NS vs CSXT

King Air · 01-14-2008, 07:38 PM

Do you like Norfolk Southern or CSXT

PLEzero · 01-14-2008, 07:59 PM

Oh my... I feel like your first post should have a bit more substance than this.

JimThias · 01-14-2008, 08:28 PM

No contest!

csx

NSFan14 · 01-15-2008, 01:10 AM

I have alot of CSX pics but I like NS a little more due to all the neat scenic stuff they have.

gbrozny · 01-15-2008, 01:25 AM

CSX crews love to report me as suspicious for some reason every single time I'm on the northern sub, and most of the time on the Columbus sub if I happen to find a stopped train they will do there best to move up somewhere so I cannot get a decent picture, one local even went as far as shoving back on an overpass when they saw me coming. The NS crews have never gave me any problems no matter where I happen to be, plus they run a lot more trains through here the CSX does..

LSRC Railfan · 01-17-2008, 12:49 AM

I would have to say CSX, although I don't have anything against Norfolk Southern. I've lived by the CSX and back in the day have had some experiences with great employees. Also I find that CSX has a better selection of power.

SDavey · 01-20-2008, 06:59 AM

Since I grew up about a 1/2 mile from a CSX line they would get the nod for me, but haven’t had a class 1 railroad within 40 miles of me since the fall of 2005 thanks to CSX also. Norfolk Southern was really a minor player in Michigan until the Conrail Takeover, but you see a lot more of NS in the Detroit area now. I also get a healthy dose of shortlines, CN and CP trains in the mitten as well.

NSFan14 · 01-20-2008, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gbrozny

CSX crews love to report me as suspicious for some reason every single time I'm on the northern sub, and most of the time on the Columbus sub if I happen to find a stopped train they will do there best to move up somewhere so I cannot get a decent picture, one local even went as far as shoving back on an overpass when they saw me coming. The NS crews have never gave me any problems no matter where I happen to be, plus they run a lot more trains through here the CSX does..

CSX has never reported me. They have always been nice and the crews always talk to me. I have a few friends that work outta louisville on the CSX and I get along with them well. Only people that dont seem to like me is the B&O guys that run down the LIRC. But thats it. Maybe they dont like me cause im always watching them roll by my house ???

gbrozny · 01-20-2008, 10:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NSFan14

CSX has never reported me. They have always been nice and the crews always talk to me. I have a few friends that work outta louisville on the CSX and I get along with them well. Only people that dont seem to like me is the B&O guys that run down the LIRC. But thats it. Maybe they dont like me cause im always watching them roll by my house ???

It's just generally on the northern sub they seem to hate me for some reason, I think it might be because there is a lot of code line theft, but I don't think anyone stealing the code line is going to setup to take their picture first.. I did spend some time the last couple days on the Columbus Sub, nobody gave me any trouble..

alstom · 01-24-2008, 10:43 PM

I like CSX better. Norfolk Southern is my second favorite railroad. I like CSX's AC6000CW color scheme. CSX locomotives are easier to shoot in darker weather. CSX did NOT go to cab signal territory around my region! I have friends who work for both railroads. It may just be my friends, but it seems that all CSX employees are nice, cool and interesting to talk to. NS employees are always rushed, serious, strict and complaining about their railroad. But anyways, I used to LOVE NS much better, but over the years, CSX has acquired me. Especially since I've started going to Berea, Ohio to watch trains.

Alex - Norfolk Southern is no more scenic than CSX is. CSX is noted for scenery in areas like the New River Sub, Mountain Sub, Big Sandy Sub and CC Sub. NS has Horseshoe Curve, the Pocahontas District and several other locations of their own. I'd say they are about equal in the scenic department. Up where I am in northeastern Ohio here, CSX is actually a LOT more scenic than NS. CSX has a couple grades in town, goes around several banked curves and alongside rivers and ponds/lakes. NS is just flat and straight through farming fields in ALL of Northeastern Ohio.

CSX just appeals to me more - they have my vote.

ken45 · 01-28-2008, 08:49 PM

NS has always been my least favorite Class 1...just because. I learned to love trains in the early CSX era, and so they'll always have a place in my heart. Plus, CSX workers have always been quite nice to me, with "Watch anywhere you want, but stay off the tracks" being the norm, not the exception.

scottychaos · 02-05-2008, 01:39 PM

Both are unspeakably boring..

