroads.  CSX and NS have also been named the joint operators for the former Staten Island Railroad.  Under CSX/NS control, the railroad will be known as the New York-New Jersey Railroad and will provide access to the Port Athority's Howland Hook Terminal.

The selection of CSX and Norfolk Southern was announced last week by the New York City Economic
Development Corporation, the New Jersey Department of Transportation, Union County, N.J., and the Port
Authority.

For the full year 1997, cargo volumes at ExpressRail rose by 24 percent compared to 1996, reaching 127,000 containers. More than 500,000 containers have been processed at ExpressRail since the terminal opened in 1991, and the total value of cargo transferred there exceeds $25 billion. -information from Bill Hough

SD45-2'S: FROM CN TO CSXT

Part of the SD45-2 fleet that had returned from lease to Canadian National has been dispatched south to run off hourspower hours on CSXT.  Conrail 6655 was delivered to CSXT 4-27-98; 6659 delivered to CSXT 5-7-98; 6661 delivered to CSXT 5-7-98; and 6665 was delivered to CSXT 5-7-98.  Two units remain in Conrail freight service, the 6657 is on ELBU-8 passing CP-367, IN at 10:00 ET while the 6662 is scheduled for OIBU-8 called for Oak Island 10:30 ET.-Tim Howerter

Ed note: It is likely that the SD45-2 fleet will be conveyed to CSX after the Conrail acquisition.  Not unlikely is the fact that these units may not work on Conrail before the locomotives are split.

SD70MAC TRACK

4130	Columbus-Buckeye, OH	5/7/98	21:30 ET	ML-488
4131	Conway, PA	5/8/98	04:00 ET	UTM-9BB
4132	Columbus-Buckeye, OH	5/7/98	21:30 ET	ML-488
4133	Conway, PA	5/8/98	04:00 ET	UTM-9BB
4134	Ridgefield Heights, NJ	5/8/98	11:48 ET	ML-480
4135	Ridgefield Heights, NJ	5/8/98	11:48 ET	ML-480
4136	Port Reading Jct., PA	5/8/98	05:00 ET	SEAL-7
4137	Port Reading Jct., PA	5/8/98	05:00 CT	SEAL-7
4138	Indianapolis, IN	5/7/98	08:20 ET	COIN-7
4139	Indianapolis, IN	5/7/98	08:20 ET	COIN-7

-Railnuts

IMPLEMENTATION UPDATE

Norfolk Southern and CSX To Run Staten Island Railroad: New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani announced May 1 that NS and CSX have been conditionally named to jointly operate the Staten Island Railroad. The railroad connects New York City's Staten Island to rail lines in New Jersey owned by Conrail. Jointly owned by New York City and New Jersey, the Staten Island Railroad provides dock-side rail service at the Howland Hook Marine Terminal. The naming of NS and CSX should assure the Howland Hook terminal the same competitive rail service that terminals in Port Newark, N.J., and Elizabeth, N.J., will have after the Conrail transaction. New York is wrapping up an $11 million rehabilitation of the line in Staten Island and the Arthur Kill Lift Bridge, which connects the line to New Jersey. New Jersey is expected to complete improvements on the line in its state by early 1999.

The Next Step
Implementation Countdown...
  27 days until STB hears oral arguments, June 4, 1998
  31 days until STB votes on application, June 8, 1998
  76 days until STB publishes its written decision, July 23, 1998
106 days until the effective date of the STB decision and the Control Date, Aug. 22, 1998
116 days until "Day 1," the hypothetical Closing Date for NS planning purposes, Sept. 1, 1998.

Notable
Implementation of the Thoroughbred Yard Enterprise System (TYES) from Central Yard Operations (CYO) in Atlanta is proceeding at a pace that will position NS to begin rollout of TYES/CYO in early 1999 on the portions of Conrail that NS will operate. The rollout plan, which is scheduled to begin February 1, 1999, will start with the Harrisburg Division and progress in a westerly direction to the Pittsburgh and Dearborn Divisions and will be done over a 30-week period.

TYES is a new, technology driven yard inventory system that centralizes functions and provides accurate, up-to-the-minute reports on car and train movements. It significantly improves efficiency of yard operations and enhances customer service.

A total of 13 primary and 276 subordinate locations on the Alabama and Georgia operating divisions of NS now are being handled by CYO, and TYES rollout will continue on NS throughout 1998, including implementation at New Orleans in November.

TYES/CYO is a replacement of an earlier system, Terminal Information Processing System (TIPS). It provides enhanced functionality, such as Automatic Equipment Identification (AEI) scanner verification, and customer pipeline reports of en route cars. Both functions allow NS to operate from a central environment and provide more accurate and timely information for customers.

Quotable
"We're seeing on the part of Conrail employees two things. First, they're clearly proud of what they've accomplished. They're professional railroaders, and their attitude for the last year has been to show how good Conrail can be. They've done an excellent job in that respect. Conrail is having a good year right now. It's operating very well. The people of Conrail are showing the world what a good operation they really have...

"To me, that also means that it's going to be a transition that we can make very smoothly, because these are good people, and they're going to fit right in to the NS operation." - David Goode, NS chairman, president and CEO, during a live interview on CNBC Friday, May 8.

