This brings back memories of childhood I remember seeing those grizzled chessie and seaboard veterans man do I miss those rainbow days lol. Also the chessie sd50 is one of my favorite locomotives I have several in HO scale including a CSX patched unit.
I was fortunate enough to live right along the Fairmont subdivision in Kingmon 1978 to 1981... then we moved in at my grandfather's house in Colfax across the Tygart River with the tracks easily visible from the large living room window and balcony Then we moved to Grant Town around the fall of 1981 where once again, the tracks and Federal 1 mine were visible from the porch. I remember seeing lots of blue Conrail, some Monongahela, an occasional P&LE, and Chessie as well. The line from Rivesville to Loveridge was extremely busy in those days I lived close to the once active MR subdivision around 1985, but then moving to Kingmont where the Fairmont subdivision runs through the back yard in 1986.... . at MP 299
I miss the rainbow days too. I lived in Orange Park FL and the CSXT mains ran behind the house. Watched everything from Chessie, seaboard, to CSX bright future aka YN2 roll past. Even seen a couple B&O as well as C&O units. Life was much simpler for me then, being 5 when this video was shot.
Thank you so much for this! The Chessie System logo was a big part of my train watching when I was an 11 year old girl. I would look for it on every passing train and even count how many I saw!
Same for me. Only,I can remember noticing it and trains in general at a very early age and being intrigued by the sights and sounds of trains that passed by the house when we lived in Kingmont from 1976 to 1981, which is just outside of Fairmont westbound of Grafton. I was just months old and remember this feeling of excitement every time I heard them blaring the horn at the crossing. And they were always Chessie, B & O, and C & O mostly I have my own theory as to why railroads often use elaborate color schemes and designs for their locomotives. First, passing trains are more than just a transportation system. They are a show of both sight and sound. The sounds of air horns, electromotive diesels working hard, turbo chargers screaming, and GE engines chugging their way by…. take those elements, and then combine them with this VERY 1970s abstract art-inspired sunburst paint scheme, and you cannot ignore that Boys of my age in those days especially remembered Chessie, and it was its elaborate colorful color design and the sillouhette of the cat that also made you notice and appreciate then more “dull” designs, like B & O and C & O. Chessie had a way of drawing attention from all, and it was this attention that inspired boys like myself into wanting to become conductors and engineers one day In other words, Chessie, Western Maryland, Conrail, and the equally elaborate cabooses… these vibrant designs and such were great recruiting tools. These railroads all knew what they were doing. It was much more than them dreaming up these designs and painting them onto equipment. They dove into the “show of both sight and sound” side of railroading and into the minds of what they were getting lined up to be the new generation of railroaders. And it believe it had a significant impact as well Abstract art was a big thing in the mid 1960s through the 70s. And mostly because the CIA was using it as a tool for throwing these art gallery gatherings that were actually traps used to spy on the Soviets. I forget the entire story, but it was something about learning that the Soviets were fans of abstract art, and painters like Andy Worhol, so… the spooks used that love of their to draw them into the galleries where the place was bugged with hidden cameras and tiny microphones. As they discussed are, they also discussed Soviet plans
I feel bad for the paint shop guys of that era. Must have been depressing shooting primer gray over the Chessie colors. They couldn't even use L&N gray. Went with plain old primer gray instead. I am glad the stealth paint job didn't stick around for long. Cool seeing the GP30s working. I have always liked them.
This is also around the time of the death of the caboose. The B & O… C & O… and WM schemes were becoming fewer and fewer as well, but not without the addition of Seaboard System and Family Lines becoming more prevalent. In fact, I remember in 1994 seeing Q316 fight the grade through Tunnelton with 4 in the lead and 3 helplers in the middle, with the 2nd helper being Family Lines 3008 - one of the rare BQ23-7s
Fantastic catch! Miss the mighty SD50s. From what I recall, the 50s were the last delivered in Chessie paint. They were part of a large order by "holding company" CSX for the member railroads. Note that contiguous 8xxx numbers were on all of them delivered to Chessie and Seaboard but delivered to the subsidiaries in their own paint and markings. CSX at the time of the order did not officially merge all the individual companies yet... CSXT markings were applied after all the legal entities merged into CSX and rosters combined. The 50s just needed markings since their numbers already reflected the projected number schene at the time. (I believe Chessie finally ceased to be a subsidiary legal entity when C&O and B&O merged in 1987 (WM a yime before that....
