New CPKC intermodal Trains 180/181 (SB/NB) began service on May 11 as planned.
Train 181 departed Monterrey, MX just after midnight on May 11th.
Train 180 left Bensenville during the evening of May 11, passing Muscatine, Iowa at 0325 on May 12 and Washington, IA at 0455.
The second Train 180 passed Muscatine, IA at 0526, Washington, IA at 0633, and Ottumwa, IA at 0802 on Saturday May 13. It was led by CP 8702/CP 9817 and 27 well cars with about 51 orange containers, all Schneider.
I haven't seen a Train 181 at Muscatine yet, as of 7 AM on May 13.
So everyone is focused on Mexico because of the press releases from the merger obviously. Have you looked at or considered CP's new access to Texas? Texas is growing very rapidly and should fly by California in the next 5-10 years in terms of Economy and Population growth. Seems to me that has a corresponding impact to railroad revenue and traffic. It's not just Mexico.
In contrast, California is shrinking in population and not growing as fast with it's economy which is closing the gap faster.
Ed Kyle New CPKC intermodal Trains 180/181 (SB/NB) began service on May 11 as planned. Train 181 departed Monterrey, MX just after midnight on May 11th. Train 180 left Bensenville during the evening of May 11, passing Muscatine, Iowa at 0325 on May 12 and Washington, IA at 0455. The second Train 180 passed Muscatine, IA at 0526, Washington, IA at 0633, and Ottumwa, IA at 0802 on Saturday May 13. It was led by CP 8702/CP 9817 and 27 well cars with about 51 orange containers, all Schneider. I haven't seen a Train 181 at Muscatine yet, as of 7 AM on May 13.
It arrived in Shreveport, LA about 40 hours from Monterrey taking about 13 hours from passing the webcam at Rosenberg, TX until videoed north of Shreveport crossing into Arkansas. Not a big train, but surprising to me including JB Hunt containers.
First MMX-181
Not sure if this was Train 181, but a northbound with a single well car and one Swift container, followed by 11 autoracks, passed Ottumwa, Iowa at 2103 (2003 time mark) on May 13, 2023. A KCS unit led, follwed by a CP unit.
The next southbound Train 180 (-13) passed Ottumwa at 0550 (0450 time mark) on May 14 with 28 doublestack cars carrying red and green and blue and white containers, some possibly labeled "Spark".
May 13, a Saturday, saw at least eight trains at Ottumwa - the 180/possible 181, the usual 260/261 drags, three grain trains (looked like grain cars anyway), and a solid southbound autorack train. There may also have been a ninth, a southbound coal train that I didn't see.
Ed Kyle Not sure if this was Train 181, but a northbound with a single well car and one Swift container, followed by 11 autoracks, passed Ottumwa, Iowa at 2103 (2003 time mark) on May 13, 2023. A KCS unit led, follwed by a CP unit.
Yes, that was the first 181.
Those would be "SparX" containers belonging to Sparx Logistics based in Hong Kong. They had been showing up on 260/261 previously.
Ed Kyle:Do you live in Muscatine or that area or is there a webcam you access.
I always enjoyed my travels to Muscatine...busy small town with lots of industry. The drive on Iowa 22 along the Mississippi (and the CP line, ex Rock Island) was scenic.
Ed
MP173 Ed Kyle:Do you live in Muscatine or that area or is there a webcam you access. I always enjoyed my travels to Muscatine...busy small town with lots of industry. The drive on Iowa 22 along the Mississippi (and the CP line, ex Rock Island) was scenic. Ed
Ed, I checked, the blue containers were APL Logistics.
I've been reviewing the Steel Highway cams. They have cams at Muscatine, Washington, and Ottumwa, Iowa on the CPKC Ottumwa Subdivision. They also have cams showing CPKC at Dubuque and a couple other places. It is interesting to see a train pass a series of cams. It is equally interesting to see one pass a cam and then sort of disappear. A manifest passed Washington the other day, for example, and did not reach Muscatine - only 38 or so miles away - until 18 hours had passed!
Ed Kyle I've been reviewing the Steel Highway cams. They have cams at Muscatine, Washington, and Ottumwa, Iowa on the CPKC Ottumwa Subdivision. They also have cams showing CPKC at Dubuque and a couple other places. It is interesting to see a train pass a series of cams. It is equally interesting to see one pass a cam and then sort of disappear. A manifest passed Washington the other day, for example, and did not reach Muscatine - only 38 or so miles away - until 18 hours had passed!
