Class I Briefs: CSX, NS, UP

The automotive transload facilities operated by CSX Total Distribution Services Inc. earned high marks on two recent Destination Quality Reviews conducted by the Association of American Railroads. (CSX Photograph)

CSX hosts a drone training session for the Wounded Warrior Project, and CSX Total Distribution Services Inc. receives top marks on quality reviews. Also, Norfolk Southern’s (NS) Lamberts Point ramps up coal dumping and Juniata Locomotive Shop restores the Lackawanna heritage locomotive; and Union Pacific (UP) celebrates the expansion of Southwest Texas Junior College’s Diesel Technology Program.

CSX

CSX on April 30 hosted a drone training session for more than 25 wounded veterans from across the country representing the Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) at its Moncrief Yard in Jacksonville, Fla. (see video above). According to the Class I, the event was part of its effort to equip veterans with valuable skills for their post-military careers and a component of WWP’s Warriors to Work program that facilitates job training and skills development for transitioning warriors.

Veterans received instruction in remote drone planning and flying techniques. With a fleet of 200-plus drones operated by 400 pilots, CSX uses this technology for various tasks, including rail inspection, yard mapping and disaster response. The railroad said it not only boosts operational efficiency but also “elevates workplace safety standards and improves customer service.”

“This is a learning program where we can teach important skills related to drones, and give back to our veterans; and then create the talent pool that CSX needs for the future as we continue to grow and expand this technology,” said Steve Fortune, CSX Executive Vice President and Chief Digital and Technology Officer.

Meanwhile, the automotive transload facilities operated by CSX Total Distribution Services Inc. (TDSI) earned high marks on two recent Destination Quality Reviews conducted by the Association of American Railroads, the Class I railroad reported. The reviews are on-site evaluations of the facilities and their operational procedures, focusing on key aspects such as the placement of multi-level railcars at the unloading ramp, vehicle unloading processes, and baying practices, according to CSX.

In a review conducted Dec. 11, 2023, at the Nashville, Tenn.-based TDSI facility, the overall score achieved was 99.98%. “This high mark signifies an improvement from the previous evaluation in June 2022, where the facility scored 99.36%,” CSX reported.

Additionally, the TDSI facility based in Palm Center, Fla., received an overall score of 99.98% following an April 15, 2024, evaluation, which the railroad said maintained “the high standards” set during the facility’s March 2022 audit.

According to CSX, the average overall score for Destination Quality Reviews stands at 96.97%; this places the TDSI facilities “well above the industry benchmark and showcasing their exceptional performance in delivering quality services consistently.”

“At TDSI, safety and service are at the core of everything we do,” TDSI General Manager Bryce Thomas said. “These exceptional scores reflect the hard work and commitment of our team to ensure the highest standards of quality and reliability for our customers.”

NS

Late last year, the NS Transportation team added a third shift to ramp up production at its Norfolk, Va.-based Lamberts Point Coal Facility, and starting last November, its Mechanical team increased the maintenance plan to ensure that it can operate at 100% capacity, according to the Class I. Lamberts Point Pier 6 operates 24/7 and predominately loads metallurgical coal for use in global steel markets.

Lamberts Point is now able to increase spot production by utilizing two loading crews simultaneously in one shift, allowing more coal to be dumped, according to NS. In February, more than 830 cars of coal were dumped two days in a row, the most in over a decade, the railroad said.

This additional capacity meant that NS was well prepared to handle the increased production demands following the March collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, which led to the closure of the Port of Baltimore. According to NS, Lamberts Point in April handled “significant” additional tons of export coal, and tonnages are expected to rise in May.

“We’re getting the right coal, in the right vessel, and at the right time,” said Tom Novitske, NS Terminal Superintendent. “As a result of the resources we’ve invested in Lamberts Point, we are exceeding the production schedule of many of our customers.”

“Our ability to effectively serve the market at this time is really a demonstration of our strategy in action to provide safe, reliable, and resilient service,” said Ed Elkins, Chief Marketing Officer at NS. “This is a 24/7 effort involving numerous individuals and teams from across Norfolk Southern to get the job done for our customers.”

Further Reading: How NS is Responding to the Key Bridge Collapse

NS’s Lackawanna heritage locomotive is “ready to roll across our 22-state network,” following restoration work, the Class I railroad reported via social media on May 2. It took 10 carmen at the Juniata Locomotive Shop 750 hours to blast, prep, and repaint NS 1074, using more than 105 gallons of primer, color coat, and clear coat. 

“Now, both the Virginian and Lackawanna engines have been repainted, and in the coming years, our other heritage locomotives will undergo their own touchups or repainting, staying true to the color schemes of our predecessor railroads,” according to NS.  

UP

When Southwest Texas Junior College’s (SWTJC) Diesel Technology Program in Eagle Pass had to turn away students due to a lack of space and resources in 2022, UP stepped in with a $380,000 contribution to help expand the Technical Training Center facility from 5,300 square feet to 7,450 square feet and purchase training equipment—all in an aim to boost program admittance by 40%, nearly doubling the 30 students the program supported.

UP on May 2, 2024, announced via LinkedIn that it joined local leaders to celebrate completion of the facility expansion project. “This community partnership is a source of pride for our team, and we’re excited that the classroom can now accommodate a larger number of learners!” UP reported.