CSX's Illegal Coal Train

[@billmorris2613]

First it’s not illegal. There rules are not laws. Plus they have rules for exceptions.

[@thomaskerley1388]

If there was a problem with the train imagine being the crew member who has to walk the length of the train to fix it.

[@yankeesforlife24]

There is something called an “exception” that the company can give the train. This isn’t even long. Bnsf and up run loaded super trains on a regular basis and are 30 to 40k tons and 14k feet. it’s not illegal if it’s a rule and the company gives written permission

[@AlHart-w5g]

That’s just a baby. UP pulls coal trains, sometimes 300 cars in tow, out in Nebraska.

[@stephenroberts4895]

So does BNSF in Colorado

[@philipsvatba2125]

229 coal cars and 4 locomotives.... that was a long train for sure.

[@Plymouth-Interlocking]

If you read the rest of the rule there is an allowance for up to 13k feet and 32k tons if the train has a DPU. This train has a DPU, therefore it is under the length requirement. There is also an allowance for 500 tons over the limit(if approved by the GSO), so at 32,419 tons it just barely squeezes under the legal limit as per the rule you showed. It should also be noted that this extra weight requirement is route specific. So maybe it's not on a route that allows this? I don't know. Just my observations.

[@TrainTrackTrav]

Who needs rules when you can maximize profits?

[@Trainboy1EJR]

Trailblazer - “Rules were made to be broken!” -Honkai StarRail

[@CedarLakeRailfanner]

Ah yes PSR at it's finest

[@xheralt]

Fine for wrongdoing (if ever actually levied) is probably something like 0.02% of the company's annual profits. Just a little bit of extra overhead, price of doing business, ho hum.

[@paulslattery9039]

If there are binding rules like this they should be changed to suit the requirements of the operators who know their business best. Silly rules should be broken. In Australia we have iron ore trains over twice the length and weight of this one and they operate quite safely and economically. 4:08

[@CedarLakeRailfanner]

@@paulslattery9039 I mean it is the railroad's choice what they want to do

[@aaronatstate]

Literally exceptions right below at 0:42 that say up to 32k tons and 13k feet are allowed on some corridors. Could be an exception for that line it was on…

[@Hunterwj12]

This was not on an excepted line. I can read.

[@StarTard8]

@@Hunterwj12 General Rules are superseded by Timetable Special Instruction and then by Direct Exemption. The route from Fulton to Florence is good for the maximum allowable tonnage and length restrictions, they’ve been doubling up coal trains in Richmond Fulton and running them to Florence and Tampa for a long while now. As long as you’re powered for the route and Network Ops says it’s good to run, it’s legal. They make the rules and make exemptions to them, this is nothing new or revolutionary.

[@B-and-O-Operator-Fairmont]

My late grandfather was a brakeman and conductor on B&O from 1943 to 1975. He said many times in the caboose he would look ahead over a train of coal and think "that left a big hole underground". The mine runs he worked probably never exceeded 50 cars, and those were generally 70-Ton cars. He would be gobsmacked at the trains of today - and of the hole all of that coal left underground.

[@davidgolson9151]

Memo from HQ "Don't do that again... until next time"

[@Railroader1989]

This is a baby… I work for them and the “super train” is a normal thing now.. a couple years ago one train had lost an engine and they had another big train that came by and they coupled to it.. after everything was together, it was a whopping 23k ft long.. biggest train I ever seen and will prob ever see. I was working on a drawbridge at the time and it took forever for the train to clear the bridge running at a decent speed.. then when it passed the DD I heard how many axles and length of train and was blown away.. it was a sight to see for sure!!

[@bf2945ify]

It's legal until its derails!

[@vuurvrproductions4656]

thats insane how they were going somewhat fast and it took 3 minutes

[@dalton1583]

We all know management doesn't care. Get it done as cheap as possible

[@Rustyrailhead]

Profits and shareholders .

[@GaryMP4.8]

NS runs 12,000+ foot trains here on the Blue Ridge District in Virginia all the time. Intermodal, mixed freight and empty hoppers.

[@Joe-d7m6k]

So, CSX makes rules for trains--- then violates its own rules. Ok, got it!!

