X550-Series CSX Trains

[rwtrave]

Over the past couple days, CSX has run an X550, X552, X554 and X556. All of these trains are off of UP. Apparently (from what I've heard), these trains were originally supposed to be from UP in Chicago, but were instead, routed out of St. Louis. Does anyone know why? What are they doing, and what is the purpose of this? Any additional information would be appreciated.

As a side note, I caught X556 at Berea around 8pm tonight. The lead unit was UP 3903, an SD70M. Trailing was a CSX Dash 8. The train itself had some of the characteristics of a Q382/Q390. A lot of reefers!

[SimRacin14]

Think there was an X553 in Louisville last weekend with a UP SD70ACe. Came down the LCL Sub from Cincy.

[sd70accsxt700]

There was a X551 off the CP last night also. I believe due to the excessive snows, and just the problems that creats trying to walk around a yard, and switch, ect, it has cut production at Barr Yard by enought it is messing things up. I know it has been a wacky and wicked past couple of weeks, with suff just generaly SNAFUed. When I got the Q368 with the two SD40-3's the other day, the yard crew was talking about how there was over 200 cars in Barr Yard alone that needed to go over to the IHB pronto. Othere then the snow thing not sure what was going on.

[bdconrail29]

On the Big 4 last night we had both the X556 and an X558.

[cbehr91]

Yesterday's X558 had a UP SD70M and a CSX AC4400CW. Looked like mostly midwestern or western loads - lots of Golden West Service and MoPac box cars, with some covered hoppers of midwestern origin also.

[bdconrail29]

Cory,

Reminded me of the big SLSE's that Conrail used to run. Just a bix mix UP freight. That's nice to see now with only one Avon freight on the Big 4 now, Q364.

[cnw8835]

Some of the reroutes might have something to do with the mess in Chicago lately.

viewtopic.php?f=20&t=20538&p=174298#p174298

[rwtrave]

Well, thanks for the information everyone. I appreciate it. Hopefully they continue to run for a few more days. I'm a sucker for shooting oddball trains.