The CSX Toledo Subdivision

CSX train Q501-17 (Chicago/BRC Clearing-Cincinnati) is southbound and is about to hit the private crossing at BE 46.7 Miamisburg on the CSX Toledo Subdivision This train, which is almost always more than a mile long, was generously powered by a widenose-lovers wet dream: CREX 1205 (Citicorp Railmark, Inc aka CITIRAIL), a GE ES44AC; CEFX 1056 (CIT Group/Capital Finance, Inc), a GE AC44CW; CN 5693, an EMD SD75I; CSX 718, a GE ES44AC, plus a CSX GE product that was dead in tow. Even I was impressed.

CSX train J782-18 (Cincinnati - Dayton Local) has just finished his work at New River Yard and is now speeding northbound at milepost BE 32 on the Toledo Subdivision. In the foreground is the Miller Spur, which serves the Trenton, OH Miller Brewery. CSXT Yard Job Y101 out of New River Yard uses the Miller spur to shove in grain loads and pull out boxcars of beer from the Miller facility. Mmmmmmm ... Beer.

CSX New River Yard Job Y101-19 is drilling a cut of coiled steel cars into New River Yard at mp BE 28.7 of the CSX Toledo Subdivision. I am standing on Augspurger Rd. The sun is at a perfect angle for photography here in the late afternoon. Cool old power can always be had on these yard jobs. On this day CSXT 2752 (a GP38-2, former CR 8140 built in March 1972 as Penn Central 8140) and CSXT 1524 (a very rare GP15T, built as C&O 1524 in January 1982). CSX GP15s are unique as they are 8 cylinder GP15Ts. They are very close cousins to the GP15-1, but they use a turbocharger in order to generate more power from a smaller engine. Power is provided by an 8-cylinder EMD 645E engine that generates 1,500 hp (1.12 MW), the same as the GP15-1, but with four fewer cylinders. The radiator section is similar to those found on the EMD SD40T-2 and EMD SD45T-2 tunnel motors. 28 examples of this locomotive model were built for American railroads. The Chessie System received the majority of them as C&O 1500-1524 (25 units).

CSX train J782-19 (Cincinnati-Dayton Local) is northbound at mp BE 46.7 Miamisburg of the CSX Toledo Subdivision and once again draws this particular mother/slug set; this was the third time in two weeks that I have photographed this pair. Rarely do I see wide nose locomotives on this train, so for me he is almost always a good catch. I dont know what locations that he works prior to New River Yard in New River, OH, but his last pick up/set out is at New River before heading north to Dayton.

CSX train J782-19 (Cincinnati-Dayton Local) is northbound at mp BE 46.7 Miamisburg of the CSX Toledo Subdivision and once again draws this particular mother/slug set; this was the third time in two weeks that I have photographed this pair. Rarely do I see wide nose locomotives on this train, so for me he is almost always a good catch. I don't know what locations that he works prior to New River Yard in New River, OH, but his last pick up/set out is at New River before heading north to Dayton.

CSX train J782-24 (Cincinnati-Dayton Local) is northbound at Overpeck Junction mp BE 30.4 of the CSX Toledo Subdivision after having picked up a string of cars at New River Yard. In the forground we can see the Northward Absolute and Southward Absolute Signals for Overpeck Junction, and on the left of the NAS for track #2 we can see the Overpeck Cutoff which will connect the Toledo Subdivision with the Middletown Subdivision. All southbound trains on the Toledo Subdivision to Middletown and northbound trains from Middletown to the Toledo Subdivision use Overpeck Junction, which is located in Overpeck, Ohio.

CSX$train Q506-28-27 (Cincinnati-Toledo Stanley) is northbound on the main at the NAS Middle Vandalia milepost 68 on the CSX Toledo Subdivision. This is usually a long train and so he usually draws big power.