The second 181 passed Ottumwa around 0108 this morning (May 15, 2023) with about 10 locomotives but only two well cars with four containers! This train appeared to pick up a manifest and a string of empty well cars before it passed Muscatine at 0402. Only runt trains heading into Bensenville so far. Is the bulk of these trains making it to Kansas City?
Note to anyone wishing to view this train, the railcam's timeclock is still on Central Standard Time so the timestamp is 00:08.
CPKC = Very awark. How about == See Peck?
JayBee Ed, I checked, the blue containers were APL Logistics. APL is a subsidiary of CMA CGM.
APL is a subsidiary of CMA CGM.
10000 feet and no dynamics? Today is going to be a good day ...
traisessive1 JayBee Ed, I checked, the blue containers were APL Logistics. APL is a subsidiary of CMA CGM.
APL Logistics is not a part of APL anymore. APL Logistics is owned by KWE Group.
SD60MAC9500 traisessive1 JayBee Ed, I checked, the blue containers were APL Logistics. APL is a subsidiary of CMA CGM. APL Logistics is not a part of APL anymore. APL Logistics is owned by KWE Group.
Can't tell the players without a updated scorecard. The players in many cases want all the confusion they can generate to stay ahead of their reputations.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
Today's (Tuesday May 16, 2023) intermodals must have met near Muscatine. 180 passed the Muscatine, Iowa waterfront southbound at 0458, 2x0 with 30 well or spine cars and 48 containers (ish). 181 passed northbound at 0620, 2x0 with 8 autoracks and 5 well cars with 8 containers. Adding to the fun was a northbound sand train at 0436. Train 181 has been slowly growing since it began, but is still tiny.
Going to take awhile for the loads to show up on those intermodals.
Consistant service will allow growth.
I think a good marketing tool would have been to offer either free service or dramatically reduced rates for the first few trips to allow potential customers to review service.
MP173I think a good marketing tool would have been to offer either free service or dramatically reduced rates for the first few trips to allow potential customers to review service.
Any shipper that 'needs convincing' will watch while competitors try out the system, discover the bugs and failures and lies, and run up the 'learning curve' of the new operation. Once it is provable established, at a minimum of risk and cost together, they may divert some of their traffic.
Evidently CPKC guaranteed enough QoS to Schneider that they contracted. Right there you have a need to 'run the franchise' if only with midget consists or power-balancing moves.
Meanwhile, whether or not you throw away prospective revenue, the costs associated with damage or other concerns will still be applicable, but now without any financial upside at all. In my opinion the only reason to run a 'longer' consist for very small load is if you need the additional axles in some way, for signaling integrity or adequate braking.
Ed Kyle Today's (Tuesday May 16, 2023) intermodals must have met near Muscatine. 180 passed the Muscatine, Iowa waterfront southbound at 0458, 2x0 with 30 well or spine cars and 48 containers (ish). 181 passed northbound at 0620, 2x0 with 8 autoracks and 5 well cars with 8 containers. Adding to the fun was a northbound sand train at 0436. Train 181 has been slowly growing since it began, but is still tiny.
SD60MAC9500 APL Logistics is not a part of APL anymore. APL Logistics is owned by KWE Group.
traisessive1 SD60MAC9500 APL Logistics is not a part of APL anymore. APL Logistics is owned by KWE Group. APL Logisitics and American President Lines are not the same thing. American President Lines APL is owned by CMA CGM. APL Logistics containers are blue as well. That's my mistake.
Never said they were the same. I'm fully aware of who owns APL these days. Before APL was bought by Neptune Orient Lines in 1997 they operated a few divisions including the container line. APL Land Transport (domestic intermodal network which became Pacer Stacktrain now STG Logistics), and American Eagle Tanker(which NOL sold in 2003). To get techinal NOL operations(NOL remained the name of the holding company)assumed APL's brand and image for recognition so in that regard the original APL didn't exist after 1997. APL Logistics was created in 2001 for the domestic intermodal market and forwarding service. KWE Group bought APL Logistics in 2015 from NOL prior to the CMA-CGM acquisition of NOL/APL Group in 2016.
