Trains.com

Not Allowed

7716 views
49 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Smoggy L.A.
  • 10,743 posts
Posted by vsmith on Monday, June 14, 2021 12:41 PM
It will get shipped by rail instead, so thats good for the railroads. I don't want to make this politcal but from a practical side the oil pipeline was way way oversold, it was pitched as the greatest job creator since the Transcon, but in reality it only benefitted the owner, and in the short term the builder, because piplelines once built are low low tech and only require a handful of people to operate and maintain, so all the ballyhooing about job creation was a red herring. Anyway, good for the railroads.

   Have fun with your trains

  • Member since
    January 2014
  • 8,149 posts
Posted by Euclid on Monday, June 14, 2021 12:02 PM

Several times in the past when threads were locked, and moderators would comment on the action, they told us that we were perfectly free to start another thread on the same topic, and it would not be locked as long as it followed the forum rules.  This point was made several times as a comment on the forum and in PMs to me by moderators.

So based on that policy offered by the moderators, I assume it would be okay to post a new thread on the XL Pipeline as long it does not violate forum rues.

  • Member since
    December 2017
  • From: I've been everywhere, man
  • 4,260 posts
Posted by SD70Dude on Monday, June 14, 2021 10:28 AM

Convicted One
York1
3.  The XL Pipeline thread had quite a few political comments.  Some of you who did not see the political comments maybe didn't read all of the last posts.

Sounds like I picked a poor day to take off and go to the park. Were any of the "fun" posts targeted at me?  Smile

I remember telling you our water wasn't for sale.  But that wasn't personal, I would have said it to anyone, and it wasn't meant as an insult. 

Same for my analysis of a certain pipeline investment as nothing more than a gamble. 

I agree about the difficulty of separating railroads and politics in many cases.

Greetings from Alberta

-an Articulate Malcontent

  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: US
  • 24,976 posts
Posted by BaltACD on Monday, June 14, 2021 10:24 AM

York1
 
BaltACD
Kalmbach overlooks the one cardinal rule that applies to railroading. Every interface railroads have with the general public brings politics into the equation. 

That may be, but the problem is that the comments become personal, and often stray from the original railroad topic to the political side.

Railroads are as much political entites as the Republican, Democrat and Liberterian Parties - they just don't run candidates in their own name during elections.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

  • Member since
    April 2007
  • 4,557 posts
Posted by Convicted One on Monday, June 14, 2021 10:04 AM

York1
3.  The XL Pipeline thread had quite a few political comments.  Some of you who did not see the political comments maybe didn't read all of the last posts.

 

Sounds like I picked a poor day to take off and go to the park. Were any of the "fun" posts targeted at me?  Smile

  • Member since
    February 2018
  • From: Flyover Country
  • 5,437 posts
Posted by York1 on Monday, June 14, 2021 9:18 AM

BaltACD
Kalmbach overlooks the one cardinal rule that applies to railroading. Every interface railroads have with the general public brings politics into the equation.

That may be, but the problem is that the comments become personal, and often stray from the original railroad topic to the political side.

York1 John       

I asked my doctor if I gave up delicious food and all alcohol, would I live longer?  He said, "No, but it will seem longer."

  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: US
  • 24,976 posts
Posted by BaltACD on Monday, June 14, 2021 9:05 AM

York1
1.  Kalmbach runs these forums as a free service.  One doesn't even need a subscription to post here.

2.  Kalmbach has a clearly stated rule that there will be no political comments on the forum.

3.  The XL Pipeline thread had quite a few political comments.  Some of you who did not see the political comments maybe didn't read all of the last posts.

4.  Kalmbach had every right to delete the thread since quite a few comments had political references. 

I know of other forums that have very loose moderation.  I'll take and appreciate Kalmbach's moderation any day.

Kalmbach overlooks the one cardinal rule that applies to railroading.

Every interface railroads have with the general public brings politics into the equation.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

  • Member since
    February 2018
  • From: Flyover Country
  • 5,437 posts
Posted by York1 on Monday, June 14, 2021 8:22 AM

1.  Kalmbach runs these forums as a free service.  One doesn't even need a subscription to post here.

2.  Kalmbach has a clearly stated rule that there will be no political comments on the forum.

3.  The XL Pipeline thread had quite a few political comments.  Some of you who did not see the political comments maybe didn't read all of the last posts.

4.  Kalmbach had every right to delete the thread since quite a few comments had political references.

 

I know of other forums that have very loose moderation.  I'll take and appreciate Kalmbach's moderation any day.

York1 John       

I asked my doctor if I gave up delicious food and all alcohol, would I live longer?  He said, "No, but it will seem longer."

