Hello everyone I’m back at it again with another good route suggestion. The route I’m suggesting is the CSX RF&P Subdivision. This is a route that has great passenger and freight train traffic. Alright, now let’s get into the main info about the line. The RF&P Subdivision is a railroad line operated by CSX Transportation and jointly owned by CSX and Virginia. It runs from Washington, D.C., to Richmond, Virginia, over lines previously owned by the Pennsylvania Railroad and the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad. The line's name pays homage to that railroad, which was a predecessor to the CSX. At the northern (eastern) end of the line, the RF&P Sub connects to the Capital Subdivision, which runs to Baltimore, Maryland. Just before the Anacostia Railroad Bridge on the Capital Sub is the Virginia Avenue Tunnel. South (west) of the tunnel is a branch to the Amtrak First Street Tunnel, which leads to Washington Union Station and the Northeast Corridor. The Virginia Avenue Tunnel is used only for freight trains, while the First Street Tunnel is used only for passenger trains. The RF&P Subdivision is part of CSX’s route to the eastern seaboard. It carries freight trains, as well as passenger trains for Amtrak and Virginia Railway Express (VRE). Freight traffic capacity on the subdivision has been improved by the modernization of the Virginia Avenue Tunnel. The tunnel is now double-tracked and has a higher vertical clearance, which allows the use of double-stack freight cars. South of Long Bridge is triple tracked until Franconia Station where it reduces to double track. Also in June of 2024, CSX’s cab signal requirement on the line was discontinued. The most plausible reason why they did so is because they are replacing cab signals with Positive Train Control or PTC. This means that engines that are already equipped with PTC can lead trains on that line no matter what. There have also been proposed modifications made to the line. In 2008 CSX proposed improvements to the RF&P Sub in what would be a public-private partnership, as part of its National Gateway initiative. The improvements would allow for the usage of double stack cars and include rebuilt tunnels and bridges. In 2019, the Commonwealth of Virginia announced that they would purchase track from CSX along the subdivision in order to expand passenger rail service. The acquisition included half of the existing right-of-way and 39 miles of existing 3rd and 4th tracks; this accompanied and cemented existing plans to build a new passenger-only span at Long Bridge, expanding stations along the line, and adding additional passenger-only sidings and tracks. The partial sale was completed by 2021. The line sees a good mix of passenger and freight train traffic. Passenger train traffic consists of VRE commuter trains, Amtrak Northeast Regional trains, The Silver Service trains (Silver Meteor and Silver Star), the Crescent, the Cardinal, and the Amtrak Auto Train. Freight train traffic is mainly handled by CSX. Down below is a list of locomotives and rolling stock that would be included as well as pictures for reference material. Here’s what needs to be included for passenger equipment. 1. Amtrak P42DC 2. Amtrak ALC-42 3. Virginia Railway Express MP36PH-3C For rolling stock, the following would be included. 1. Amfleet coach and cafe cars. Those can just be recycled from the Boston Sprinter and New York- Trenton routes. 2. Superliner cars, (sleeping, diner, lounge, coach, and transition sleeper cars) and Amtrak branded auto racks. 3. Viewliner baggage, sleeping, and dining cars. I suggest that all of them be in the Phase 3B livery. 4. VRE bilevel coaches and cab cars. An ALC-42 in a heritage paint job The cab interior. A P42DC in Phase 7. Even though most of them are in Phase 5. We need to have them in the new paint job as well. P42 cab interior. A Virginia Railway Express MP36PH-3C. There’s lots more that needs to be mentioned and shown. As a result I will be mentioning other stuff in a part 2 of this suggestion. That’s all I need to say, thank you.