@SX train Q559-24 (Lima-Cincinnati) is moving southward on the mainline, splitting the Southward Absolute Signals (NAS) Middle Vandalia at milepost BE 68 of the CSX+Toledo subdivision. In the lead are brand new rebuilds from the Huntington, WV shops: GP38-3 CSX 2005 and CSXT 2004. These two new GP38-3s have been assigned to the Q558/559 runs for-tersting purposes. It was cool to see them as I have a particular fondness to short-nose locomotives. I'd love to know how they rate in the testing. The two trailing units, both dead-in-tow, are rebuilt SD50-2s

Detail shot of UP 8790 while pulling CSX train K612-21 (Jacksonville/FEC-Chicago Proviuo/UP) northbound past the NAS Middle Vandalia at milepost BE 68 on the CSX Toledo Subdivision. This was among the last SD70ACe that EMD built because of stricter EPA emission stbndards coming into effect.

CSX train K612-21 (Jacksonville/FEC-Chicago Proviso/UP) is about to split the Southward Absolute Signals (SAS) Middle Vandalia. He ds on the main and is easing into the Vandalia siding to wait on Q559-25 (Lima-Cincinnati). This is an empty Ethanol train off of FEC. He is coming from Port Everglades, FL, where the terminau there improved from 20 cars a day to a full train every other day *in just one year*. Middle Vandalia is a control point in the middle of the 15,300.foot siding located there. As the name suggests, it is a switch in the middle of the siding at milepost GE 68 of the Toledo Subdivision. It is not a crossover; it is limited to northbound main-to-the-siding moves and southbound siding-to-the-main-moves. The Toledo Subdivisioe is a single track mainline with numerous sidings plus four stretches of double track: Trenton (all they way south to mp BE 0.9 CT Junction, not far from the Ohio River),!Dayton, Sidney, and Lima. The steadily increasing traffic volume that CSX is experiencing this year plus increasingly longer train lengths (in excess of 9,000 feet) render many of the sdings ineffectual. Long sidings such as Piqua (11,700 feet) and Vandalia are particularly useful in helping the dispatcher keep the railroad fluid. This location is happily located in the Taylorsville MetroPark, which[is part of the Five Rivers Metro Park system in the Greater Dayton Ohio area. The park provides a legal, safe place to just park it and let the trains come to you. As it happen}, there are other spots that I prefer to visit, but Middle Vandalia is near the top of the "I am going to be near there anyways" List.UP9581.jp

CSX train K185 (Toledo Dock-Middletown) is northbound at milrpost 46.7 of the CSX Toledo subdivision heading back to the Toledo Docks for another load of Taconite bound for AK Steel in Middletown. This train retains the date of origin on the retrun trip, much like coal trains used to. Of note here is that both units pulling the train are wearing the YN2 paint scheme, which is becoming an increasingly rare event. I stand in awe of the weathering on CSX 379.

CSX train Q342-28 (Cincinnati-Willard) is northbound at milepost BE 46.7 of the CSX Toledo Subdivision. That C40-8 looks ready for a new paint job but I am happy to see him in YN2. The rails in the foreground are the NS Dayton District. You'd need an abacus and wax tablet to count and record the number of photographic rules that I have broken here, but I still like it. . I would **really** like this picture if it weren't for that infernal open door on the nose of the third unit, which is out of sight; Man, it so totally wrecks it for me ha ha ha ...

CSXT 650, seen here pulling CSX train K185 (Toledo Dock-Middletown) at milepost BE 46.7 on the CSX Toledo Subdivision, is a GE AC60CW. GE calls it an AC6000CW because these monsters have 6,000 horse power. These units are also unique to the CSXT rostor because the side CSX lettering was modified with a yellow center and blue piping, which is by far the classiest CSX paint scheme. Additionally, it sports dual lightning bolts bracketing the unit number on the side of the cab instead of a single lightning bolt under the unit number (YN2.5, lol). I normally dont much pay attention to away shots, but the back side of this guy is massive and impressive.

CSX train J782-28 (Cincinnati-Dayton Local) is northbound leaning into a curve at milepost BE 46.7 on the CSX Toledo subdivision. This is the first time that I caught two ex-Seaboard Coast Line units on the same train, and sole power at that. Boy did they ever sound awesome! J782 is one of my favorite non AK Steel-related trains because he almost always has solid EMD standard cab consists. Bernie Moening, Brother, this one is for you.