Wednesday May 17, 2023 saw 180/181 again meet somewhere between Muscatine waterfront and Washington, Iowa. Southbound 180 had 4 autoracks and 22 well cars with 43 containers, most or all Schneider, passing Muscatine at 0555. Counterpart 181 had two well cars with 3 containers and 21 autoracks passing Muscatine at 0732. Two locomotives on each train.
With a pattern established, I'll only update going forward if something changes. I'll be watching for heavier container loadings on 181 for example. All of those Schneiders going south have to come back eventually, right?
And, of course, something changed! While southbound Train 180 has been consistent, and slowly growing (30 cars with 57 containers on May 19), northbound Train 181 did not appear at all through Iowa on Thursday May 18, 2023. On Friday May 19, it arrived many hours later than it had previously but also with many more containers and with a tail end surprise. 181 crossed the Ottumwa Subdivision during the early to mid-afternoon (Muscatine at 1522) with KCS 4182/4532 leading 16 intermodal platforms carrying 25 containers, 5 autoracks, and, at its end, filled out with 48 presumably-empty covered hoppers!
CMStPnP So everyone is focused on Mexico because of the press releases from the merger obviously. Have you looked at or considered CP's new access to Texas? Texas is growing very rapidly and should fly by California in the next 5-10 years in terms of Economy and Population growth. Seems to me that has a corresponding impact to railroad revenue and traffic. It's not just Mexico.
And there's a whole lot of Texas CPKC doesn't serve, like Houston/Texas City/Galveston, San Antonio, Austin, Fort Worth, Lubbock, El Paso, Amarillo, Odessa-Midland, Killeen-Temple, Waco, Wichita Falls, etc. CPKC serves Beaumont/Port Authur and Corpus Christi. Dallas at the end of a branch line and customer access is minimal. They will retain whatever interchange is available with NS at Meridian, MS, but otherwise they don't go to most places in Texas or their route is highly inferior. And accent on route, as in singular. Unlike BNSF and UP, CPKC's route to Texas from the Upper Midwest - as circuitous as it is - is all they got, circuity, heavy grades and all.
Vermontanan2And there's a whole lot of Texas CPKC doesn't serve, like Houston/Texas City/Galveston, San Antonio, Austin, Fort Worth, Lubbock, El Paso, Amarillo, Odessa-Midland, Killeen-Temple, Waco, Wichita Falls, etc. CPKC serves Beaumont/Port Authur and Corpus Christi. Dallas at the end of a branch line and customer access is minimal. They will retain whatever interchange is available with NS at Meridian, MS, but otherwise they don't go to most places in Texas or their route is highly inferior. And accent on route, as in singular. Unlike BNSF and UP, CPKC's route to Texas from the Upper Midwest - as circuitous as it is - is all they got, circuity, heavy grades and all.
So I can tell from the comments above you have never been to Dallas and just looking at a route map which in the case of DFW is somewhat generalized and vague. They have one mainline into Garland which is a suburb of Dallas. I would not call it a "branch line" from the maintenence standards maybe might be operationally. Off that mainline they have a branch to Plano from Wylie and I believe off to Fort Worth (Alliance). As for minimal customer access, they have more than one intermodal facility here. I don't know about frieght yards as their trackage is too extensive and spread out through out the metro area. Would take days to follow it all.
The new Steel Highway Railcam in Clinton, IA is scheduled to go live midweek of the coming week. Due to the location of the host it will be best for CPKC, but will have a limited view of the UP mainline. I have been waiting for this camera as it will give a view of the Chicago trains out of Nahant Yd. It will also allow viewers to see the result of block swapping done at Nahant Yard (Davenport, IA) when combined with the Railcams at Muscatine.
CMStPnP So I can tell from the comments above you have never been to Dallas
So I can tell from the comments above you have never been to Dallas
Been there literally hundreds of times in the 22 years I lived in the Metroplex. Try again.
CMStPnP and just looking at a route map which in the case of DFW is somewhat generalized and vague. They have one mainline into Garland which is a suburb of Dallas. I would not call it a "branch line" from the maintenence standards maybe might be operationally. Off that mainline they have a branch to Plano from Wylie and I believe off to Fort Worth (Alliance). As for minimal customer access, they have more than one intermodal facility here. I don't know about frieght yards as their trackage is too extensive and spread out through out the metro area. Would take days to follow it all.
and just looking at a route map which in the case of DFW is somewhat generalized and vague. They have one mainline into Garland which is a suburb of Dallas. I would not call it a "branch line" from the maintenence standards maybe might be operationally. Off that mainline they have a branch to Plano from Wylie and I believe off to Fort Worth (Alliance). As for minimal customer access, they have more than one intermodal facility here. I don't know about frieght yards as their trackage is too extensive and spread out through out the metro area. Would take days to follow it all.
