PAR Business Train (ST 100, 101, 102 & 103; PAR 1 & 2)

What is NEARS? Even Google cannot find it.

On today's NEARS convention agenda we have the following two interesting presenters/topics:

10:30 – Are we ready for the new North American Rail Network?
Martin J. Oberman, Chairman, Surface Transportation Board

11:15 – Pan Am & CSX Merger Update
Kevin Boone, EVP Sales & Marketing, CSX

OCS ran down the western today with GE 7542 as power (having PTC capability). I hear this is the norm now that regulations require such equipment, and thus the F units are no longer compliant. Is there any update as to what may come for the F's...are they part of the deal with CSX?

Video by mec_rails of the business train blasting through Exeter yesterday with the freshly-painted Dash 8 on the point:

A very wet OCS heading west through Buckland at 9:45 AM.

That horn sounds fantastic

Par1 & Par2 would be interesting on the CSRX

The horn is a Nathan K3L. I assume they took it from one of the retired 500s.

I was watching a Youtube video of Guilford in the mid 1980s. In one shot they had the business train. The power was one of the stolen D&H 7600 class, AKA B&M 350 series, and a steam generator GP7. I noticed that the consist had several stainless coaches along with present ST 100 and 101. I'd also seen it in Plainville as a teen, but it had two of the 350s. Where did all of the other coaches go? When did they stop using them?

Sometime in the late 90's. I think two are still at Waterville. The third (MEC 391) ended up on the B&ML, which like most of the stuff they own, is in storage.

The OCS is scheduled to be at the New England Railroad Club conference on 3/31 in Worcester, so look for a “final” run around then.

remind me, is the OCS being sold with the railroad or retained by Mr Mellon? Would CSX have any purpose for it?

BandA wrote:remind me, is the OCS being sold with the railroad or retained by Mr Mellon? Would CSX have any purpose for it?

Propaganda?

In all seriousness, what would it cost them to keep it around? I don't know either way. From a general business perspective, my view would be if it's not taking up resources and it provides some value, it's not a problem. That said, the second it is taking away resources from a mission-critical part of the business, I say get rid of it. I imagine that bar might be pretty low for CSX — perhaps as low as the idea of repainting it into CSX colors.

They already have an OCS that is capable of traveling where they need to send it. What use would they have for these extra cars, and power that isn't PTC compliant?