Over the past couple of months, I've been seeing unit oil trains with CN power in both directions. I haven't caught any north of Butler, but I assume that they continue onto the Adams sub. Does anyone know the origin/destination? cargo? routing?
Thanks!
Well, the pipeline from Milwaukee to Green Bay is still out of service, possibly forever. The terminal in Green Bay is now supplied by boat, truck, and rail, but I'm not sure how much goes by rail.
I saw yesterday that Green Bay was still frozen over, so the boat traffic might not be running.
AlienKing Well, the pipeline from Milwaukee to Green Bay is still out of service, possibly forever. The terminal in Green Bay is now supplied by boat, truck, and rail, but I'm not sure how much goes by rail.
Is there any decent routing to get from Butler to Green Bay? Looking at the Wisconsin rail map there are gaps in all three lines that used to connect Milwaukee and Green Bay.
Seems more likely that these would be routed on the CN Waukesha sub out of Chicago if that was the destination.
Historically, lake boats sailed until early December and didn't leave port again until early April.
With ice breaking they can sometimes get an early start. The first ore boat of the season docked in Duluth on 03/23/28.
http://www.railpictures.net/photo/652618/
kgbw49With ice breaking they can sometimes get an early start. The first ore boat of the season docked in Duluth on 03/23/28. http://www.railpictures.net/photo/652618/
Looks like a whole lot of ice in the area.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
Yes, indeed, there is certainly a lot of ice left on water bodies in the Upper Midwest!
Actually if you look at the “crumbled up” area, including by the ore dock, that is where the Coast Guard ice breaker made a pass to open the channel.
USCGC Alder is stationed at Duluth. She was launched in 2004 at Marinette, WI. Alder has a length of 225 ft, with a 46 ft beam and 13 ft draft. Alder displaces 2,000 long tons, has a top speed of 15 knots, and has a range of 6,000 nautical miles at 12 knots.
Here is a very informative Web page on USCGC Alder:
http://duluthshippingnews.com/ship1064/
Shipping season opens March 29th on the St Lawrence Seaway. A Canadian cutter/icebreaker was out on the St Lawrence yesterday. Lake Ontario is pretty much clear, as is Lake Erie.
The Soo locks opened today (3/25).
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
Ajsik Is there any decent routing to get from Butler to Green Bay? Looking at the Wisconsin rail map there are gaps in all three lines that used to connect Milwaukee and Green Bay. Seems more likely that these would be routed on the CN Waukesha sub out of Chicago if that was the destination.
Well, the US Oil terminal is on Jones Island near downtown Milwaukee, which I believe is serviced by UP. It might be the destination as well.
In regards to your question about Butler to Green Bay, I think the easiest routing is through Glendale, Slinger, Fon Du Lac, Appleton, and finally Green Bay.
Saw another today...eastbound Adams to southbound Milwaukee sub. Definitely not coming from or heading to Green Bay.
Still seeing these regularly, including a westbound tied up at the Marcy Road crossing on the Adams sub (Menomonee Falls, WI). Saw it yesterday and today, but also caught a dispatcher on the scanner discussing the fact that it had been there for four days. Reporting marks are VMSX (Valero).
Ajsik Still seeing these regularly, including a westbound tied up at the Marcy Road crossing on the Adams sub (Menomonee Falls, WI). Saw it yesterday and today, but also caught a dispatcher on the scanner discussing the fact that it had been there for four days. Reporting marks are VMSX (Valero).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rM5fvxuzKxk&t=1334s
There is a major market for Canadian crude oil in thegulf coast. CN serves unit train loading terminals at Bruderheim, AB and Edmonton, AB. Exxon at baton Rouge and other refineries in Louisiana are probably the destinations. Some may be interchanges to TX points.
It is unlikley this is going onto theLakes,as there is not anywhere that it would go.
UP has trackage rights on CN from Superior, WI to Necedah, WI. There is a direct loop connection from the grade-separated UP line (former CNW) down to the CN line (former MILW-WC) at Necedah.
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Necedah,+WI+54646/@44.0156956,-90.0707731,2292m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x87fe1eaaa380abb9:0x40b43f30c30f01a3!8m2!3d44.0260775!4d-90.0740181
(The satellite caught a 4-locomotive 100-car UP unit train of frac sand heading east through Necedah on the Adams line.)
CN has had a problem with traffic congestion on their line from Superior to Chicago, to the point that they recently added about 10 miles of double track coming out of the Lake Superior Basin and are adding more passing sidings.
The oil trains on UP from Necedah through Milwaukee to the UP interchange with the former EJ&E would be a potential way to pull unit oil train traffic bound for Louisiana off the CN Wisconsin main line to reduce congestion on that line.
I have no idea if they are actually doing that or not - I am just throwing it out there as a possibility for discussion.
kgbw49UP has trackage rights on CN from Superior, WI to Necedah, WI. There is a direct loop connection from the grade-separated UP line (former CNW) down to the CN line (former MILW-WC) at Necedah. https://www.google.com/maps/place/Necedah,+WI+54646/@44.0156956,-90.0707731,2292m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x87fe1eaaa380abb9:0x40b43f30c30f01a3!8m2!3d44.0260775!4d-90.0740181 (The satellite caught a 4-locomotive 100-car UP unit train of frac sand heading east through Necedah on the Adams line.) CN has had a problem with traffic congestion on their line from Superior to Chicago, to the point that they recently added about 10 miles of double track coming out of the Lake Superior Basin and are adding more passing sidings. The oil trains on UP from Necedah through Milwaukee to the UP interchange with the former EJ&E would be a potential way to pull unit oil train traffic bound for Louisiana off the CN Wisconsin main line to reduce congestion on that line. I have no idea if they are actually doing that or not - I am just throwing it out there as a possibility for discussion.
Thanks for the info. I realize it's just speculation, but I appreciate the details behind it.
It would be interesting to see if these move back to 'home' rails via the EJ&E. Can't say that I've ever seen anything but a local with a couple of cars east of Leighton.
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