Two-year-old General Electric-built ET44AH No. 3415 got the red and white nose decal following a ceremony marking the next step in reworking Chicago’s railroads and junctions in a long-term project called CREATE.
The locomotive becomes the latest in a series of CSX units so adored. Either other locomotives recognize CSX predecessors, including Seaboard Coast Line, Louisville & Nashville, Chesapeake & Ohio, Seaboard System, Chessie System, Monon, Gainsville Midland, Atlantic Coast Line, Western Maryland, railroads. Additional railroads are to be recognized. Additionally, CSX has a line of “Spirit of …” locomotives that recognize important locations on the Eastern line. All totaled, CSX rosters more than 20 locomotives with specialty paint schemes.
Chartered in 1883 as Georgia Railroad, became Georgia Railroad & Banking Co. in 1836. Leased jointly to Louisville & Nashville and Central of Georgia in 1881; CofG interest later passed to L&N, which assigned it to Atlantic Coast Line. In 1983 the new Seaboard System Railroad bought the Georgia Railroad from the banking firm and merged the operation.
Be sure to see our CSX family tree at http://trn.trains.com/railroads/railroad-history/2006/06/csx-merger-family-tree
