CAPY 286,000 or what?

[Allen Jenkins]

A Visit to the Nashville & Eastern RR, the other day, suggested that the class 1's are restricted by the bridge limits on the lines the customers use. ie, if the bridge has not been upgraded, the road cannot deliver the carload to the customer. So the increase in payload is co-dependent (when is the last time you loved that word!), on the logistics of the haul. Don't rack your brain, it's an infrastructure thing, Jim Ryder isn't here to save us, and the robber barrrons are gone, but there is hope, the Western Europeans, can offer guidance maybe they don't mess around with traffic......but anyway!acj.

[Mookie]

Or as Matt and Mookie say - You fall down!

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

This issue has been addressed several times in TRAINS. In general, if the track, bridges, etc. aren't upgraded, the traffic is lost to the shortline (most Class 1's and larger regionals can handle the greater weight) since the shipment will be trucked to the Class 1 or the plant or grain elevator will shut down since they can't get the better rate for larger shipments.

It would be interesting to find out how long the branches which became short lines remained in service after the sale to new operators. I'm sure that the sale to new operators only postponed abandonment in many cases.