CSX cares

Sorry, I disagree! I don't think CSX does care.

I agree with Hot Water.

CSX does care. They just donated a nice sum to the Red Cross to help prepare for Hurricane Issac. Not just the monies set aside but quite a bit of other resources to help throughout the south that might be effected by the storm.

They also have an account set up to help out all effected employees and their extended families.

Gene

No good deed goes unpunished, CSX is no worse or better then most big corporations. What would you like them to do? It just seems that we can't celebrate success anymore, we just seem to tear them down. 

Explain the CSX First Resonder Pic, Please!

A good--and valid--observation, David.

I don't know why CSX has to take a bad rap. I agree with Flash.

Probably because CSX doesn't want steam on their rails.

Rusty

The railroad is a business, not your home layout.

A true statement.  However, if you look at whet the NS system has done with 765, it does build a lot of goodwill which is an intangible asset.  Still love the CSX system - it does have a rich heritage concerning the steam era of railroading.

Larry

However, CSX "Management" has NOT been willing to acknowledge ANY of that rich heritage!

hating on CSX won't make them railfan friendly, Our best shot is to be responsible in the way we practice our hobby and to "Talk up" freight rail as a transportation alternative as opportunities present themselves.

One thing's for sure; they hate their employees! 

Jeffery Sessa

CSX does not hate their employees. I have been on both sides of the fence with them. They provide their employees with good benefits and good pay. Look into todays world and find a job that is even close to what CSX provides.  If they are there, people would flock to them.

I look back and see what it they have enabled me to do for my family. I am grateful that I chose that path several years ago. I am happy to work for them and look forward to a few more years.

Gene

And you know that how?  If you're a disgruntled employee yourself, you know there are options available to you in this land of opportunity.

CSX does not ignore its heritage as much as some might think. It has made significant contributions to the preservation efforts of a number of organizations, the B&O Museum included. In fact, the railroad has already designated several units presently on the active roster for preservation upon their retirement. As far as the possibility of CSX following in the footsteps of Norfolk Southern's 30th Anniversary celebration, let's see what happens in a few years when CSX observes 30 years since its officially recognized transition from a holding to an operating company. 

As a shipper, my company, a food manufacturer, utilizes CSX and we're quite pleased with the level of service we receive. I cannot personally speak about the experience of CSX employees as I do not work for the railroad; however, the conversations I've had with CSX employees seem pretty typical of those I've had with my friends employed by other carriers - some good, some bad.

I believe much of the ire directed at CSX by enthusiasts does revolve around the railroad's current reluctance to run steam. That said, let us not forget those wonderful New River excursions which ran over CSX and were steam powered for a number of years.

Bob   

And, I'm pretty sure there's folks out there that feel that BNSF, CP, CN, KCS, NS and UP hate their employees, too.

This whole kerfuffle seems to stem from CSX not wanting to do what UP and NS do in the way of steam or heritage units.  Well, those programs could easily disappear from the UP and NS with a mangament change.  Don't think it couldn't happen.  It's what happened on the old CB&Q back in the 60's.

I remember when folks hated the UP because of them wanting royaties from model railroad companies along with product approval.

Rusty

All you guys are a bunch of CRY BABIES !! Go do something constructive.

You are ruining this MODEL RAILROAD forum by turning it into a venting site. CSX is a US corporation in the shipping business - not an entertainment or model train manufacturer - and not in the business of providing you a fun time riding a steam train or making model trains for your hobby.

WAKE UP. This company or any other would not survive as they has if it were not for their employees. They have a job to do and they sure appear to be doing it well.

They could care less what color engine MTH or Lionel makes next too.

P.S. - I don't work for a railroad.

I think it is interesting that some folks would compare running a steam engine to donating money and support to the Red Cross for Hurrican Issac.

Ah, yes!  I remember that well!  People in this hobby--all scales--were bashing the crap out of UP.  I was probably as guilty as anyone else.

Then Mike Wolf, for the benefit of the entire hobby industry, was instrumental in negotiating an "understanding" with the folks at UP and suddenly all was forgiven.

People in the hobby really do need to understand that real-world railroading is a business, first and foremost.  Each corporation has obligations to its shareholders, and how they approach these obligations will necessarily differ from one railroad to the next. Furthermore, no one approach is necessarily more right or wrong than another.  And catering to hobbyists and railfans likely is, and very properly should be, VERY low on their list of priorities.