B&O SD50 #8595 was the last engine that was ever purchased by the Baltimore and Ohio. It was suppose to go to the B&O RR museum, but someone in upper csxt management screwed up and sold it.
Very nice! Absolutely love this video! It’s very cool to see what CSX’s Grafton Yard in Grafton, West Virginia, looked like back in 1990, 9 years before before I was born in 1999! Just seeing all the classic EMD’s and Chessie System paint scheme is just awesome! Even the B&O and early CSX paint schemes are cool too! Also, the classic B&O and Chessie System cabooses! I also like the B&O CPL signals that are seen in the video and the CSX Chevy work truck between 16:20 and 16:21! Awesome!
I got lucky. Born in 85, I got to see alot of the different schemes at the beginning of CSX. Also helped that my Grandfather was a chief dispatcher for them. Good Ole days. Man, I'm old.
From these trains about 33 years ago by this year of 2024 these logo signs were gone so they got rid of seaboard system and Chessie system and seaboard system baltimore and Ohio railroad anything of the other Logos railroad in the 90s was gone
Spent alot of time in Cumberland yard with my dad and his back in the day. Yep, the good old days. This is very nice stuff. Good memories
This brings back memories of childhood I remember seeing those grizzled chessie and seaboard veterans man do I miss those rainbow days lol. Also the chessie sd50 is one of my favorite locomotives I have several in HO scale including a CSX patched unit.
Buckey Fan Same, great memories!
I was fortunate enough to live right along the Fairmont subdivision in Kingmon 1978 to 1981... then we moved in at my grandfather's house in Colfax across the Tygart River with the tracks easily visible from the large living room window and balcony
Then we moved to Grant Town around the fall of 1981 where once again, the tracks and Federal 1 mine were visible from the porch. I remember seeing lots of blue Conrail, some Monongahela, an occasional P&LE, and Chessie as well. The line from Rivesville to Loveridge was extremely busy in those days
I lived close to the once active MR subdivision around 1985, but then moving to Kingmont where the Fairmont subdivision runs through the back yard in 1986....
. at MP 299
I miss the rainbow days too. I lived in Orange Park FL and the CSXT mains ran behind the house. Watched everything from Chessie, seaboard, to CSX bright future aka YN2 roll past. Even seen a couple B&O as well as C&O units. Life was much simpler for me then, being 5 when this video was shot.
Thank you so much for this! The Chessie System logo was a big part of my train watching when I was an 11 year old girl. I would look for it on every passing train and even count how many I saw!
Same for me. Only,I can remember noticing it and trains in general at a very early age and being intrigued by the sights and sounds of trains that passed by the house when we lived in Kingmont from 1976 to 1981, which is just outside of Fairmont westbound of Grafton. I was just months old and remember this feeling of excitement every time I heard them blaring the horn at the crossing. And they were always Chessie, B & O, and C & O mostly
I have my own theory as to why railroads often use elaborate color schemes and designs for their locomotives. First, passing trains are more than just a transportation system. They are a show of both sight and sound. The sounds of air horns, electromotive diesels working hard, turbo chargers screaming, and GE engines chugging their way by…. take those elements, and then combine them with this VERY 1970s abstract art-inspired sunburst paint scheme, and you cannot ignore that
Boys of my age in those days especially remembered Chessie, and it was its elaborate colorful color design and the sillouhette of the cat that also made you notice and appreciate then more “dull” designs, like B & O and C & O. Chessie had a way of drawing attention from all, and it was this attention that inspired boys like myself into wanting to become conductors and engineers one day
In other words, Chessie, Western Maryland, Conrail, and the equally elaborate cabooses… these vibrant designs and such were great recruiting tools. These railroads all knew what they were doing. It was much more than them dreaming up these designs and painting them onto equipment. They dove into the “show of both sight and sound” side of railroading and into the minds of what they were getting lined up to be the new generation of railroaders. And it believe it had a significant impact as well
Abstract art was a big thing in the mid 1960s through the 70s. And mostly because the CIA was using it as a tool for throwing these art gallery gatherings that were actually traps used to spy on the Soviets. I forget the entire story, but it was something about learning that the Soviets were fans of abstract art, and painters like Andy Worhol, so… the spooks used that love of their to draw them into the galleries where the place was bugged with hidden cameras and tiny microphones. As they discussed are, they also discussed Soviet plans
I feel bad for the paint shop guys of that era.