  • Member since
    December 2017
  • From: I've been everywhere, man
  • 4,260 posts
Posted by SD70Dude on Sunday, June 13, 2021 6:05 PM

ROBIN LUETHE

Can RRs transport Canadian sands oil cheaply enough to remain competative with fracked oil?

Plenty of oil trains still running from Alberta and Saskatchewan to various American destinations......

Greetings from Alberta

-an Articulate Malcontent

  • Member since
    September 2014
  • 80 posts
Posted by ROBIN LUETHE on Sunday, June 13, 2021 6:01 PM

Can RRs transport Canadian sands oil cheaply enough to remain competative with fracked oil? 

 

  • Member since
    September 2003
  • 21,416 posts
Posted by Overmod on Sunday, June 13, 2021 10:39 AM

There's been an interesting version of this on Quora recently regarding their 'be respectful, be nice' posting policy.  Some folks are complaining that they receive discipline or have their posts collapsed for calling out perceived trolls or overt racist/fascist/extremist supporters.  The point being that in 'hitting the yellow triangle' to report those posts they just can't keep from responding with some snarky message... which violates BRBN.  And that is the difficulty in a community of friends: even when there is strong disagreement, friends remain civil.

Kalmbach has, in their way, tried to make this sort of point (and in some cases, albeit sometimes squirrelly, they have enforced it with moderation and bans).  It is up to us to keep disputation civil, and to avoid the "usual sorts" of escalation that follow contentious 'railroad-related' issues that inherently involve politics or social issues.

  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: US
  • 695 posts
Posted by rixflix on Sunday, June 13, 2021 10:15 AM

Before this thread gets deleted I'd like to say that the forum has been a welcome refuge from that "no holds barred" community. A community that is anything but that, where reasonable discourse and nuance have practically disappeared. Where  neighbors are either "for or against", "friend or foe", "support or threat" to one's prejudices.

I really appreciate this neighborhood, my neighbors, and the moderators.

Rick

rixflix aka Captain Video. Blessed be Jean Shepherd and all His works!!! Hooray for 1939, the all time movie year!!! I took that ride on the Reading but my Baby caught the Katy and left me a mule to ride.

  • Member since
    April 2007
  • 4,557 posts
Posted by Convicted One on Sunday, June 13, 2021 5:55 AM

For what it's worth, Considering this place is not a "no holds barred" community, I believe the forum admins are fairly lenient.  Sometimes it seems they pull the cord a bit too soon, but when that happens, it's just time to dust oneself off, and go onto the next topic. It's not like discussion here is going to spawn public policy, so there really is no loss.

  • Member since
    June 2003
  • From: South Central,Ks
  • 7,166 posts
Posted by samfp1943 on Saturday, June 12, 2021 9:49 PM

MidlandMike

I started the thread and wondered why it suddenly disappeared.  In the past you would see a lock symbol on closed threads, but I guess they now just delete it, with no courtesy notice to the poster.  I thought it would continue discussion on crude-by-rail, however it seemed to get stuck on pipeline politics, although I didn't think it got out of hand.  I don't know if someone flamed in the 3 hours between my last post and the next time I checked and noticed it disappeared.

 

Oops - Sign   It does appear that 'courtesy' has gone the way of the Cabooses... in this day of the "Cancel Culture"   Whistling  

        Must be, that anything can just be too 'crude' Mischief for even adult conversations ? Sigh

 

 


 

  • Member since
    September 2011
  • 6,412 posts
Posted by MidlandMike on Saturday, June 12, 2021 8:46 PM

I started the thread and wondered why it suddenly disappeared.  In the past you would see a lock symbol on closed threads, but I guess they now just delete it, with no courtesy notice to the poster.  I thought it would continue discussion on crude-by-rail, however it seemed to get stuck on pipeline politics, although I didn't think it got out of hand.  I don't know if someone flamed in the 3 hours between my last post and the next time I checked and noticed it disappeared.

  • Member since
    June 2003
  • From: South Central,Ks
  • 7,166 posts
Posted by samfp1943 on Saturday, June 12, 2021 6:25 PM

greyhounds
" There was a recent thread on the cancelation of the XL pipeline project. It was deleted.  OK, Kalmbach owns the website, and they can control what’s on it.
 
But…I think anything involving transportation, especially transportation infrastructure, is railroad related and is a legitimate issue for discussion on this website. 
 
The cancelation of the pipeline will affect both the US and Canadian economies.  Transportation is a derived demand.  i.e., We got it here and you need it there.
 
Limiting economic development will affect transportation demand." 
 
