This question likely belongs elsewhere, but I know there are some of you out there on this part of the MR Forum that can help me out..........
I ordered a Ford F150 and it was built on 11/15 at the Dearborn Michigan facility. Due to various difficulties, it is not expected to arrive here until mid December. However, today I found out it is "in-transit" (not sure exactly what that means).
Anyway, once its loaded on a car carrier, what would be the normal time frame for it to arrive here in north Houston - 1300 miles away?
Thank you for your indulgence!
ENJOY !
Mobilman44
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
mobilman44Anyway, once its loaded on a car carrier, what would be the normal time frame for it to arrive here in north Houston - 1300 miles away?
Very hard to say. The actual rail transport isn't that long. Maybe a day for every 500 miles or so plus a part of a day for every time its interchanged plus a part of a day for every time the car is switched/changes trains plus a day or two if the truck is unloaded reloaded on a different car, then throw in a day or two at the unloading destination. Maybe less. A railcar from Flint thru Chicago to Westfield (auto unloading ramp near Houston) would run about 6 days for that portion of the rail traffic, it would be handled by two yard jobs and be on three different through freights on at least two different railroads. Depends on the route and which railroads it travels on.
It was also traveling over the Thanksgiving holiday. The trains or switch engines may have not operated over the Thanksgiving weekend. The auto unloaders and haulaway truck drivers may not have been working or the ramps could be backlogged because the unloaders, haulaway guys didn't work. It has generally been my experience that in most cases delay happens at the ends, loading or unloading, rather than in the middle.
In transit means it has left the factory but hasn't arrived at your dealer.
Dave H. Painted side goes up. My website : wnbranch.com
If someone here can not add enough info, try the F150 forum, where the members get into detailed knowledge like folks here on model railroading. I bought my 3rd F150 a year ago and got some interesting info before buying as well as on post purchase questions. I seem to recall that the dealer can check on whereabouts at least at main stopping points. One question would be how many steps are involved and how long they take after the railcar arrives in Houston.
http://www.f150forum.com/
Paul
Modeling HO with a transition era UP bent
Hard to say but,counting terminal dwell time that could be as high as 40 hours, 22-23 mph (average) for multilevel speeds,in transit loading/unloading at vehicle mixing centers 3-3 1/2 weeks.
Here is a weekly performance report for all major railroads-other railroads are on the left hand side.
http://www.railroadpm.org/Performance%20Reports/NS.aspx
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
Thanks folks for your replies.........
Obviously there is no "for sure" answer on the travel time, for anything can cause delays. My last ordered vehicle (16 Escape) was on a car carrier that developed axle problems and was sidetracked in KC for a number of days.
It's not so much the time that bothers me, its just not knowing for sure when to expect it. Ha, if I wasn't so darn picky I could be driving one off the dealer lot today...................
ENJOY!
How do You know it went by rail? Could have been trucked.....2 1/2 day travel time...plus it would be cheaper. Driver could have more than one dealership delivery in Houston or Your dealer could get it all......been there, done that!
Take Care!
Frank
So has the truck arrived?
Joe Staten Island West
zstripe How do You know it went by rail? Could have been trucked.....2 1/2 day travel time...plus it would be cheaper. Driver could have more than one dealership delivery in Houston or Your dealer could get it all......been there, done that! Take Care! Frank
Easy Frank..Trucks cost more to ship several vehicles then by rail.. Rail to rubber works well for delivery to the dealerships but,not long distance.
Truck not yet here, Ford's ETA is 12/8 - which of course means arrival at the unloading "pens" in N. Houston. For grins I asked my dealer rep about getting vehicles trucked in from Dearborn. He laughed, said "you gotta be kidding".....
Hopefully your dealer is a little more on the ball than mine was. I ordered my new Saturn Sky from the local Houston dealer and was told 6 days to build and 2 weeks to ship to me. After 5 weeks I was told it would be 2 more weeks. Then 2 more. The true story......something never told by anyone at a car dealership.........was THEY NEVER ORDERED MY CAR!!!!! Funny how the check was cashed and cleared 2 days after I ordered it. It did finally arrive by truck from Delaware 10 weeks after I had placed my order. Well worth the wait to go that fast, look that good and have a quality machine under my butt though!
Roger Huber
Hi,
I understand the truck/railcar got to the local (Westfield) auto terminal yesterday (12/8). The place is HUGE, often with 50-100 or more auto carrier rail cars in the area. Suspect it will hit the dealer by Monday, and after some dealer options, it might be in my driveway by next Friday. Gee, that's only 4 months to the day from when I placed the order..
I just realized I never closed out this thread I started...........
Got the truck on 12/14, a 2017 silver Ford XLT supercab Sport, 2.7 L Ecoboost, with all the bells and whistles. It is well worth the wait!
Ha, I sure could have used it 7 years ago to haul all the benchwork materials for the layout.........
mobilman44 I just realized I never closed out this thread I started........... Got the truck on 12/14, a 2017 silver Ford XLT supercab Sport, 2.7 L Ecoboost, with all the bells and whistles. It is well worth the wait! Ha, I sure could have used it 7 years ago to haul all the benchwork materials for the layout.........
Nah unless you use it for something else. Once you figure out what materials you need you can have it delivered or rent a truck for the day. I would a economic reason to buy a truck
but enjoy your new vehicle.
When I read the thread title, I thought the OP had a layout modeling these two cities, and wanted to be sure he was running his trains at the correct speed. ;)
For the current layout (2 level room filling 10x15 HO), the benchwork was delivered via one of my kids F150s. For a "thank you", I filled his tank. Ha, I didn't realize he had the big tank.
Have to add....... for you city folks up north, owning a pick up is unusual and typically only when there is a constant need. But if you live down south (or west of the big river), especially in the Great State of Texas, owning a pick up is pretty common.