Just to make it clear concerning the MTH vs UP "logo licensing" case:

Mike Wolfe counter sued the UP, since the UP had not "protected" their logo, nor any of the predecessor railroads obtained through mergers. Plus, Nils Huxtible actually won HIS case against the UP for use of color images of UP equipment on his "Steam Scenes" calendars.

The whole "licensing" issue came to a halt, after then CEO Dick Davidson retired, and new CEO Jim Young quickly had the UP Vice President of law put a stop to the whole mess. Mr. Young was getting tired of all the bad media exposure, especially from the Wall Street Journal, with statements such as, "The UP continues to have trouble managing their railroad operations, but still has time to sue the model train manufacturers!".

CEO Jim Young, and HIS management team, has REALLY turned the UP around. Plus, Mr. Young REALLY likes the UP Steam Program!

Which just reinforces my point that things can change, in either direction, with a change in management.

Another change in UP management can have the potential to make the UP (or NS) as "evil" as the CSX is perceived to be.

Besides, look at all the people that ragged on the NS when they put 611 and 1218 back out to pasture, but now everthing's OK because they painted up a bunch of diesels in pretty colors.  How soon we forget...

Rusty

You don't even have to go back to '94 and the end of steam operations to find strong anti Norfolk Southern sentiment. A short time before the railroad unveiled its plans for its 30th Anniversary celebration, the 4610 which had worn a commemorative Southern green livery for quite a few years was repainted into an Operation Lifesaver variation of NS' standard black scheme. As word spread, so did the howling...."NS this, NS that. NS doesn't give a rat's behind." Little did anyone realize what the railroad's management had planned. Now some of those very same folks who were ready to form a lynch mob when the 4610 was repainted a few months ago need lip balm to alleviate their chapped lips from the all the butt smooching they're doing on the behinds of NS management. How quickly things can change.

Back to the CSX situation, I don't think the folks in the gulf to whom CSX is rendering aid are concerned that the railroad isn't interested in hosting a steam locomotive or doesn't have diesels painted in heritage liveries at the present time. As an advocate for the rail industry, CSX stockholder and someone who has family in the gulf, I believe the CSX initiative to send assistance is highly commendable.

Bob      

The main reason that NS management stopped the N&W/NS "steam program" was the death of BOTH of the Clators! Plus, the N&W/NS really didn't utilize their two steam locomotives properly, unlike how the UP has done for some 50 years. The UP RARELY operated "steam excursions" for rail fans (maybe only once or twice a year), the preponderance of steam operations was for shippers, community relations, political relations, employees and MANY "public events".

Conversely, the N&W/NS operated their steam locomotives virtually EVERY SINGLE WEEKEND for railfan organizations, system wide. The various employees and managers in each terminal simply HATED to see the "steam program" come to THEIR terminal, every year.

CEO Mr. Moorman learned a LOT about how the UP did/does their "steam program" vs. how the BN/BNSF did/does THEIR usage of steam. You see how NS is doing it NOW?

AMEN!

Hot,

You seem to be putting me in with the folks who view a the worthiness of railroad through the lens of whether or not they have a steam or heritage program.  I do no not. 

My comments are purely observational about the reactions some folks have about the lack or not of such programs.

While I may think it's neat these programs exist, I don't obsess over them when they come or go or how the railroads use them.

Rusty

Well Said, Allan, CNJ!

No, not really. I was just responding to the age old feelings about the N&W/NS previous "steam program". As much as we steam fans enjoyed it, they did it wrong.

I don't think CSX is worried much about a steam program. More likely, they are concerned about their diesel program. In the last four years or so, over 4000 coal miners no longer have jobs in West Virginia. In the last month, or longer, over 200 empty hoppers are stored in the freight yards at Keyser. The old west end is VERY quiet.

Also, FYI, some of the best, maybe THE best, paying hourly wage jobs in this area are at the CSX shops and yard in Cumberland, MD.

Ed Mullan

Thank you CSX for helping people when they need it.

Henry J.

I can go into so many reason why I think over all CSX doesn't care and is not a good neighbor, at least in Mass.  What they are doing is good but they need to do a lot more to be a proactive run business that goes out of its way to help the community it runs through.

Only one way to change that, which I will not go into now.

As a CSX share holder I want them to make money but good will to the communities they serve goes a long way.  examples, UP, BNSF and NS.  CSX has the lowest share price out of all the railroads if I remember correctly.