[@Peter-mt6lg]

Go to the corporate CSX office in Jax and tell them how you feel,and remember SCL means "Still Coast Line".

[@Kem23Yt]

@@Peter-mt6lg😂😂

[@ChessieKitten]

A sucker born every minute!

[@Joe-d7m6k]

@@Peter-mt6lg STILL CANT LEARN.......

[@theknickerbocker5808]

​@Peter-mt6lg CSXT= Can Someone Xplain This.

[@StarTard8]

All they need is an email from the Network Ops Manager to run exempted from Fulton to Cross. As long as it’s approved, they can follow the stipulation for the maximum allowable length and tonnage for *any* route or even go over if they need to. I’ve personally run 1,600 ft over limit before, this is nothing new….

[@amtrak713productions8]

It’s even funnier when it’s 2 oil trains combined with an sd40-2 leader

[@pietjebell]

Awesome long coal train with 229 Railcars and 4 Diesel Locomotives 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍🚂🚂🚂🚂 Great Catch !

[@hunterprowsemrereviews9141]

Wow 940 axles and only 4 locomotives 229 loaded coal cars. That must’ve taken two whole shifts at the mine to load it, and I don’t know how it was even able to pull it all with just 4 locomotives. I mean wheel slip anyone!?

[@yankeesforlife24]

Probably took 4 to 8 hours

[@hunterprowsemrereviews9141]

@@yankeesforlife24 yeah probably lol but still that’s an insane load lol!

[@jwtish7825]

End PSR...

[@orlandorailfanproductions314]

Yes please

[@chipford9694]

thats a long train loaded for dunn. great catch

[@qcexplorer6628]

By the time you get up to speed you have to start braking for your crew change 😂

[@Del-ji3xr]

Saw CXS do the exact same thing couple days ago in Cincinnati. Pretty much normal around here.

[@9983sp]

You might want to read that rule again. This train was running with DPU, which makes it legal.

[@zachbates6541]

Great Catch

[@SantaFe19484]

Before watching this video, I thought that calling it illegal was a joke; having a name that sounds similar to cocaine.

[@southeastkansasfoamer831]

CSX trying to be UP💀

[@milepost4846]

Hedgefunders and investors were smiling at that move!!!

[@michaelklein3112]

They NEVER smile, NEVER! 😅

[@robertcooper6853]

So here’s the thing. IF it is a violation of CSX’s rules, then why did the crew leave the origination point with it? A clear, documented violation is grounds for refusing to move the train until the violation is rectified without any negative recourse to the crew. But once they move it, IF it is a violation of rules, the fault goes onto the crew. Now whether it really is a violation or not, I’m not in a position to judge. Based on the extremely limited information provided, it does appear to be. Just pointing out that the blame shifts as the action progressed.

[@tbb236]

Chief dispatcher or local management can and will instruct you to take the train as is, and then you have no choice, and any protest past that is considered actions unbecoming and is punishable by dismissal. Thats how it is on NS at least, I’m sure CSX is similar if not the same.

[@yankeesforlife24]

@@tbb236it’s only a rules violation if it isn’t given some sort of written permission. I promise you it has one

[@machinist1879]

Yes, some “Special Instruction” issued under the signature of the Chief Operating Officer or Division Superintendent(s) is probably giving the crew a rule exception and instructions to move this train as seen here. It’s all groovy till something breaks. Then, the blame game will commence. I saw my share of it.😄

[@lorthathmerthy]

@@tbb236you definitely do have a choice. You can refuse an illegal order as long as it is in good faith. That being said, you’ll want to make sure your job insurance is paid up and give your local union chair a call. You’ll win in the end though.

[@Paul070]

If the crew refuses to take the train, they can be fired for insubordination! CSX rule book is almost identical to the CN's... must be that Hunter Harrison management thing called precision railroading. 😂😂

[@dockerysworldoftrains]

I’ve seen one of those before It had four engines in the middle but it makes them better money

[@nseasternrailfanner7775]

Jeez, what a long one. Come to think of it I caught one of my own in WV, 3 mid dpus, thought something was off about that

[@raekwonjones9175]

I work for csx as a conductor the rules are broke daily on any type of train

[@Rob-tr1st]

I understand why you made the rest of us aware of this, but you & I both know the CEO and other Executives gonna no way, not under our watch, while the FRA turns away.