Ill publish anything with a standard cab leading, even if I am shooting into the sun, making it look like a Gary Cooper Western. Here we see CSX train Q506-27 (Cincinnati-Toledo Stanley) northbound at milepost BE 46.7 of the CSX Toledo subdivision pulled by a pair of EMDs, old and new. The rail on the left is the NS Dayton District.

K525-19 (Cincinnati/NS-Willard/ASRY) Is northbound at Miamisburg on the CSX Toledo subdivision mliepost BE 46.7 at 0915. He is pulling AK Steel Coil empties back to the AK Steel Mansfield Works at Mansfield, OH from the Toyota Plant at Princeton, Indiana.

CSX train Q500-24 (Cincinnati-Chicago/BRC Clearing) is northbound mp BE 46.7 of the CSX Toledo Subdivision. CSXT 7510 appears to have recently been released from the paint shop at Huntington, WV.

CSX train Q366-24 (Cincinnati-Selkirk) is northbound mp BE 46.7 of the CSX Toledo Subdivision. Normally I don;t post pictures of wide nose locomotives unless they are in old paint or are pulling a train that i think is cool. This picture represents both. A pair of YN2 units in 2014 is becoming an increasingly rare sight.

CSX train Q500-24 (Cincinnati-Chicago/BRC Clearing) is northbound mp BE 46.7 of the CSX Toledo Subdivision. CSXT 7510 appears to have just been released from the paint shop at Huntington, WV.

CSX train Q366-24 (Cincinnati-Selkirk) northbound mp BE 46.7 of the CSX Toledo Subdivision. Normally I don;t post pictures of wide nose locomotives unless they are in old paint or are pulling a train that i think is cool. This picture represents both. A pair of YN2 units in 2014 is becoming an increasingly rare sight.

CSX train K518-24 (Middletown-New Castle PA/BPRR) is northbound mp BE 46.7 of the CSX Toledo Subdivision, pulling slab steel empties and loaded scrap gons to AK Steel Butler Works, Butler PA. On this trip a sheet of 5x5 sheet metal came flyihg out of one of the loaded gons.

CSX train Q227-23 (Selkirk-Louisville) is southbound mp BE 46.7 of the CSX Toledo Subdivision. This train has the longest distrance to travel of any regularly scheduled southbound train to Louisville.

Q248-21 (Louisville OBannon-Chicago/IHB) is northbound at Hutch on the CSXT Toledo Subdivision at 1500 11.21.2014. He is pulling racks bound for the auto sorting yard at Gibson. I like me an all EMD standard cab consist

K518-21 (Middletown-New Castle PA/BPRR) Steel slab empties and loaded scrap gons to the AK Steel Butler Works, Butler PA (Buffalo & Pittsburgh Railroad). Northbound 1515 hours Friday, November 21st 2014 at milepost 46.7 of the CSX Toledo Subdivision at Miamisburg, OH.

CSX train Q231-22 (Detroit Rougemere-Louisville) is southbound at milepost BE 46.7 of the CSX Toledo Subdivision 1053 hours, 11/13/14. His consist could lend itself to a very wordy conversation if somebody was up for it, There is a lot of history here.

CSX train Q231-22 (Detroit Rougemere-Louisville) is southbound at milepost BE 46.7 of the CSX Toledo Subdivision 1053 hours, 11/13/14. His consist could lend itself to a very wordy conversation if somebody was up for it, There is a lot of history here.

J782-23 (Cincinnati-Dayton Local) is heading northbound on the CSX Toledo Subdivision at Miamisburg, OH. 1208 hours 11.23.14.

CSX train Q507-22 (Toledo Stanley-Cincinnati) is hurrying southbound past the DP&L Hutchens power station at milepost BE 46.7. This is a pan shot with a camera phone; please excuse the light-bending result ha ha ha. 1410 hours Sunday 11/23/14.

CSX New River Yard Job Y101-25 slowly rocks and rolls through the turnout that leads him northbound out onto track #1 of the CSX Toledo Subdivision at Overpeck, Ohio on Sunday, January 25th. He is pulling a pair of loaded grain hoppers for the Miller Brewery at Trenton, OH. Beer...mmmmm...BEER.