The New Chessie System.

[ES44AH]

"GM50 to M Tower."
"Go ahead."
"Are we clear to enter?"
"Yes, I have you lined up on track one and the Yard tower will get you from here."
"Roger that."
"I remember that engine. I saw her before the CSX merger, great to see her running again. Ok I let the yardmaster that you're coming in. M tower out."
"Ok, BC-20, GM50 out."

[ES44AH]

Train operations for April 21, 2013:
CB-21: 4105, 4102, GM50
WB-21: 4400, 4300
PC-21: 4402, 4101, 4401
FB-21: 4103, 4104.

[ES44AH]

"PC-21 to Cumberland dispatch."
"Go ahead."
"We are passing through Ohiopyle and the river is pretty high here."
"How high?"
"Not very, but its higher than usual. I don't think the line is under risk of a washout though."
"Ok, radio me again later if things look worse, especially when you ride through the Wills Creek valley, we've had flooding there a few times. But if it's not bad on the Youghegheny or Casselman, you should be fine all the way home."
"We just radioed Q-tower and they said the water isnt that high so I think we're good."
"Roger that, have a safe trip, dispatch out."
"thanks, PC-21, #4402 out."


From M&N centralized control:
All Chessie System and M&N trains will run as normal. The major rivers and streams have dropped overnight and the flood warnings have been cancelled. The Carfloat in Baltimore is still closed and the Warehouses will also be closed until water damaged has been repaired.

[ES44AH]

Train orders for April 23, 2013:
BC-23: 4400, 4302
BW-23: 4300, 4301
CP-23: 4100, 4102, 4103, 4104
Sw-23 (a): CSXT 1180
M-1 (maintainence): 4105, MNTX 78

New trains:
CR- (Cumberland-Rockwood) Local freight)
CM-(Cumberland-Meyersdale(Salisbury branch)) Light duty coal.
CBr-(Cumberland-Berlin) Light mixed freight

CR-23: 4401
CM-23: 4402
CBr-23:4403

[ES44AH]

Train Orders for April 24, 2013:
CP-24: 4400, 4401.
BC-24: 4302, 4402
WB-24: 4301, 4300
CR-24: 25, 26
CM-24: 4404, 4102
CBr-24: 4103
Sw-24(A): 4104
Sw-24(B): 4105
Additions to roster:
3 SD40-2s have been added to roster. These are now #7500-7502.
5 C40-8s have been added to roster: these are 4500-4504
1 GP30 has been added, its number is #4200
3 C39-8s have been added, #4600-4602.

Updated locomotive roster:
GP9: #25, 26
CW40-8: #4000-4020
GP40-2: #4100-4130
GP30: #4200
SD70ACe: #4300-4305
ES44AC: #4400-4410
AC4400CW: #4411-4415
C40-8: #4500-4504
C39-8: #4600-4602
SD40-2: #7500-7502.

[ES44AH]

Operations for April 29, 2013:
BC-29:4000, 4001, 4100
CP-29: 4120, 4105, 4111, 4102
WB-29: 4401, 4402.
CR-24: 4101, 4106
CM-29: 25, 26
CBr-29: 4200, 4109
Sw-29(a): 4121
Sw-29(b): CSXT 1192

#4400, 4411, and GM50 will return tomorrow evening.

[ES44AH]

GM50 has been place in safe storage in Mt. Clare roundhouse.

With all everyone doing heritage units, we are going to join the madness. 2 units, an SD70ACe and a ES44AC. The SD70ACe will be numbered 1827 and will be in B&O blue (M&N has one in Royal Blue). The ES44AC will be numbered 1868 and will wear C&O Blue and yellow. These are the last 2 diesel we will be purchasing for now. The M&N is also building 3 CE-8s and 4 CE-9s for us.

[ES44AH]

X-25: 25 and 26.
Pulling CE-9 for evaluation on the Northwestern Railroad.

[ES44AH]

BNSF ES44C4 #6682 is being tested for a possible purchase. The ES44C4 is basically a standard ES44AC, but instead of 6-motor trucks, it has A-1-A trucks. A-1-A trucks might be good for us, especially on lighly used lines like the Berlin Sub in SW Pennsylvania or the Winchester line in NW West Virginia. EMD has also sent EMDX 2012 to be tested and evaluated for possible future purchase. This unit, like the ES44C4 have tier 3 applications and have cleaner emissions than older SD70ACes and GEVos.

In other news, SD70ACe # 1827 has arrived. This is the first of 2 heritage units. 1827 is painted in B&O "Sunburst" and its number reflects the B&O's charter, 1827. GM50 is now in safe storage inside M&N's Mt.Clare shop roundhouse. The roundhouse also houses M&N historical and specialty units. GM50 joins M&N's EA's, OCS cars, and 3 original 1840's B&O locomotives.

3 A-B sets of CE-8s will be built for us for helper service over the Alleghenies. These will be numbered 10a-12a, 10b-12b.

Now, onto the trains:
BC-8: 4400, 4417, 4101.
BW-8: 1827, 4411, 4300.
CP-8: 4501, 4600, 7502.
CR-8: 7500.
CM-8: 25, 26.
CBr-8: 4200, 4111.
SW-8(a): 4109.
SW-8(b): 4114, 4122

[ES44AH]

CSX is giving us 5 SD50s. These were old Chessie units except for 2, those are both ex-Seaboard System. They will wear their original Chessie #'s of 8500-8502, the SBD units will be #'s 8600-8601. The BNSF ES44C4 is going back to BNSF tomorrow, there are no plans at this moment for any purchases. EMDX 2012 is leaving tonight, like the ES44C4, no plans have been made on any purchases.

