If you’re familiar with the Pittsburgh Line of Norfolk Southern then this location probably looks familiar. It is Cassandra, Pennsylvania, and the image was made at a popular railfan hangout.
Yet you might be thinking, “say what? That’s a CSX train.” Indeed it is.
Back in October 2013 CSX had a major derailment on its route east of Cleveland. Some of the railroad’s highest priority intermodal trains were sent detouring over NS through central Pennsylvania.
Although lead unit 5212, a GE ES44DC, had been built for CSX it had an apparatus that was compatible with the train control system used on the Pittsburgh Line.
Therefore, the trains could operate with their CSX locomotives, making for an unusual sight because foreign units did not typically lead trains on the Pittsburgh Line.
These images were made during my first visit to Cassandra, a day trip that began early and ended late because it was an out and back excursion.
The fall foliage wasn’t quite as brilliant as I had hoped it would be, but it still looked like October.
Tags: Cassandra Pennsylvania, CSX intermodal trains, CSX locomotives, CSX motive power, NS Pittsburgh Line, Railfanning at Cassandra Pennsylvania
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