Could have Conrail survived?

[CSXfan11]

Could Conrail survive the current economy in 1999?

[SD80MAC]

Most certainly. Conrail wasn't spilt up because it failed, it was so successful that CSX and NS entered a bidding war because they both wanted it badly. In the end, CSX got 48% and NS got 52%. The intent behind Conrail, at least initially, was never to keep it around long term. It was seen as a temporary solution to bail out the bankrupt north east railroads. It was intended that once Conrail became solvent, it would eventually be sold off piece-meal to the privately owned railroads. In reality, Conrail became more successful than anyone ever thought it would, and flourished after the government sold their interest in the mid 80s. CSX saw this and wanted to make it a part of their network, and the original deal was a 100% sale to CSX. Of course, NS did not like that idea, and we all know the eventual outcome.

[ConrailDetr​oit]

2nd Question. Will Conrail Shared Assets survive?

In Detroit, CSX currently seems to have very little presence or interest in Conrail anymore, aside from the intermodal to and from Livernois, and a CSX Dispatcher controlling the Lincoln Secondary.

The last reported CSX engine used by a Conrail Job was in 2016. CSX transfer jobs to Conrail to deliver cars have turned into Conrail transfer jobs to CSX to pickup cars.

[kd_1014]

CSX still has a pretty big presence in the CSAO out in New Jersey still.

[AARR]

Does CSX get any of the chemical or scrap metal traffic?

In Detroit, CSX currently seems to have very little presence or interest in Conrail anymore, aside from the intermodal to and from Livernois, and a CSX Dispatcher controlling the Lincoln Secondary.

[ConrailDetr​oit]

Does CSX get any of the chemical or scrap metal traffic?

In Detroit, CSX currently seems to have very little presence or interest in Conrail anymore, aside from the intermodal to and from Livernois, and a CSX Dispatcher controlling the Lincoln Secondary.

One would need sit at Delray at night to observe the cars on LV-40 that transfers Conrail cars to CSX at Rougemere and returns to Livernois. When Y122 would move CSX cars to Conrail at Livernois, the cars were always a wide variety.

For a while the scrap cars from Chrysler on the east side would frequently be in CSX gondolas.

[David Collins]

Does CSX get any of the chemical or scrap metal traffic?

In Detroit, CSX currently seems to have very little presence or interest in Conrail anymore, aside from the intermodal to and from Livernois, and a CSX Dispatcher controlling the Lincoln Secondary.

One would need sit at Delray at night to observe the cars on LV-40 that transfers Conrail cars to CSX at Rougemere and returns to Livernois. When Y122 would move CSX cars to Conrail at Livernois, the cars were always a wide variety.

LV-40 from what I have seen carries a small block of scrap gons, normally between 3-5 of them. I have seen then go south on M511 (Detroit-Cincinnati) and L314 (Detroit-Walbridge) and Vice Versa.

[joeyuboats]

Conrail turned my son into a railfan, and he wishes it still was around. We used to watch CR mainly at Mound Road Yard, in Warren. Used to catch the weekend operations and after school,on the way home. The crews were really good at answering questions, and explaining why they worked the way they did. After awhile used to get cab rides while switching and my son actually ran a GP15, NO. 1687. Got to go inside the Dodge Truck plant, and they gave him a CR lantern. That was back when there was a yard office there and crews worked at that yard. Now, the office is gone, and I do not know where the crews are based. It was a much better, simpler time, but his favorite RR will always be Conrail.