CSX in Connellsville Area 2012 Set

Q277 going west out of Connellsville on Track 4 in a lake-effect snow shower. The heavier snow did not come until the next day. Update: CSX 7559 has now been repainted into the YN3/Dark Future paint since this photo was taken.

The yard power works an autorack train on the west end of the yard on a cold winter morning. CSX 2221 Road Slug is a former B&O 3556 GP35 built in 1964. CSX 6446 GP40-2 is former B&O 4432 built in 1981.

Autorack train Q216 going east on Track 2 near Bluestone on an unusually warm January day. CSX 8404 was still in YN1 paint!

Freight train Q368-05 rounds the bend at Bluestone and is starting to pick up some speed after getting its rear helpers added to the back.

Rear help on Q368-05 giving a good shove past the iconic B&O signal at Bluestone. C40-8's were unfortunately retired from the CSX roster in summer 2016.

Q352 rolls east into Connellsville at sunset, with all five engines in Dark Future paint. The only GE engine was the leader.

Q277-06 is going west with a slow approach on Track 4, ready to leave Connellsville. Putting a 4400 HP Gevo on the front seemed a bit much, but hey I just take the pictures.

The middle engine on Q368-05. Former Conrail 6370 built in June 1977. So who was the wise guy that painted the 8's on this upside down?!

A long Q216 autorack train coming east into Connellsville on a slow approach. The SD40-2 behind the GEVO was sounding really good.

Eastbound coal train U884 pauses in Connellsville for a new crew and also more fuel.

Eastbound autorack train Q276 moving swiftly on Track 2 Main outside South Connellsville, Pa. #7536 is now retired from CSX.

At rest in the Connellsville yard. It would leave on Q277 later in the day. This has since been retired from CSX.

Intermodal train Q138 heading east at about noon in South Connellsville. The pole line has now been removed as it was obsolete. Electrical wires for a modern signal system are now buried underground.

Nothing like an icy blue CEFX showing up on a cold snowy day. This pleasant surprise was seen on Q276-13 going east in South Connellsville. It would eventually come to a stop to get helpers added to the back. CEFX 3129 is former SP 8869/7455 built in March 1967. It was an SD45 but is now an SD40M-2. HLCX 7073 is former BNSF/BN 7073 built in July 1978.

Work train DO58-13 has come west into Connellsville and is dropping off its small train of four gondolas into the yard. The SD50-2 was looking good in the snowstorm. Built as Conrail 6736 in December 1983.

Work train DO58-13 has come west into Connellsville and is dropping off its small train of four gondolas into the yard. The SD50-2 was looking good in the snowstorm. Built as Conrail 6736 in December 1983.

An empty coal train is just about ready to go west on Track 1 Main out of the yard in Connellsville after doing a crew change.

Q277 waiting for the conductor to be brought down from the yard, so that it then can continue west on Track 4. CSX 7331 C40-8W is former Conrail 6128 built in April 1991. It was repainted into the YN3/Dark Future scheme in early summer 2011. It was one of the last former Conrails on CSX to get repainted.

A GE C40-8W is being used for the morning yard job Y101-13 in Connellsville, during a blowing snowstorm.

A GE C40-8W is being used for the morning yard job Y101-13 in Connellsville, during a blowing snowstorm.

U884-11 going east on Track 4 siding where the train will get dropped off and a new crew will arrive at a later time. The all dark blue consist is something we will have to get used to with CSX. It is happening more and more.

Q368-13 going east under the Sodem signal bridge in Connellsville, during a lull in the snow showers. Its an oddity to see all widecabs on this train.

Eastbound coal train U884-11 dashing through the snow along Water Street in Connellsville.

Former Conrail 5642 built in 1995. Seen on yard job Y101-21 in Connellsville. This still had Conrail blue as late as 2009.

A weathered C40-8 that has still avoided the paint shop is working on yard job Y101-21 at Connellsville, in a light snowfall.

Q277-23 going west through Connellsville on Track 4. CEFX SD40M-2 was built as SP 8845 SD45 in February 1967. Later renumbered to SP 7416.

Second engine on Q638. Repainted in 2010.

The leader on today's Q368 train.

CASE-IH and New Holland tractors going east on train Q394. Something that is still made in America. Does anyone know what state these are made in?

A green signal on the lone CPL at Bluestone awaits eastbound Q394. Beyond that, the mountains of Sand Patch Grade are waiting as well.

EMD SD60 in new paint, one of four engines on Q394.

Drand new GE ES44AC-H idling on a coal train at Bluestone on Track 4. The weather wcs 60 degrees, not bad for a late January day!

Brand new GE ES44AC-H idling on a coal train at Bluestone on Track 4. The weather was 60 degrees, not bad for$a late January day!

This tattered building is to the west of the main VI tower on what is now the CSX Keystone Subdivision in Connellsville. It has been unused for more than 20 years. On the other side of it were two hump tracks and also a large refueling tank. The yard is a shadow of its former self, but still sorts many autoracks daily.

EMD SD40-2, dead-in-tow on train Q394. Built as UP 3104 SD40 in September 1971.

EMD SD40-2, dead-in-tow on train Q394. Built as UP 3104 SD40 in September 1971. On the nose it says "stack covered".

EMD SD40-2, one of four engines on train Q394. Former BNSF/BN 8072 SD40-2 built in 1979. Still in the paint it was built in.

A pair of GE widecabs bringing Q226-02 into Connellsville on Track 2 Main, where it would soon come to a stop for a crew change.

At the Connellsville CSX yard. Former BN 8073 built in 1979.

Intermodal train Q138 going east into Connellsville in a wet snow shower. Though it was snowing for half the day, the ground was so warm that none of it accumulated.

An SD70MAC idling in a snowstorm, on the helper track at the Connellsville CSX yard. This was not taken from CSX property.

Two EMD SD40-2s working together on yard job Y101-11 on a snowy blustery morning. Photographed under Memorial Bridge in Connellsville. CSX 8209 is former L&N 3581 built in 1974. CSX 8437 is former Western Maryland 7595 (SD40) built in November 1968.

A loaded coal train going east on Track 4 siding is slowing to a stop near the South Connellsville Rod and Gun Club where the crew will get picked up by the taxi van you see in the right background. The temperature here was about 15 degrees with a wind chill worse than that. I had to wait several hours on top of a hill for a train to finally come. And luckily it was the fourth track just as I was hoping, to get the ideal photo position. I know you only see three tracks there. Its a long story. CSX 72 has now been repainted into the standard YN3/Dark Future paint scheme.

A weathered warrior on an autorack train in the snow in Connellsvile.

EMD pair on Q277-13 next to the icy cold Youghiogheny River. CSX 4019 is former CSX 8041/SBD 8041/SCL 8041 SD40-2 built in July 1979. CSX 8367 is former CO 7508 SD40 built in June 1970.

"Dark Future" EMD pair on an autorack train in Connellsville. CSX 4019 ks former CSX/SBD 8041 built in July 1979. CSX 8367 is former C&O 7508 built in June 1970.

Mixed freight train Q359 going west through Broadford on Track 1 Main. Every train I saw today had GE widecabs. It was a little disappointing. At least it was sunny out.

Roster shot of the second engine on Q277-20.

A lone GE ES40DC takes a stroll on Track 2 Main in Broadford, Pa on a beautiful February afternoon. It was going east.

8,000 horsepower takes the a long Q277-20 autorack train west through Broadford Pa, approaching a medium clear signal, and then crossing over from Track 2 to Track 1. It was running a little earlier than usual.