Not really. KCS's presence in the Dallas area is pretty limited. Actually, their line from Shreveport to Dallas is up to main line standards - good for 60 MPH for intermodal trains and has CTC. Most of the intermodal traffic is to/from NS interchange at Meridian, Mississippi.
They only have the one intermodal facility at Wylie. Most KCS activity in the Metroplex is limited to this area North and Northeast of Dallas, though they do interchange with UP and DG&NO. KCS (or CPKC) does operate trains (once a day is about it) through to BNSF's Alliance Yard via the former ATSF Dallas line through Lewisville to Metro (then on BNSF from Metro to Alliance). But overall, KCS's presence in Fort Worth - the area's railroad center - is zilch. The many UP and BNSF yards (Intermodal and otherwise) in the Metroplex dwarf anything the KCS has. Arlington, Midlothian, Irving, Saginaw are just a few of the examples of HUGE areas of traffic generation in the Metroplex where KCS isn't even an afterthought. They're just not there.
But despite the fact that you failed to prove KCS has significant relevance in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, you also missed the point: Dallas is but one place, and all the other aforementioned places (in my previous post) CPKC will continue to be shut out of since they just have such a limited "network" in Texas. In fact, "network" is a bit of misnomer as they have a very skeletal route structure. Not only do BNSF and UP serve most of the customers in Texas, but unlike CPKC, they don't for the most part have just a singular route.
Should traffic to/from Texas balloon as you suggest, BNSF and UP will benefit to a much greater extent than CPKC can ever hope for considering their fantastically inferior routes.
Vermontanan2 CMStPnP So I can tell from the comments above you have never been to Dallas Been there literally hundreds of times in the 22 years I lived in the Metroplex. Try again. CMStPnP and just looking at a route map which in the case of DFW is somewhat generalized and vague. They have one mainline into Garland which is a suburb of Dallas. I would not call it a "branch line" from the maintenence standards maybe might be operationally. Off that mainline they have a branch to Plano from Wylie and I believe off to Fort Worth (Alliance). As for minimal customer access, they have more than one intermodal facility here. I don't know about frieght yards as their trackage is too extensive and spread out through out the metro area. Would take days to follow it all. Not really. KCS's presence in the Dallas area is pretty limited. Actually, their line from Shreveport to Dallas is up to main line standards - good for 60 MPH for intermodal trains and has CTC. Most of the intermodal traffic is to/from NS interchange at Meridian, Mississippi. They only have the one intermodal facility at Wylie. Most KCS activity in the Metroplex is limited to this area North and Northeast of Dallas, though they do interchange with UP and DG&NO. KCS (or CPKC) does operate trains (once a day is about it) through to BNSF's Alliance Yard via the former ATSF Dallas line through Lewisville to Metro (then on BNSF from Metro to Alliance). But overall, KCS's presence in Fort Worth - the area's railroad center - is zilch. The many UP and BNSF yards (Intermodal and otherwise) in the Metroplex dwarf anything the KCS has. Arlington, Midlothian, Irving, Saginaw are just a few of the examples of HUGE areas of traffic generation in the Metroplex where KCS isn't even an afterthought. They're just not there. But despite the fact that you failed to prove KCS has significant relevance in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, you also missed the point: Dallas is but one place, and all the other aforementioned places (in my previous post) CPKC will continue to be shut out of since they just have such a limited "network" in Texas. In fact, "network" is a bit of misnomer as they have a very skeletal route structure. Not only do BNSF and UP serve most of the customers in Texas, but unlike CPKC, they don't for the most part have just a singular route. Should traffic to/from Texas balloon as you suggest, BNSF and UP will benefit to a much greater extent than CPKC can ever hope for considering their fantastically inferior routes.
Oh, then I guess it's just my imagination that UP has its undies all bunched up acct the Laredo gateway then, huh? So much for our "inferior" routing.
Los Angeles Rams Guy Oh, then I guess it's just my imagination that UP has its undies all bunched up acct the Laredo gateway then, huh?
Los Angeles Rams Guy So much for our "inferior" routing.
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