New UP power through Rochester

Can't help but notice the abundance of what looks like spanking new UP units on trains in both directions. Is CSX using these units because of a motive power shortage or are these units working their way west in a round about manner. They sure make a nice contrast to the grimy blue and gray usually seen. Does CSX ever wash these things :D

Chances are that the UP loco's are not new, but that the UP takes care of their equipment. Alot of foreign power comes through to Selkirk on trains which are "Run-through" from the foreign railroad, especially van trains.....less time consumed swapping power at the interchange point.

I have never seen a CSXT loco been washed either.

Come to think of it they are heading up van trains so the idea of keeping the lashups intact makes sense from a time savings point of view. Thanks for the info.

This thought would have far more credibility 1) if the observation had been made West of Erie PA and 2) the Member indentified whether the units were of GE or EMD manufacture.

But here is always the possibility that they are newbuilds simply being dispatched in revenue service on CSX.

I trust most here are familiar with how railroads "pay' one another for use of locomotives. They simply "run it off" with the unit of measure of horsepower/miles. Cash is only used when one railroad's balance with another is hopelessly "lopsided" or if the other cannot reasonably supply motive power acceptable to the other.

Quick way to "make a buck", If Amtrak needs a relief engine, best deal around is if railroad providing the relief has a foreign engine to use for such. Since Amtrak really does not have any power suitable for freight service, any settlement with them will involve $$$. Therefore, a foreign engine would not only put "copper in the hopper" ($$$$) but also would favorably affect balance of hp/miles with the engine's owning road.