Union Pacific "Bullet" (UPS) Train

[Anonymous]

I am looking to model the UPS/UP bullet train. Anyone got any idea what kind of rail car UP is using on these trains? I have heard about some 89' articulated flat cars but have never seen such a beast. I have seen spine cars before that are made for trailers, are these the same cars? What kind of trailers is UPS putting on the train? Are they the 28' pups? or the 40' standard? Thanks for any help!!

Damon

[DTomajko]

I understand from articles in Trains & Railfan that UP is using Trailer Train "TTRX" triple 57'/ six 28' spine cars modified to operate at 79 mph.I have not witnessed the "Bullet Train" ,but I would imagine that UPS is using it's usual equipment.Available equipment consists of 28' air-leg & top-lift pups,40' & 45' drop and straight-frame trailers,48' & 53' Martrac trailers,53' lease trailers;(ie:XTRA or TIP),and 45' & 48' railroad-controlled trailers;(ie:BMDZ,REAZ,TIPZ,KBSZ,WTLZ,XTRZ,RXXZ,VTRZ). This type of equipment is common to any UPS shipment and may also be moved under the UPS Logistics authority.Remember,that according to a recent article,(Trains?), UPS is responsable for 5% of all rail freight.Also keep in mind that most UPS shipments are not easily noticed due to it's minimally marked equipment.I hope this helped a lttle.Good luck and stay safe.

[Anonymous]

For the "UNINFORMED", the "BNSF" did not "lose" out on the so-called bullet
train of the "UP".

"UPS", the world's largest shipping company, encouraged the "UP" to enter the
race for the west coast business as a means of putting together a trans-conti-
nental railroad service that would offer a cost competitive service to the rather
expensive motor carriage team operation of FEDEX Ground (the boys in blue
and green who have to buy their jobs!) PLUS start the ball rolling for the last
set of North American BALANCED railroad mergers.

To say the least, the article of last month in "The Wall Street Journal" clearly
outlined the imbalances in the nation's railroad structure caused by the mis-
takes of the regulators in permitting the merger of The "DRGW/SP" + "UP".
However, what else could you expect when "tweedle dee", "tweedle dum"
and the "dumb female dog" were allow to set railroad transportation policy. Further,
a policy designed to fail just to save the poor investment decisions of a failed
Denver businessman, the greed of the clown in Bethleham and the pimps
on Wall Street.

In the mid 90"s the "UP"announced that it was going out of the intermodal trail-
er business and that if you wanted to ship trailers in the West, find someone
else! Funny, how time exposes one's mistakes, i.e., engage brain before open-
ing mouth.

The so-called bullet train uses conventional trailers. Yes, if you look closely you
will see that those EMP "cans" were on chassis. The reason, to eliminate ex-
cessive drag and to keep a smooth flow of air flowing all the way to the back of
the train. The former Santa Fe Railway determined that principal some thirty
years ago.

The so-called bullet train utilizes the "BNSF" SPEEDWAY, at least partially, bet-
ween Joilet, Illinois and the State of Kansas. The "UP" was too cheap to pay the
higher cost of using this intermodal highway (see this month's "Railway Age")
any further because of the train blockage and congestion. However, no matter
which way you look at it "BNSF" is making more money off of this business by
leasing its assets as opposed to taking the risks. In business we call that a
savory return!

Look for the "BNSF" to take the so-called "NAFTA Rail", depending upon how Mr.
Micheal R. Haverty handles his "Mexican Bandios".

Should he rely on his abilities as "a Bible Salesman", then the deal can get
squared away rather quickly. This avenue would be a lot faster as opposed to
trying to handle liigation in the Courts of two different (cultures) countries. Fur-
ther, its only "buzziness" as they say down in Texas.

Hard as it may seem for the "UNINFORMED", the monopoly of the "UP" shall be
broken up and parts of it are directed to the "BNSF" and the "CN". To maintain
a truly competitive "balanced" system look for the majority of the "CPRS" to go
to the "UP".

So, for you "UNINFORMED" the so-called bullet train is doing more than just tak-
ing intermodal business away from "BNSF" on modern trailer carrying flat cars,
viz., TTRX, TTAX, TTEX, ete. Its creating a balance!

[Anonymous]

To pter777opm:
While I find your hypothesis interesting, I also find it rather puzzling. I agree that the Federal STB badly bungled the UP/SP merger by not requiring divestiture of certain parallel routes in the central corridor and in the Saint Louis/Memphis/Houston/Laredo corridor rather than settling for the mere granting of trackage rights. I have also heard of many rumors of talks leading to future transcontinental mergers. I have NOT, however, heard of any SERIOUS proposals from either Federal regulators NOR the other branches of the Federal government pertaining to any present-day post-UP/SP merger divestitures. If you are truly knowledgeable regarding any such SERIOUS proposals (rather than just railfan pipedreams), then PLEASE e-mail any such information and sources for attribution to me at [e-mail] and I will ask some stock analyst and rail industry contacts to evaluate the potential success and/or failure of any such proposals.

Thank You in advance from Ross R. Moore, Jr.

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

Any breakup of Union Pacific as it is currently constituted would be difficult to impossible to process. While I agree that the UP/SP merger was handled badly by the STB, a reversal of their decision several years after the fact is not realistic. Also, the STB or the Department of Justice would need a solid legal reason to initiate a breakup or divestiture, presumably under antitrust law.

UPS has a well-deserved reputation for being a demanding shipper, and with their volume, it isn't too hard for them to get their way. The real question is whether the additional expenses attached to operating a "Bullet" train for UPS are worth the additional business for the railroad in question.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by CSSHEGEWISCH

Any breakup of Union Pacific as it is currently constituted would be difficult to impossible to process. While I agree that the UP/SP merger was handled badly by the STB, a reversal of their decision several years after the fact is not realistic. Also, the STB or the Department of Justice would need a solid legal reason to initiate a breakup or divestiture, presumably under antitrust law.

UPS has a well-deserved reputation for being a demanding shipper, and with their volume, it isn't too hard for them to get their way. The real question is whether the additional expenses attached to operating a "Bullet" train for UPS are worth the additional business for the railroad in question.

I think that the UPS BULLET TRAIN will start the next round of TRANSCONTINENTAL mergers and as one RR excutives IF you want to keep UPS you must give UPS ONTIME SERVICE[:D][:D][:D][8D]