I think we had an exceptionally good, railroad related, discussion going on.  It got deleted.  I disagree with that decision.  But I acknowledge their right to make the decision.
 

 
I could not argue any of the 'points' greyhounds raises: 
   The FORUM is Kalmbach's property, and they may edit and control its content; as they may.  Similarly, as do the 'Silicone Valley' Overlords have been doing, with their Social Media" sites.   Bow
     All of which may be coming to an end if the House' can pass some legislation, being reported( ? )

      The last little brou-ha-ha we had regarding 'Forum censorship' was several years back; and invoved a 'foreign'  forum monitor, who was apparently TAD'd fromAlien  The MR side of the operation?  He got some pretty 'strong reactions' on this side of things; I'd bet "Murphy S', and 'Selector' might recall ? Bang Head

Seems a shame that  The Keystone XL fell victim both here, and in Canada and therep;orted loss lof some Jobs/wages/taxes, (?), etc. {mostly Union } got politically, shuffled out lof existance; I believe that number was 'reported' to be in excess of 10/11 K ?

Makes one wonder how many railroad jobs will be found in their place Whistling  Maybe, the Russians /or possibly, Warren  Buffet, will build that railroad bridge across the Bering Straits ; that was reported here a couple of years,ago?  Sigh

 

 

 


 

  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: US
  • 24,976 posts
Posted by BaltACD on Saturday, June 12, 2021 5:58 PM

Kalmbach has a weird sense of what is rail related and what is not.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

  • Member since
    January 2019
  • From: Henrico, VA
  • 9,597 posts
Posted by Flintlock76 on Saturday, June 12, 2021 1:10 PM

The plain fact of the matter is the stuff's going to be moved from where it is to where it has to be one way or another, just like any other commodity.  That won't change.

  • Member since
    June 2009
  • From: Dallas, TX
  • 6,857 posts
Posted by CMStPnP on Saturday, June 12, 2021 9:50 AM

Well, for me I could absolutely care less about the XL pipeline but it seems to be a very emotional issue with some elsewhere on social media.   I think it is great rail is getting the contracts and the business.    From a political standpoint for myself I was always luke warm on the issue.    Not really for it and not really against it and can't really see wasting any energy making an argument one way or another.

I know I brought this up before and a lot of folks pooh-poohed it.  I think it would be cool to use rail to ship desalinated fresh water from the East or Pacific Coast inland to start replentishing empty reservoirs.    Pure fantasy I guess and I know it would probably be prohibitively expensive........you never know though.    I never thought I would see oil transported again by rail in such quantities.

  • Member since
    December 2017
  • From: I've been everywhere, man
  • 4,260 posts
Posted by SD70Dude on Friday, June 11, 2021 11:02 PM

I thought it was rail-related, seeing as the oil that would have moved in the pipeline will now most likely go by train. 

I had posted this link to the previous thread, an expansion of the Hardisty, AB rail terminal is set to come online soon.  I believe this is the first terminal set up to ship 100+ car unit trains of bitumen without diluent. 

https://www.spglobal.com/platts/en/market-insights/latest-news/oil/030421-usd-group-nearing-completion-of-hardisty-to-port-arthur-crude-by-rail-network

It also appears that the receiving terminal in Port Arthur, TX is on Kansas City Southern.......

Greetings from Alberta

-an Articulate Malcontent

  • Member since
    August 2003
  • From: Antioch, IL
  • 4,370 posts
Not Allowed
Posted by greyhounds on Friday, June 11, 2021 10:52 PM

 

There was a recent thread on the cancelation of the XL pipeline project. It was deleted.  OK, Kalmbach owns the website, and they can control what’s on it.
 
But…
 
I think anything involving transportation, especially transportation infrastructure, is railroad related and is a legitimate issue for discussion on this website. 
 
The cancelation of the pipeline will affect both the US and Canadian economies.  Transportation is a derived demand.  i.e., We got it here and you need it there.
 
Limiting economic development will affect transportation demand. 
 
I think we had an exceptionally good, railroad related, discussion going on.  It got deleted.  I disagree with that decision.  But I acknowledge their right to make the decision.
"By many measures, the U.S. freight rail system is the safest, most efficient and cost effective in the world." - Federal Railroad Administration, October, 2009. I'm just your average, everyday, uncivilized howling "anti-government" critic of mass government expenditures for "High Speed Rail" in the US. And I'm gosh darn proud of that.

Join our Community!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

Search the Community

Newsletter Sign-Up

By signing up you may also receive occasional reader surveys and special offers from Trains magazine.Please view our privacy policy