Another special NS unit coming!

[EJ&ESDM809]

As if the 20 heritage units wasn't enough, NS is painting a 21st unit in a non-black paint scheme. This one will be a SD60E painted up in red, white and blue. The unit is supposed to be unveiled on Veterans Day.

[becauseisaidso15]

This is awesome! Where will it be unveiled?

[TrainWatcher]

Unit is rumored to be NS 6920, due out Veteran's Day, November 12th according to a few other people and TO.

[CSX_CO]

Keep painting up those Special Units NS and focusing on your 30th anniversary. Outstanding performance in the last quarter too. 27% reduction in earnings, 7% reduction in revenues, and your operating ratio spiked up 5 points to 72. CSX was only down 2% in earnings and 2% in revenues. Oh yeah, did I mention CSX is ahead of them in the Harriman Award too?

Results like that and a lot of industry insiders are starting to question NS's 'vision' and outlook on the future.

Practice Safe CSX

[Buster Manning]

The Harriman??? I thought they reitred that award account of some railroads 'adjusting' their ratios

[M.D.Bentley]

The federal government stepped in after the current and all time winner was found to have won the award every year through threats and intimidation ( not reporting injuries because after someone was injured they were fired , i.e.no longer a employee. ) The industry decided to eliminate the award because it was causing railroads to focus on the award and not the safety of the employees.

[CSX_CO]

The federal government stepped in after the current and all time winner was found to have won the award every year through threats and intimidation ( not reporting injuries because after someone was injured they were fired , i.e.no longer a employee. ) The industry decided to eliminate the award because it was causing railroads to focus on the award and not the safety of the employees.

2012 will be the last year of the award, to be given out in Spring 2013. After that, its done.

Practice Safe CSX

[M.D.Bentley]

I"am sure the industry big wigs will find a way to stroke themselves and each other. The award was started with good intentions. As a way to measure each railroads safety and profits / productivity . BUT, safety and productivity don't always go together. One has to take a back seat to the other, not always but more often than not. It was nice to be part of a team that won one of the many awards. And the stuff they threw at us was cool too. It will be missed. But needed to go, it has run its course.

[EJ&ESDM809]

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.p ... 212&nseq=0 Here's the first official photo!

[Ypsi]

I like the paint! Makes the sd60e a little less ugly... The Red roof looks good with the blue cab

[TrainWatcher]

One classy locomotive.

[Y@]

I know nobody asked for criticism, but here are my thoughts.

First off, it's a fantastic idea! Conrail did it right when they released the yellow ribbon SD60's they did in the 90's. NS has the right idea here, and it's awesome to see a Class I honoring our veterans.

As for the execution... They could have done much better. The long hood looks AWESOME. I love what they did there. But then you get to the cab and the pilot of the engine and it's like "WTF, is this some kind of Tonka toy?" to me. I really don't have any "here's what they should have done" idea, but I think they could have done a little better.

Like I said, great idea and I'm glad they did it.

[SD80MAC]

I agree, Y@. Great idea, could've been executed better. I guess I was picturing a regular NS unit with a troops ribbon on it, like Conrail 6707.

[J T]

Oh, you guys...so picky!

[Saturnalia]

Oh, you guys...so picky!

It'll always beat the catfish

[Mr. Tops]

Just got back from Best Buy. Had to buy a new keyboard. Barfed all over the old one and it doesn't work any more.

Fugly SD60E to begin with and I completely agree with Y@, long hood gets an A+, but the nose/cab gets an F. Looks like there was an explosion at the Crayola factory. In fact, I think it may have faired better in that scenario. Nose/cab looks like it was designed by a 3 year old. Anyhow...props to NS for supporting our troops and displaying it on a rolling billboard. Maybe UP will follow suit, but it seems like all they are interested in is Olympics, Boy Scouts and boobs; an interesting combination - although, I vote for "Desert Storm unit", UP 3593 ala 1991.

Craig Walker photo

[Ypsi]

Another view of the unit

[Mr. Tops]

Looks like an identity crisis between CP, Conrail and NS. Yellow handrails just add to the festivities. Fugly paintscheme on a fugly engine. Maybe it's the black? Bring the red down over the windshield and then everything below that blue? I like the GP9 fan on the turbocharger, too.

[Mr. Tops]

Looks like an identity crisis between CP, Conrail and NS. Yellow handrails just add to the festivities. Fugly paintscheme on a fugly engine. Maybe it's the black? Bring the red down over the windshield and then everything below that blue? I like the GP9 fan on the turbocharger, too.

[TrainWatcher]

Looks like an identity crisis between CP, Conrail and NS. Yellow handrails just add to the festivities. Fugly paintscheme on a fugly engine. Maybe it's the black? Bring the red down over the windshield and then everything below that blue? I like the GP9 fan on the turbocharger, too.

What do you get when you cross a CP GP9, an NS SD60E and a former Conrail paint shop?

In all seriousness, CSX and BNSF should follow suit as well as UP.