CSX M513 heads south out of Casky Yard as it continues it’s run south from Hopkinsville, Kentucky, with CSX Heritage Unit L&N 1972 Family Lines System Leading, on August 16th, 2024, on the Henderson Subdivision.

According to CSXT: Our fleet of heritage locomotives is growing again as we unveil CSX Locomotive 1972, a tribute to the Family Lines System! The #ONECSX team in Waycross, GA recreated this unit to celebrate the special time from 1972-1982 when the Seaboard Coast Line, Clinchfield and L&N railroads were marketed as one. Eventually merging to become the Seaboard System Railroad, and ultimately the CSX we know today, the Family Lines System represents an integral part of our railroad’s rich history.

The CSX heritage series is reinforcing employee pride in the history of the railroad that continues to move the nation’s economy with safe, reliable, and sustainable rail-based transportation services.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/2000, ISO 110.

CSX Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac Heritage Unit (RF&P) 1836 and CSX 911 Honoring first Responders were paired up on August 19th as they led CSX M513 south at Slaughters, Kentucky on the CSX Henderson Subdivision.

According to a CSX Press Release: February 15, 2024 – CSX has once again demonstrated its commitment to honoring the legacy of American railroads by launching its latest heritage locomotive, the RF&P 1836. This addition to the heritage fleet represents a significant milestone for the company, marking the tenth locomotive in this distinguished series.

This new locomotive, numbered 1836, pays tribute to the Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac (RF&P) Railroad’s founding year. The RF&P 1836 is a testament to CSX’s dedication to preserving and celebrating railroad history, as well as its commitment to innovation and modernization.

“Heritage goes far beyond the paint, the font and the schemes,” said Adam Oakley, CSX Supply Chain Manager, who assisted with the project. “Heritage is the people who make these railroads.”

The RF&P 1836 made its debut after being released from the CSX Waycross paint shops. With a modern business look up front and a fun heritage look in the back, the CSX heritage scheme has been described as a “mullet” in the world of locomotives.

The launch of the RF&P 1836 follows a series of similar releases by CSX, each paying homage to a different railroad that has made significant contributions to the industry. The company’s heritage program continues to be a way for CSX to honor the past while also looking towards the future.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/1600, ISO 250.

CSX M513 pulls out of the south end of Casky Yard as it continues it’s run south from Hopkinsville, Kentucky, with CSX Heritage Unit L&N 1972 Family Lines System Leading, on August 16th, 2024, on the Henderson Subdivision.

According to CSXT: Our fleet of heritage locomotives is growing again as we unveil CSX Locomotive 1972, a tribute to the Family Lines System! The #ONECSX team in Waycross, GA recreated this unit to celebrate the special time from 1972-1982 when the Seaboard Coast Line, Clinchfield and L&N railroads were marketed as one. Eventually merging to become the Seaboard System Railroad, and ultimately the CSX we know today, the Family Lines System represents an integral part of our railroad’s rich history.

The CSX heritage series is reinforcing employee pride in the history of the railroad that continues to move the nation’s economy with safe, reliable, and sustainable rail-based transportation services.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/2500, ISO 100.

CSX M513 passes the north end of the siding at Latham in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, with CSX Heritage Unit L&N 1972 Family Lines System Leading, on August 16th, 2024, on the Henderson Subdivision.!

According to CSXT: Our fleet of heritage locomotives is growing again as we unveil CSX Locomotive 1972, a tribute to the Family Lines System! The #ONECSX team in Waycross, GA recreated this unit to celebrate the special time from 1972-1982 when the Seaboard Coast Line, Clinchfield and L&N railroads were marketed as one. Eventually merging to become the Seaboard System Railroad, and ultimately the CSX we know today, the Family Lines System represents an integral part of our railroad’s rich history.

The CSX heritage series is reinforcing employee pride in the history of the railroad that continues to move the nation’s economy with safe, reliable, and sustainable rail-based transportation services.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/1250, ISO 250.

CSX empty ethanol train B722 with CSX Pere Marquette Heritage Unit 1899 leading the way on the CSX Henderson Subdivision meets northbound M513 at Casky in Hopkinsville, Ky, on July 31st, 2024.

According to a CSX Press Release: May 1, 2024 – CSX has introduced the latest addition in its heritage locomotive series, paying homage to the rich history of the Pere Marquette Railroad. This new unit showcases the Pere Marquette’s legacy, dating back to its inception on November 1, 1899.

The Pere Marquette Railroad, operating in the Great Lakes region of the United States and parts of southern Ontario, Canada, derived its name from Jacques Marquette, a notable French Jesuit missionary credited with founding Michigan’s first European settlement in Sault Ste Marie. After years of operation, the company merged with the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway (C&O) on June 6, 1947, eventually becoming part of the renowned CSX network.

The design of the Pere Marquette heritage locomotive was meticulously crafted by employees at the CSX Waycross Locomotive Shop. According to CSX Carman Painter Eric Lee, “We had to measure each stripe precisely and position the words just right to ensure it captured the look of the original design. It took us about four days just to lay out the stripes before we could begin painting.”

A fascinating tidbit related to the history of Pere Marquette is its cameo in the 2004 film “The Polar Express.” The steam locomotive Pere Marquette 1225 served as the inspiration for the train depicted in the movie, with audio recordings of the actual locomotive in operation featured in the film. Interestingly, the locomotive had been donated to Michigan State University and was exhibited near the university’s football stadium. The author of “The Polar Express” book drew inspiration from seeing this locomotive on display during childhood, solidifying its place in popular culture.

CSX’s dedication to honoring the history and significance of the Pere Marquette Railroad through this new locomotive underscores the company’s commitment to preserving and celebrating the heritage of American railroads. Keep an eye out as this remarkable piece of history moves across the CSX network, bridging the past with the present.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/1600, ISO 100.