Conrail Heritage
The first quarter of 1998 was Conrail's safest quarter ever. Lost-time injuries declined by 45 percent compared with the same period of 1997. Also, 49 percent of Conrail's safety districts were injury-free for the quarter. The company's Albany Division finished the first quarter of 1998 with a 0.81 frequency rate for FRA reportable injuries. This marks the first quarter in Conrail history in which a division has broken the 1.0 mark, and places the division among the industry leaders for safety.

"Following our safest year ever in 1997, we have had our safest quarter ever. The continuing reduction in lost time injuries is testimony to the deep commitment of every Conrail employee to maintaining a safe workplace and operation. Looking ahead, we will continue to focus on safety, service and asset quality in 1998. This is our opportunity to leave a legacy in the railroad industry that will endure for many years," said David LeVan, Conrail chairman, president and chief executive officer.

Norfolk Southern Heritage
Norfolk Southern is the result of more than 350 railroad mergers, combinations and reorganizations culminating in 1982 with the consolidation of Norfolk and Western Railway and Southern Railway. NS' rich history and lineage began with the South Carolina Canal and Railroad Co. Formed in 1827, this predecessor railroad carried passengers and freight over a six-mile stretch in Charleston, S.C. Powered by the tiny wood-burning "Best Friend of Charleston," this railroad carried the nation's first regularly scheduled passenger train.-Norfolk Southern

  LOCOMOTIVE HAPPENINGS

RED BARNS IN THE EAST
Several of CPR's SD40-2F "Red Barn" Units are strolling around in Eastern Canada and United States.  The units have been recently sighted on trains 406 and 407 between Calgary and Toronto.  At 03:48 ET, SD40-2F 9003 and and 9010 were assigned to westbound 407-08.  9019 arrived Toronto last evening on train 406-04 and 9024 was shopped at St. Paul, MN on May 2.  These units have been known to wander farther east than Toronto.

MLW'S DWINDLING
This morning, CP's computer is showing only 15 MLW units active, 9 actually assigned to trains.  Several RS18u's are departing CPR inbound to new owners at various locations.  Reportedly, CPR 1803 will be heading to West Chester, PA for service.  1811 will be going to the Owego-Harford Railway in Owego, NY and 1850 is going to Ohio for the Cayuga Railway Co. These three RS18u's should reach Binghamton this evening on train 556-07.The remaining active MLW's line up as follows: RS18u 1822, 1837, 1839, with C424's 4204 and 4240 were at Windsor, Ontario at 04:05 ET this morning on train 923-07.  Two more RS18u's, 1828 and 1865 were reported on 906-08 in Toronto at 23:27 ET last night.  Two more C424's were reportedly "working": 4210 on a London, Ontario based local and 4219 on train 508-07 at Detroit, MI at 02:10 ET this morning.  RS18u 1838 and 1842 were at Toronto last evening without assignment while the remainder of the C424 fleet, 4216, and 4237, resided at St. Luc, Quebec.  The re-engined M636 4711 was also reported at St. Luc yesterday. 4230 was leading train 923-08 with the Apache units (see top of page).

---

CANADIAN NATIONAL

---


BALA SUB DETOURS

Starting on or about June 9, CN will close the Bala Sub for a period of about two weeks for track maintenance and upgrade.  During the two-week period, CN trains will be operating via CPR's MacTier Subdivision.  More details on the actual sections that are to close will be posted.- Peter Bowers

---

NEW YORK SUSQUEHANNA & WESTERN

---


MORE LEASED POWER ON HAND

NYS&W has received two more GECX lease units.  Super7-23B 2002 and B39-8 8002 are currently working on the property. -Mike Collins

---

CSX CORPORATION

---

INVESTMENT IN IMPROVEMENT

CSX Transportation Inc. (CSXT) announced today that it is investing nearly $500,000 to extend and upgrade
rail sidings allowing for more fluid freight train movement near Le Sourdsville and Overpeck, Ohio.

The improvements are designed to increase efficiency and improve train service on the Middletown Branch and the Dayton Subdivision along CSXT's Louisville Service Lane.

One project will involve the extension of the rail siding at Overpeck by almost one-half mile, allowing for more fluid train movements from Toledo, Ohio. A second project will involve the installation of new rail
switches at a siding at Le Sourdsville, which will increase the efficiency of train operations through the area. The projects are expected to be completed and operational by Dec. 31.

``The steady increase in business in and around the Middletown, Ohio, area will translate into greater demand for efficient and reliable train service,'' said John O. Williams, general manager-Louisville Service
Lane.  ``This investment in our rail infrastructure positions CSXT to meet these demands and to continue to serve our customers in the most efficient and reliable manner possible.''

At a total cost approaching $480,000, the projects are part of an ongoing $806 million capital spending program designed to enhance customer service throughout CSXT's eastern rail network. That spending is in addition to a planned $488 million capital spending program as part of the joint acquisition of Conrail by CSX Corporation and Norfolk Southern Corporation.

On June 23, CSX and Norfolk Southern filed a joint application with the federal Surface Transportation Board (STB) for regulatory approval of their $10 billion plan to divide Conrail. The STB will vote publicly on the
application on July 23, 1998.-CSX Corporation

MORE SD45-2'S

The Conrail SD45-2's that are currently running off horsepower hours (see Conrail News) are located:

6655 at Cumberland, MD 05:30 ET 5-8-98
6659 Louisville, KY 06:00 ET 5-8-98
6661, 6665 both departed for Rocky Mt., NC 00:55 ET 5-8-98
-Tim Howerter