Must have been depressing shooting primer gray over the Chessie colors.
They couldn't even use L&N gray.
Went with plain old primer gray instead.
I am glad the stealth paint job didn't stick around for long.
Cool seeing the GP30s working.
I have always liked them.
This is also around the time of the death of the caboose. The B & O… C & O… and WM schemes were becoming fewer and fewer as well, but not without the addition of Seaboard System and Family Lines becoming more prevalent. In fact, I remember in 1994 seeing Q316 fight the grade through Tunnelton with 4 in the lead and 3 helplers in the middle, with the 2nd helper being Family Lines 3008 - one of the rare BQ23-7s
In 1994, I lived in South Eastern Virginia. All we saw was Norfolk Southern junk. Depressing black engines.
Early CSX paint schemes were among the ugliest ever. Gray/blue is such a poor combination.
EMD heaven
Fantastic catch! Miss the mighty SD50s. From what I recall, the 50s were the last delivered in Chessie paint. They were part of a large order by "holding company" CSX for the member railroads. Note that contiguous 8xxx numbers were on all of them delivered to Chessie and Seaboard but delivered to the subsidiaries in their own paint and markings. CSX at the time of the order did not officially merge all the individual companies yet... CSXT markings were applied after all the legal entities merged into CSX and rosters combined. The 50s just needed markings since their numbers already reflected the projected number schene at the time. (I believe Chessie finally ceased to be a subsidiary legal entity when C&O and B&O merged in 1987 (WM a yime before that....
B&O SD50 #8595 was the last engine that was ever purchased by the Baltimore and Ohio. It was suppose to go to the B&O RR museum, but someone in upper csxt management screwed up and sold it.
Chessie also went through St. Thomas Ontario too was neet to see the big cat
Very nice! Absolutely love this video! It’s very cool to see what CSX’s Grafton Yard in Grafton, West Virginia, looked like back in 1990, 9 years before before I was born in 1999! Just seeing all the classic EMD’s and Chessie System paint scheme is just awesome! Even the B&O and early CSX paint schemes are cool too! Also, the classic B&O and Chessie System cabooses! I also like the B&O CPL signals that are seen in the video and the CSX Chevy work truck between 16:20 and 16:21! Awesome!
I got lucky. Born in 85, I got to see alot of the different schemes at the beginning of CSX. Also helped that my Grandfather was a chief dispatcher for them. Good Ole days. Man, I'm old.
Love the footage from Grafton
GP40-45 because of trucks two axles. SD50 has three axles per trucks.😊 Happy New Year 🎊
So many chessies 😢
love these old videos. Sent you a PM on RRfan
Kinda sad to see those old GP30 units become slug units.
한국철도 소속 디젤전기기관차 2대에 런닝맨 여자피디님이 샌디에고에서 탑승해서 로스앤젤레스를 경유해서 퀘벡주까지 향하는 장대 혼합화물열차를 이끈다.
From these trains about 33 years ago by this year of 2024 these logo signs were gone so they got rid of seaboard system and Chessie system and seaboard system baltimore and Ohio railroad anything of the other Logos railroad in the 90s was gone
VP JD 🧔♂️ VANCE 🤝 🫶 🤛
WEST VIRGINIA! TRUMP 🍔🍟 COUNTRY ⛳️ 🥤🦺
WORD 👩🏿🦰 🥗🍴SALAD 🤥🥙
Solid gray CSX....one of the worst paint schemes of all time.
I don't see no 3 axle engines, even the CSX engines only have 2 axle. Are they just and powerful in torch as the bigger 3 axle engines🤔?
There's 6 axle engines here...8500 and 8600 series SD50s, 8400 series SD40s, and 8100 series SD40-2s.