CSX has rolled out its latest heritage locomotive before pausing their production, according to President and CEO Joe Hinrichs, Railway Age’s 2025 Railroader of the Year.
Hinrichs revealed via LinkedIn the Class I’s 21st unit: No. 1981. It celebrates Pan Am Railways, the railroad that started in 1981 as Guilford Transportation Industries and was purchased in summer 2022 by CSX, following regulatory approval by the Surface Transportation Board and just months before Hinrichs joined CSX.
Pan Am, which adopted that name in 2006, has expanded CSX’s reach in Connecticut, New York and Massachusetts, while adding Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine to its network. It had owned and operated a nearly 1,200-mile rail network across New England, with a partial interest in the more-than 600-mile Pan Am Southern that it jointly owned with Norfolk Southern.
“Today, this railroad is part of the CSX New England region and we have put significant capital to work to invest in the network and bring it up to CSX safety and speed standards,” Hinrichs reported. “We are very excited about the future potential of this new connection on our network.”
No. 1981’s livery features a hybrid design, starting on the cab with the Class I’s colors and transitioning to Pan Am’s logo and paint scheme (see above). To learn more about the unit, watch the special video produced by CSX, below:
According to Hinrichs, it is “the last planned heritage locomotive of this first batch of 21.” The Class I’s paint shop team in Waycross, Ga., “has done an outstanding job” on the units, he reported, and CSX has “some other ideas for some special locomotives as we build toward our 200th birthday on Feb. 28th, 2027. Stay tuned.”
Hinrichs is chairing the Baltimore and Ohio (B&O) Railroad Museum’s capital campaign to transform its campus in preparation for the 200th anniversary of American railroading. His railroad’s first heritage design, applied to a Wabtec ES44AH, honors the B&O, chartered in 1827 as first common-carrier railroad in the U.S. Renumbered CSX 1827 in recognition of the charter, it “combines colors from the modern CSX and the most recognized of the many B&O paint schemes,” CSX reported in May 2023. “It carries the modern CSX logo on the front and the B&O’s iconic capitol dome logo on the rear.”
CSX has also unveiled heritage units paying tribute to the Atlantic Coast Line; L&N; Chesapeake & Ohio; Conrail; Chessie System; Seaboard System; Monon Railroad; New York Central; Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad; Family Lines System; Western Maryland Railroad; Pere Marquette; Seaboard Coast Line; Pittsburgh & Lake Erie; Georgia Railroad; Seaboard Air Line; Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad; Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis; and most recently Clinchfield Railroad.
The Pan Am locomotive will join the other commemorative units in revenue service on CSX’s 20,000-mile rail network that spans 23 states.
Meanwhile, CSX has been recognized as a “top supporter” of the military community with two awards, the Class I reported Nov. 20. It was included in the Military Times 2024 “Best for Vets” list and designated as a 2025 Military Friendly® Employer by Viqtory, a veteran-owned business.
The Military Times “Best for Vets” list is an annual ranking that highlights the efforts of employers that are said to have “exemplary military-connected employment programs,” including benefits and ongoing support for recruiting and retaining veteran talent. This year, CSX earned top spots on the Best for Vets list, emerging as both the leading transportation company and the premier employer in Florida.
Additionally, CSX was ranked No. 2 among large organizations on the 2025 Military Friendly® Employer list. This award recognizes companies that are devoted to advancing the careers of military service members and veterans. To qualify, they must demonstrate excellence across several areas, including company culture, hiring and onboarding practices, support and retention strategies, career opportunities and advancement, and adherence to policies and regulations supporting veteran employment, according to CSX.
Currently, 16% of CSX’s workforce comprises veterans and active-duty military personnel. Its Pride in Service initiative is said to support military communities and first responders and its Military Business Resource Group to foster a network for veterans to connect and share experiences. CSX also ensures that employees serving in the National Guard and Reserves can fulfill their duties without affecting their compensation, it noted.
“Creating a veteran-friendly workplace is a key element of our ongoing cultural transformation, anchored in our commitment to fostering an inclusive work environment,” CSX Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer Diana Sorfleet said. “We strive to provide meaningful career opportunities and a supportive environment that honors the skills and experiences of those who have served our country.”
“Supporting our veterans and active military is an important part of who we are at CSX,” Joe Hinrichs said. “We are proud to receive these awards, but we understand that the true honor belongs to the men and women who have served and who continue to serve in the military. The freedoms we enjoy are because of them.”
