June 05, 2024
Class I

Watch: CSX Adds P&LE to Heritage Fleet (UPDATED 6/7)

Written by Carolina Worrell, Senior Editor

Photo Courtesy of CSX via LinkedIn

CSX recently revealed its latest heritage locomotive—a tribute to the Pittsburgh & Lake Erie (P&LE)—fresh out of the Class I railroad’s paint shop in Waycross, Ga.

Founded in 1875 and headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pa., P&LE’s primary mission was transporting essential industrial materials such as coal, coke, iron ore, limestone, and steel.

“It’s mainline connected Pittsburgh, Pa., with Youngstown, Ohio and Connellsville, Pa.,” said Tim Music, a carman painter at the CSX Waycross Locomotive Shop. “It did not actually reach Lake Erie until 1976.”

Over time, P&LE expanded by leasing branches from smaller railroads, according to CSX. These extensions included lines southeast along the Monongahela River through Homestead and McKeesport, and along the Youghiogheny River to Connellsville, where it connected with the Western Maryland Railway.

“Despite its relatively modest route mileage, the P&LE Railroad earned the nickname ‘Little Giant’ due to the enormous volume of heavy tonnage it moved,” CSX said. “This impressive capability drew significant attention and by 1887, the P&LE became a subsidiary of the dominant New York Central Railroad. Under this new ownership, the P&LE enjoyed substantial improvements to its tracks and added capacity for passenger services, further enhancing its regional significance. After regaining independence in 1976 with the formation of Conrail, the P&LE continued to operate until it was eventually acquired by CSX. Some of its assets were absorbed, while others saw transformations; the commuter route was terminated in 1985, and portions of the track from McKeesport to Connellsville were abandoned in 1993 to make way for the Great Allegheny Passage, a popular rail-trail.”

***Photo Courtesy of CSX via LinkedIn***

The locomotive, CSX No. 1865 (recognizing P&LE’s founding year), is the 15th in a series of heritage locomotives to roll out of the shop as a “way of reinforcing employee pride in the history of the railroad” and sharing it with the public.

“While the overall design is simpler than our previous heritage units, the logo on the tail of this one stands out due to its intricate detail,” said Jeromy Hutchison, a CSX carman painter who assisted with the project. “Everything on the CSX heritage locomotives is hand-painted, and we’re proud of that craftsmanship.”