Our system has now been expanded as CSX is giving us rights to go to north to Philadelphia and south to Richmond, VA. CSX will possibly let us go West, but as of now, no talks are being made for expanding west. We will possible surpass our other parent company, the M&N, in revenue if this falls through.

Traffic has been halted for tonight, tomorrow, and maybe the weekend for trackage upgrades on the former B&O Old Main Line and the Winchester Branch. The M&N is also working on upgrading the signaling on much of their lines which we share. All of our locomotives have been called back to "Home base" at the Brunswick Terminal in Brunswick, MD.

[ES44AH]

The first of 3 CE-8s from the M&N has been delivered. This is now Chessie 10a and 10b. The C&O heritage unit will arrive tomorrow.

[ES44AH]

Chessie 1868 has just arrived from the CSX today. The SD70ACe wears a variation of the C&O Bow wave scheme.

[ES44AH]

* Corrections: The B&O heritage is a SD70ACe, the C&O Heritage unit is a ES44AC.*

Train operations for May 13, 2013:
BC-13: #1827, 4300, 4411.
BW-13: 4000, 4123, 4415.
BP-13: 4500, 4501, 4003.
CR-13: 4103, 4114
CBr-13: 25, 26
CM-13: 4200, 4102.
New additions:
BPh-13: 4301, 4302, 4410
CPh-13: 4400, 4405, 4020.
BRd-13: 1868, 4304.
CRd-13: 4401, 4504, 7501.

[ES44AH]

Train Operations for May 18, 2013.
BC-18: 1827, 4400, 4412
BW-18: 4000, 4302
CP-18: 7500, 7501
CR-18: 1868
CM-18: 25, 26
CBr-18: 4200, 4103

Baltimore City Switchers:
Carferry switchers: 4100, 4119, 4104
Dundalk switcher: 4200, 4102
Sparrows Point switchers: 4410, 4004, 4109, 7502
Port Covington switchers: 4101, 4002, 4003, 4112, 4415

[ES44AH]

2 more CE-8s have arrived from M&N. These are #14 and 15.
Also, 2 ES44C4 have been purchased from GE.
The 5 SD50s from CSX have been repainted into our colors.
An A-B set of CE-8s (MNTX 15a, 17b) will be going to the Northwestern RR for testing. After being dropped off, MNTX 20 will be picked up and dropped off at the Mt.Clare shops.

[ES44AH]

The CE-9 was picked up, and the CE-8s were dropped off.
The SD50s will be upgraded to SD50-2. They will have the M&N GPS system, LCD displays, and a reinforced nose for crash protection. They will also have 10,000lbs of ballast added for more traction.
The ES44C4's will be numbered 9800 and 9801. 9800 will be assigned to the Meyersdale-Cumberland coal drag. 9801 will be assigned to the Winchester Branch at Harpers' Ferry. Both will arrive in 2 week. CE-8s 10a and 10b will be assigned to the Par's Ridge area of the OML.

[ES44AH]

We are going to purchase CSX 7500-7530 (C40-8). These will be 4021-4051.
The 4 GP40-2s sold to the Cincinnati South Eastern are being replace with 4 GP38s from NS. These will be 3800-3803
2 SD35s and a F7B will be painted in a bright orange for MoW service. A Russell plow will also wear orange and our cat logo instead of full lettering.

[ES44AH]

We are trying to make special plans with CSX and M&N. If all goes according to plan, it will be ready by the 4th of july. The M&N has agreed, but we still havent heard anything from CSX. Hopefully they will agree to this. More details will be revealed as this progresses.
An A-B-A set of F7s are being rebuilt with 12-710 primemovers. These will be used on a joint CSX/Chessie intermodal service. The service will run between Baltimore and Philadelphia.

We are making a special run for the M&N. GP9 #25 will be pulling 3 flatcars with original 1840's B&O equippment. The equipment includes: locomotives Tom Thumb and Atlantic and 3 passenger wagons. They are being sent to the M&N Cumberland shops for a monthly inspection to make sure they are in excellent an operational condition.

[ES44AH]

CSX will be holding a board meeting with the M&N and our own management as to whether we can proceed with the planned special event. So far, CSX is ok with it, but we are not 100% sure. They will give us a yes or no this weekend. More will be annouced as this progresses.

Bad news for any Chessie fans reading this, GM50 will not be running for awhile. During a startup yesterday, the GP40-2s primemover seized up. The primemover has been removed and we are waiting for a new engine. GM50 will now have a 12-710 primemover instead of a 16-645. GM50 is currently in safe storage at the M&N's Mt.Clare shops roundhouse until the new engine arrives.

We recently aquired 2 SD60s from NS. They are running with NS colors for now, but they will be repainted in a fw weeks. The new numbers are #8602 and 8603(NS 6703, 6707).

[ES44AH]

SD60's 8602 and 8603 have arrived on a NS interchange in DC. They still wear their NS scheme (crews have already nicknamed them Blackcats). The SD60s will wear the NS colors for the time being.