This reminds me of when my (then 11) year old daughters school sent her to Toronto to represent them in an english lit. competition. I had her flight on the flight tracker showing on the big screen in the kitchen going and coming.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
Got info that the car was in Mumford this morning, which is a junction of sorts by College Station (Texas A&M). And Dehusman reports it went by Wunshe Cafe (partially burned down, darn it) which means it is at Westfield now - the autorack facility near here. Hopefully I'll get "the call" in a day or two.
Thanks all once again!
ENJOY !
Mobilman44
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
mobilman44 Got info that the car was in Mumford this morning, which is a junction of sorts by College Station (Texas A&M). And Dehusman reports it went by Wunshe Cafe (partially burned down, darn it) which means it is at Westfield now - the autorack facility near here. Hopefully I'll get "the call" in a day or two. Thanks all once again!
So please tell us, what model of new FORD are you getting?
Sheldon
This is the daily driver......... 2016 Escape Titanium with the 2.0L turbo. Like the last 8 vehicles, this was ordered as I wanted the tow package and the light stone interior with the silver exterior, etc. Of course the 2016 is the same as the 2015 except for the new software package.
mobilman44 This is the daily driver......... 2016 Escape Titanium with the 2.0L turbo. Like the last 8 vehicles, this was ordered as I wanted the tow package and the light stone interior with the silver exterior, etc. Of course the 2016 is the same as the 2015 except for the new software package.
That sounds very nice - we love both our FORDS, a 2012 FLEX Limited with the 3.5 Eccoboost and my new truck.
We have been driving FORDS for two decades, all have been great vehicles.
We have special ordered a few of them, others our dealer had what we wanted or was able to find what we wanted.
If the smaller Eccoboost is anything like our 3.5, you will be very happy.
While not large enough for our needs or tastes, the Escape is a very nice vehicle, and a Titanium at that - wow.
What do yo tow?
Our daughter drove a 2003 Focus for 177,000 miles - virtually no repairs, only maintenance. My new truck replaced a 2000 F150 with 240,000 miles - now for sale on the front lawn.
Post a picture or two when it shows up!
And Dehusman reports it went by Wunshe Cafe (partially burned down, darn it) which means it is at Westfield now - the autorack facility near here.
Or not. Just because its at Spring, doesn't mean its at Westfield. It will probably take a day or two for the cars ahead of it to be unloaded so it can be spotted for unloading. The pace of unloading is set by the haul away companies that unload the cars and dray the autos to the dealers.
Dave H. Painted side goes up. My website : wnbranch.com
Yes, that was my wishful thinking (a rare thing these days)...... The fellow at Ford said they have had cars sit for more than a week at the terminal.
I've gone by there a number of times, and it is always filled with strings of autoracks - as is the yard in Old Town Spring.
dehusman And Dehusman reports it went by Wunshe Cafe (partially burned down, darn it) which means it is at Westfield now - the autorack facility near here. Or not. Just because its at Spring, doesn't mean its at Westfield. It will probably take a day or two for the cars ahead of it to be unloaded so it can be spotted for unloading. The pace of unloading is set by the haul away companies that unload the cars and dray the autos to the dealers.
The CSX and NS runs autorack trains from mixing center to mixing center and that means the auto rack trains bypasses the dreaded terminal dwell time.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
What a joke. The car manufacturer can assemble the car with all of its options faster than the amount of time it takes the railroad to get the assembled car to its destination. Good thing that it wasn't being shipped into the Chicago area.
Rich
Alton Junction
Hi again!
I'm reminded that I didn't answer Sheldon's question (I forgot)......
My last 7 Fords (all ordered SUVs) had tow packages. My reasons are two fold. One is that the package included a larger radiator or a trans cooler, and the newer vehicles a "sway control". On a trip thru Needles in the summer, the temp on the Explorer stayed right in the middle - and it was 111 with an oven like wind blowing.
The other reason is actual towing of course, which for me was limited to small rental trailers for wood/yard stuff/etc. It's been awhile since I towed anything, however. Living down here in "truck country", that factory tow hitch and hook up is probably the only option that never really depreciates.
richhotrain What a joke. The car manufacturer can assemble the car with all of its options faster than the amount of time it takes the railroad to get the assembled car to its destination. Good thing that it wasn't being shipped into the Chicago area. Rich
Rich,Like I mention autorack trains bypass the dreaded terminal dwell time unlike smaller blocks of autoracks moved in a general freight consist.. Terminal dwell time can take up to 40 hours at some of the major yards.
I've seen freight cars set 2-3 days on the CSX/NS interchange track at Marion.NS has a local crew station there the crew uses part of the interchange track as a yard lead.