"oh look, its a NS widecab dash-9"
"oh look, its a CSX widecab dash-9"
"oh look, its a NS widecab dash-9"
"oh look, its a CSX widecab dash-9"
"oh look, its a NS widecab dash-9"
"oh look, its a CSX widecab dash-9"

I never thought I would say this..but I really miss Conrail.

Scot

TAMR159 · 02-05-2008, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottychaos

Both are unspeakably boring..

"oh look, its a NS widecab dash-9"
"oh look, its a CSX widecab dash-9"
"oh look, its a NS widecab dash-9"
"oh look, its a CSX widecab dash-9"
"oh look, its a NS widecab dash-9"
"oh look, its a CSX widecab dash-9"

I never thought I would say this..but I really miss Conrail.

Scot

Dash 9s for NS, sure, but for CSX, it's their fleet of ES44DCs that reign supreme up here (those horns are enough to drive anyone insane, especially when you get 10 trains in an hour all led by them...after the first two, I don't even get out of my car anymore!).

Now, if you want to get technical CSX DOES have Dash 9s...9 of them to be specific (numbers 9003-9052, with 9011 having been wrecked). However, they are in the body of a C40-8W, the only visible difference being the number itself. Numbers 9000-9002 are C44-8Ws (I'm not entirely sure of the difference in these, if I had to guess I'd say it's in the electronics).

All in all, yes, both railroads are downright boring. Thank God there's plenty of shortlines up here...

JRMDC · 02-05-2008, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottychaos

I never thought I would say this..but I really miss Conrail.

Had Conrail survived, what do you think they would be running today? It's time passing, not the railroads, that is the issue. And the decline of class 1 branch-line railroading.

I used to see a lot of SD50 and SD40-2 (many leased) engines on CSX around here (DC area), but the number has diminished of late. I don't see much of NS anymore, but I recall that they used to have a really fine mix of engines, GP60 and the like - are they all gone?

Still a lot of GPs in local service around here, including lots of mated slugs. Still cool to see a "GP-30" leader, even if there is no engine inside the hood.

JimThias · 02-05-2008, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottychaos

I never thought I would say this..but I really miss Conrail.

I've always thought Conrail was one of the worst company names ever made. I can't help but relate it to a bunch of criminals working for them.

gbrozny · 02-06-2008, 01:50 AM

I still see some variety on NS around here, had a container train with an SD40 that had a real nice sounding horn leading, another train had 3 SD40's pulling it, plus some of the locals if I can figure out where they are working will most times have a SD38. But yea, on average it is look, two Dash 9s, and even Ohio Central is beginning to get boring since I have managed to catch them in all the spots I wanted to, they seem to be running all dash 7's around here now. CSX all I seem to find is the slug sets returning to parsons, or dash 8's..

racinchaice1986 · 08-06-2009, 11:08 AM

both of them

Torpedo423 · 08-07-2009, 04:08 AM

Personally i like CSXT, probably because They're the only ones I ever see anymore and I grew up watching them (Baltimore area, St. Denis Station is where i film) They have friendly people, we got a Signal manuel and a Operating manuel last christmas from an Engineer in Parkersburg, WV, when his train was waiting to leave the yard.

Now I have nothing agaist NS, I like their paint scheme, and i wish I could see more of them, but the only time I ever see them is when I'm in Hagerstown.

So, I say CSXT

lock4244 · 08-07-2009, 05:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TAMR159

Dash 9s for NS, sure, but for CSX, it's their fleet of ES44DCs that reign supreme up here (those horns are enough to drive anyone insane, especially when you get 10 trains in an hour all led by them...after the first two, I don't even get out of my car anymore!).

Now, if you want to get technical CSX DOES have Dash 9s...9 of them to be specific (numbers 9003-9052, with 9011 having been wrecked). However, they are in the body of a C40-8W, the only visible difference being the number itself. Numbers 9000-9002 are C44-8Ws (I'm not entirely sure of the difference in these, if I had to guess I'd say it's in the electronics).

All in all, yes, both railroads are downright boring. Thank God there's plenty of shortlines up here...

It's all relative. Twenty years ago, SD40-2's, U30C's, C30-7's and Oakway SD60's ruled Powder River on BN, while SD50's, SD60's and C40-8's ruled C&NW there. Can't even find an SD40-2 there anymore. All that boring junk today will be gold in 20 years. Heck, you might find youself hunting the last NS C40-9W's in 20 years the same way their C39-8's became highly sought after near the end.