[@spuwho]

Would love to hear from the CSO @ CSX on this one.

[@SaveAllTheWolves]

It doesn’t seem that the United States Secretary of Transportation, Pete Buttigieg, is at all concerned with railroad safety after seeing how he handled, or didn’t handle, the East Palestine, Ohio, train derailment that spilled over 100,000 US gallons of hazardous liquids (vinyl chloride, butyl acrylate & benzene residue). So sadly, there possibly isn’t much else that can be done.

[@ChessieKitten]

Just wondering what slick video editing you did to make this look like a "long train?" You CSX haters never quit!

[@TheMetGuy]

That’s one long coal train

[@rdlehmer]

What about the route exception? Is this train on one of those routes?

[@Hunterwj12]

@@rdlehmer No.

[@Chinemeremdozie]

I saw this train after it crossed the potomac river

[@davidostrander3295]

Well... when you investigate your own company, nothing happens.

[@Tegridyvs]

Profits first safety/rule compliance last

[@arthurerdman37]

Wall Street hedge fund manager says: "Just do it !"

[@milepost4846]

Yep! EHH smiling at that move from his grave.

[@Joe-d7m6k]

@@arthurerdman37 that's the whole problem .

[@AppalachianMountaineer1863]

This how they run them on the C&O line out of West Virginia, 220 cars, mid point DPUs

[@dannyhaley7610]

how is this coaltrain illegal?i dont see anything illegal about it.

[@Peter-mt6lg]

P.T. Barnum

[@rc391995]

I see nothing that conflicts with the rules the other is used to wipe the general manager ... With.

[@theoutdoorchannel9283]

I have an iPhone to listen to all the trains, but I wanna know what’s the channel under does anybody have any idea so I can put it on my iPhone and listen to their conversation

[@markstegeman5986]

Screw safety got to make that money

[@jaidanbatham9147]

Tonnage first - safety last

[@trainboi777yall6]

Uphill Slow Downhill Fast

[@Congobruh4]

Completely legal

[@cyhigdon3861]

How do you figure Skippy?

[@Congobruh4]

@cyhigdon3861 I'm a actual conductor for CSX, Cayce SC Terminal

[@bryanhumphries1972]

@@Congobruh4didn’t we have one close to that length early last year on the CN&L? I remember someone posting a video of it running through Chapin late at night. 200+ cars of I remember correctly.

[@Congobruh4]

@bryanhumphries1972 not a load but definitely a double barrel empty

[@jamesmatthies5295]

Coal is still king

[@machinist1879]

Class 1 railroads these days seem to have a multiple personality disorder. They want all the government easements of regulated public utility companies, but they want the profit margins of high risk and reckless hedge fund companies. You can’t always have it both ways!

[@northernncrailfan2722]

Amazing catch

[@scotty4579]

Good size train , CN run 220 car trains 1+1+1

[@railenthusiast4830]

Rules are made to be broken.

[@Nderak]

uphill slow downhill fast tonnage first and safety last

[@markheck4155]

ILL Eagles are sick birds.

[@Vrmanfromsandpatch]

Csx I tell ya

[@darrellfxdwg]

😢 Waaaaaaaaa😢

[@Motorsteak]

"The MTO is ordering you to take it."

[@Vrmanfromsandpatch]

Csx I tell ya

[@AnythingwithanengineMedia]

Nice video but a little narration would have made it better

[@milepost4846]

Nah. Just like hearing the train. Each is their own.

[@cedw80]

Profits

[@csxtrainfan319]

I see nothing Illegal about this train

[@Joe-d7m6k]

With that name--- I would bet you dont.

[@csxtrainfan319]

I’ve seen 2 coal trains put into one 3 times and nothing was illegal about any of them

[@user-AZ-phil]

This is NOT about providing service to their customers!!!!! It's about keeping Wall Street analyst's, who could'nt fight their way out of a wet paper bag, even with instructions, happy with CSX executives! It has absolutely nothing to do with moving freight, or providing service to the railroads customers. 😢😢😢

[@RobertDetert]

The Democrats don't enforce any rules on something like that.

[@GhostriderElectric]

Those gevos are beasts