Larry, thanks for that reply, but it amazes me that the OP reported the car shipped from Louisville on August 3rd, and it still hasn't arrived at his Houston area dealership on August 19th.
mobilman44 Hi again! I'm reminded that I didn't answer Sheldon's question (I forgot)...... My last 7 Fords (all ordered SUVs) had tow packages. My reasons are two fold. One is that the package included a larger radiator or a trans cooler, and the newer vehicles a "sway control". On a trip thru Needles in the summer, the temp on the Explorer stayed right in the middle - and it was 111 with an oven like wind blowing. The other reason is actual towing of course, which for me was limited to small rental trailers for wood/yard stuff/etc. It's been awhile since I towed anything, however. Living down here in "truck country", that factory tow hitch and hook up is probably the only option that never really depreciates.
Again, thanks for the reply. Maybe this is just a different market here in the east, but all three Explorers we have owned came with tow pagages off the lot with out being special ordered, as did my old truck and my new truck.
Our dealer does a large business in trucks and SUV's and the RV lifestyle, and the use of small/medium trailers is very popular here, most customers of those tyes of vehicles want tow packages - so a large percentage of the vehicles on the lot have them already.
My new F250 has a serious tow package - 12,500 lb hitch receiver, built in trailer brake controller, sway control, heavy duty radiator and beefed up trans coooler, extendable mirrors, not to mention multi style wiring connectors - I'm sure your ESCAPE is similar.
Two of the cars we did special order were Crown Victorias, because we wanted the police equipment high performace package - dual exahaust, a few extra HP, stiffer suspension, larger/wider tires, heavy duty trans cooler, alternator and radiator, and automatic air ride rear suspension. They were great cars - 1997 and 2002.
Hope it shows up soon!
I "ASSUME" the autorack is at the unloading facility, and may even have unloaded and is gone. Can anyone confirm that? My ability to do so isn't working.
Thank you!
Nope. Not spotted for unloading yet.
Thank you Dave! I've driven by there when there were well over 100 autoracks there or in a string at Old Town Spring. Given our rainy weather lately, I'm not too surprised it hasn't unloaded.
Any chance of you letting me know when it does? I sold my car last Monday and am pretty anxious to "get my own" again and not drive the wifes.
mobilman44,
I know exactly what you are going thru. I ordered a new Plymouth Grand Fury that took forever to arrive. It was the first year with the tail fins and the car I ordered was the one Chrysler showed in their TV adds, same color and eveything. I got indigestion every time I saw the add. The dealer made phone calls trying to find out why it was taking so long. Finally when it arrived it was almost black covered with dust from a RR yard that must have been nothing but cinders.
Boy, would I love to have that car now.....hope your's is worth the wait.
Bob
Don't Ever Give Up
Your railcar was spotted and unloaded on 8/22. The empty car is on its way to Brownsville TX.
Thank you Dave! Just got a call from the dealer, the SUV will be moved to the dealer today/tomorrow, inspected & cleaned and I'll pick up tomorrow or Wednesday. Ha, it ain't over til its over............
Getting close. Even when everything goes right. rail can be a liitle slower than Priority Mail or FedEx...
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
Well, its finally here - and all mine!
Built on 8/3, went via CSX from Louisville to Kansas, spent some time there for railcar repairs, got on the UP tracks and made it down to the Westfield (just north of Houston) auto terminal where it was finally unloaded on 8/22. Made it to the dealer on 8/24, and ready for me on 8/25.
Of course right after I got the call a major storm front hit the area, so I begged off until yesterday morning to pick it up. We did just that yesterday (8/26) morning, and now its home safe and sound.
Gotta say this...... as the wife has a 2014 Edge Limited with all the tech bells and whistles, getting familiar with the controls of the 2016 Escape Titanium is not such a big jump. But going from a 10 year old vehicle to a new one would be "shell shock" for those not at home in the world of today's technology.
Anyway, thank you all for putting up with my personal non MR thread, and showing interest and insight into the process. And thanks to Mr. Otte for allowing this to remain here!
ENJOY,
You're welcome.
mobilman44But going from a 10 year old vehicle to a new one would be "shell shock" for those not at home in the world of today's technology.
How about going from a 20 year old car to a 2015? That would be beyond shell shock but,as long as my 20 year old Buick with 161,000 plus miles continues to run as well as it does I won't even think about buying a newer car.
I think today's new cars with their whiz bang technology gizmos is one reason I won't buy a new car however, the main reason I don't want the monthly payments.
Congratulations on getting your new car.
BRAKIE mobilman44 But going from a 10 year old vehicle to a new one would be "shell shock" for those not at home in the world of today's technology. How about going from a 20 year old car to a 2015? That would be beyond shell shock but,as long as my 20 year old Buick with 161,000 plus miles continues to run as well as it does I won't even think about buying a newer car.
mobilman44 But going from a 10 year old vehicle to a new one would be "shell shock" for those not at home in the world of today's technology.
On average, I keep my cars 17 years.