Anyways, NS would be my preference. Memories of catching NS in Buffalo in the late 80's are fond. High hoods, N&W and SOU units, Roadrailers and yes, those mean C39-8's. Never cared for CSX, though watching them on Sand Patch in 1995 was pretty cool.

nikos1 · 08-07-2009, 05:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lock4244

It's all relative. Twenty years ago, SD40-2's, U30C's, C30-7's and Oakway SD60's ruled Powder River on BN, while SD50's, SD60's and C40-8's ruled C&NW there. Can't even find an SD40-2 there anymore. All that boring junk today will be gold in 20 years. Heck, you might find youself hunting the last NS C40-9W's in 20 years the same way their C39-8's became highly sought after near the end.

Anyways, NS would be my preference. Memories of catching NS in Buffalo in the late 80's are fond. High hoods, N&W and SOU units, Roadrailers and yes, those mean C39-8's. Never cared for CSX, though watching them on Sand Patch in 1995 was pretty cool.

Back then though every 12 year old didnt have a digicam and video camera. Go to RRPA or even here on RP and most likely you will find dozens of shots of each GEVO.
I used to roster shoot every GEVO i found, under the whole gotta catch em all game, but ive become apathetic about it, i dont generally bother shooting a trailing GEVO. Same with NS Trash 9's. When it comes to modern power, whats around that train in your picture will matter much more than the train itself in 20 years.
If in 20 years i am chasing a GEVO down a weedy branchline, let me assure you it will be because of the fact its on a branchline, not that its a GEVO, i got plenty of shots when they are shiny, i doubt ill need more when they are rusted, dusted, patched and faded.

lock4244 · 08-07-2009, 03:00 PM

Nikos, I'll concede that there are way too many 12 year olds out there shooting digital... much more than there was shooting slides back in the day.

Prehaps you view railfanning in a different light than I do. Time was shooting a Chessie GP40 was boring, same goes for SP tunnel motors or BN SD45's. Where are they now? The way I look at fanning is that every time you see endless streams of a certain type of power and you get tired of them, that's just an era in time that will pass. My recent trip out to Powder River netted me about a gazillion AC4400's and ES44AC's on UP and a similar results on BNSF with their GEVO's, SD70ACe's and SD70MAC's. However, a trip back in ten years will see that all changed.

If the power sucks or is boring, then don't shoot the power, shoot the train in it's setting; shoot the entire scene and make the power somewhat secondary. Where I live, I get to shoot endless -9's and SD75I's on CN or AC4400's on CP. Boring as hell, so I try not to think of the power as the focus. Rather, I pick a scene I'd like to shoot and wait for any train. I thought that CN GP40-2L's were boring, same with CP's SD40's back in the 90's, but now that the GP40-2L's are almost extinct (certainly rare on the road round here) and CP's SD40 fleet is long gone, I'm very glad I have all those lame shots of that boring junk!

I think in 20 years you'll look at the multitude of GEVO's you shot and feel lucky to have witnessed that era. Heck, CSX and NS will be gone someday.

norfolksouthern · 08-07-2009, 03:06 PM

Norfolk Southern

- David

TrainFanNZ · 08-12-2009, 07:52 AM

well, from a person from another Country, I would have to go with NS on this one. Even though their (NS & CSX) Coal Trains are boring to watch (DVDs, not their fault I know!), but they run along sum of the most beautiful scenary in the U.S., sure CSX might have sum heavy Motive-Power, but you must admit, NS's Black & White paint is just stunning in the sunlight and when they (locomotives) have been cleaned & serviced.

Haven't been a fan of CSX for a long long time . . . and I'm only 26yrs old !

crazytiger · 08-12-2009, 03:53 PM

Heck, in 20 years their won't be anything but UP-CSX and BNSF or worse Socialist Railways of America.

RRR2007 · 08-12-2009, 05:00 PM

Thier is no more railraods they are transportation company's
the "real" railroader's are gone.
Used to take a train from columbus ohio to cinncinati go as hard as you could go make meet with another train. Didn't go til other train went by you called dispatchers on a crank phone copy orders by wieghside phones
no computors no radios we ran more trains with less confusion in aday than the run in a month now!
Just 1 olle retired engineers 2cents worth
rrr2007