Triple Crown to Twin Cities

[Big_Boy_4005]

QUOTE: Originally posted by greyhounds

I think it all depends on the Ford plant in the Twin Cities.

Triple Crown is based on auto parts delivery. Ford builds the Ranger small truck in St. Paul. Ranger sales are in a nose dive. What to do?

Ford can either pour money into the facility and retool it to build something else, try to revive the Ranger brand, or close the plant. They put off a decision on that facility earlier, but the time will come.

I think the plant is doomed, but I'm not privey to inside Ford information.

As i said, I think Triple Crown service to the Twin Cities depends on Ford deciding to continue to build vehicles there. I hope Ford decides to stay in Minnesota. A lot of good folks will be out of work if they don't. But Ford can't let a soft heart rule a sound mind. They'll be out of business themselves if they do that.

The Ford plant is very much on the chopping block. The Governor has met with Ford and begged them to keep it open, and the decision keeps getting pushed back. They may have bought a couple more years after this last round. This isn't the first time Ford has considered losing the St Paul plant.

If it goes, the CP stands to lose a chunk of business too, since they also deliver parts and haul finished trucks away. I think they even bring in other finished Ford vehicles for local distribution. Real estate developers are ready to pounce on the property because of it's prime riverfront location. The land use will change from industrial to residential, and a lot of rails will be removed. Something like 5 miles of track will become useless.

As for Triple Crown, while Ford was the main customer, and prime reason for starting the service, they have been working to develop eastbound business. So the service could survive the loss of Ford, though it would certainly be downsized until new customers could be found.

I believe that Andersen Windows is a customer for for the eastbound trailers. I had also heard that Ford was not the only westbound customer, and that furinture was also being shipped to the Twin Cities.

[greyhounds]

I think it all depends on the Ford plant in the Twin Cities.

Triple Crown is based on auto parts delivery. Ford builds the Ranger small truck in St. Paul. Ranger sales are in a nose dive. What to do?

Ford can either pour money into the facility and retool it to build something else, try to revive the Ranger brand, or close the plant. They put off a decision on that facility earlier, but the time will come.

I think the plant is doomed, but I'm not privey to inside Ford information.

As i said, I think Triple Crown service to the Twin Cities depends on Ford deciding to continue to build vehicles there. I hope Ford decides to stay in Minnesota. A lot of good folks will be out of work if they don't. But Ford can't let a soft heart rule a sound mind. They'll be out of business themselves if they do that.

[Jordan6]

Seems to be working fine. I go by the yard where they terminate frequently, and there's always a bunch of Triple Crown trailers getting ready to head to Chicago. Even when we don't go through that yard, you're problaly gonna see at least one or more trailers on the roads and overpasses.

[MP173]

I was driving south on I294 (Chicago Suburbs) and lo and behold at 95th street there was a NB UP single engine with about 45 - 50 triple crown units heading north. This was about noon.

I had forgotten about the TC service to TC. It appeared to be a pretty good sized train.

What is the status on that run? Still every other day? Who are the main shippers?

ed