Do real lines do this?

[tkruger]

Do real trains ever pull cars from another line? IE would you ever see a Union Pacific train with a few Santa Fe freight cars on it. In my rail line I have a large mix of items. Most are Union Pacific, Central Pacific, Pennsylvania or Santa Fe.

[Southern]

In a Nut shell Yes.

I see CN cars on the NS line in Charlotte all the time. This is not at all uncommon

[stationmaster]

Yes, in fact the re are many "cross over lines" in our area. There is a term but for the life of me I cannot remember it. "Interlocking" maybe?

[shaygetz]

Interchange traffic makes up about 60% of your average train. In your case, Pennsy and other eastern roads would make up a very small percentage in a western railroad like the UP, in keeping with the distance.

[Boston&Maine]

I had to ask this question too a while back, just to be sure myself, LOL... I know up here it seems that all of the CSX trains I see are hauling UP corrugated auto carriers :)