CSX Part Two

[TheOldDessauer]

From: Trains Newswire

CSX to retain former B&O main over Sand Patch
Route removed from list of lines under review for potential sale

By Bill Stephens | January 23, 2018

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – CSX Transportation is no longer considering the former Baltimore & Ohio main line between Greenwich, Ohio, and Baltimore as a potential candidate for sale or lease, Trains News Wire has learned.

The route initially was among the 8,000 miles of rail lines under review as CSX aims to cut costs and boost profitability.

But Executive Vice President of Operations Ed Harris, who joined the railroad this month, insisted on its removal from the list of lines under review, according to people familiar with the matter.

The 500-mile line segment, which serves Pittsburgh and includes the Sand Patch grade, is a core main line for CSX. It handles about two dozen trains per day and at Greenwich connects with CSX’s main line linking Chicago and New Jersey.

A CSX spokesman would not confirm the decision and claimed the list of lines under review that Trains News Wire has published was not accurate, without providing further details.

People familiar with the situation do not expect all 8,000 miles to go on the block. But they say the sheer amount of mileage placed under review – more than a third of CSX’s 21,000-mile system – is an indication of management’s desire to prune the railroad to a highly profitable core network.

Line sales were expected, but extent of the review caught some analysts by surprise.

“Whoa!,” Anthony Hatch of ABH Consulting says of the mileage tally. “Of course, the operative word is ‘potential,’ but that’s some serious stuff.”

It’s likely that CSX will provide greater detail on potential line sales at its investor day, scheduled for March 1 in New York City, Hatch says.

Short line consultant Roy Blanchard says there are likely candidates to operate many of the lines on CSX’s review list.

Pan Am Railways is the logical operator of the Boston cluster of branchlines. Conrail had these routes on the block before line sales were halted in the wake of the agreement between Norfolk Southern and CSX to split Conrail, he notes.

The former Louisville & Nashville between Cincinnati and Atlanta “has R. J. Corman’s name written all over it,” Blanchard says.

Carolina branch lines would be a good fit for Gulf & Ohio Railways, which operates five area short lines.

Pinsly, which operates short lines in Florida, would be a natural for CSX’s Auburndale Subdivision, he says.

[buzz456]

Don't ever count out GWR to be a player in this. They have good management and know how to run railroads.

[JohnS]

Don't ever count out GWR to be a player in this. They have good management and know how to run railroads.

They have a bad reputation with CSX. Last year they deliberately didn't send anyone to the Shortlines convention. That doesn't hold well with the class ones. I saw my line the Old Pere Marquette is on the list. It's been talked about for at least the last three years. CN is very interested in buying the Michigan line. I would be really surprised if G&W tries to get the Michigan line out right. We currently lease the lines we are operating from CSX so it will definitely be interesting.
Here is the Trains article:
http://trn.trains.com/news/news-wire/2018/01/22-csx-reviewing-8000-miles-of-rail-lines-for-potential-sale

[JerryC]

I saw that the Cincinnati-Cartersville line may be on the chopping block. I'd like to see them cede the W&A to NS. They don't really have a lot of business along the line, and it would make a great one-way route for NS and would allow them to convert the NS-AND to one-way in the other direction.

[JohnS]

I also wonder if they are doing this to reduce the amount it will cost to add PTC to their routes? It will definitely have an impact on shortlines and regionals. Mostly good I hope.

[JOHNtheREDNECK]

The G&W around my neck of the woods is known every now and then to take broken CSX power for a trip to an outsourced heavy equipment repair facility. One time I saw Diversity In Motion among assorted GEVO's being towed by a gp40 and gp38-2.

If CSX goes through with this, the G&W may loose out on that deal...

[JohnS]

The G&W around my neck of the woods is known every now and then to take broken CSX power for a trip to an outsourced heavy equipment repair facility. One time I saw Diversity In Motion among assorted GEVO's being towed by a gp40 and gp38-2.

If CSX goes through with this, the G&W may loose out on that deal...

Let me guess... You live near Rochester NY? When I worked for Wellsboro & Corning RR. The Rochester Southern wanted to use us as "Temps" to move the CSX equipment to and from the facility but their union at the time shut the idea down. Our Boss was also the Boss of the RSR.

[JOHNtheREDNECK]

I don't live exactly close to Rochester but definitely not far from the G&W line... the true original G&W line. I don't want to say much more so I don't get blamed for off an off topic conversation.

[buzz456]

http://weartv.com/news/local/csx-puts-g ... p-for-sale

CSX is ready to sell some 330 miles of track across North Florida.

A company spokesperson says they're soliciting bids for two rail segments, one in Illinois, the other in Florida.

[buzz456]

“Based on an initial review of our network, the company has decided to put forth two rail segments near-term for a potential transaction: the Decatur and Danville Secondary Subdivisions in western Illinois

[JohnS]

“Based on an initial review of our network, the company has decided to put forth two rail segments near-term for a potential transaction: the Decatur and Danville Secondary Subdivisions in western Illinois

Are there any shortlines connected to it currently? They may give an indication to what companies may be bidding.

[buzz456]

Eastern Illinois Railroad a little fifty mile company and the INRD which is a more viable one. NS connects to it several places also.

[ElphabaWS]

Eastern Illinois Railroad a little fifty mile company and the INRD which is a more viable one. NS connects to it several places also.

CSX holds 85% ownership of the INRD.

[buzz456]

They certainly don't advertise that much.

[JohnS]

NS and CSX own majorities in several shortlines and keep it very quiet. I think BNSF does the same.