Thanks. Now I know where they come from anyway.
Back when Butler, PA still had a Trinity plant, it was common to see wheels, axles, even whole ends of covered hoppers on the backs of trucks around town. The GE plant in Grove City trucked parts from Grove City to Erie for locomotives.
Rail, turns out, isn't great for just in time delivery of components.
Actually Railroads been shipping wheels by truck for 30 or more years..Its more economical then handling a MOW wheel car..
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
There is a company that makes wheels in Port Coquitlam B.C. It is just a few blocks from C.P.s big West coast yard. There is no rail access to the place and all the wheels are put on trucks. I have seen these trucks crossing the border as well and heading down I-5. in Washington State.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
CALAPOOIA,
What you saw is common place,especially here in the area were I live, more than likely they are being transported to a TTX RIP facility, where they do repair in place work.. Where I worked here in CSX, Bedford Park IL. Intermodal yard, a container train, including,flats,spine cars and such would come in the yard loaded. Whats the power was removed, brakes set, a two man crew from TTX, would walk down the train on both sides and inspect the cars,, I mean everything, If they found a problem, they would,red tag the car, highly visible red tags, inform yard master... When the car was empty they would repair it, right where it was.. No cranes,, just two specially out fitted fork lift trucks to remove the wheel assembles and replace them.. TTX was on the premises 24/7. they had a area all their own for parts, including, diferrent size wheel assemblies..
Hope that helps.
Cheers,
Frank
The recent thread about loading wheelsets on a Tichy flatcar brought to mind a somewhat related question.
I travel !-5 frequently and often see truck loaded with railroad wheelsets headed south. A few years ago I would see then headed north. What gives here? This seems like the most railroady of cargo. At least one end of the haul logically has rail access if not both.