http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-03-11/buffett-s-bnsf-leads-locomotive-surge-to-ease-railroad-cargo-jam.html
C&NW, CA&E, MILW, CGW and IC fan
I'm also wondering how much of this is the predicted rush of new locomotive orders before locomotives must meet the Tier IV standards.
Summary: BNSF took delivery of 250 locos in the 1st 2 months of this year*; will acquire 125 more in the next 2 months. UP has taken 250 out of storage; NS 100. Reasons: Bad weather, increased crude oil and grain traffic has led to congestion = 9 percent decrease in train speeds, 13% increase in terminal dwell times.
Most interesting quote, from NS President James Squires: " “The network is moving very slowly, not for lack of resources, but because it is out of equilibrium,” said Squires, whose railroad is based in Norfolk, Virginia." [emphasis added - PDN]
*Aside from beating the Tier IV implementation deadline as noted above - and obviously to add resources to address the performance problems as stated above - the loco deliveries might have been scheduled for early in calendar 2014 so as to qualify for depreciation, tax credits, etc. (I'm no expert on these subjects, though) in 2014 instead of 2013.
- Paul North.
As posted before -- The BNSF haulage intermodal trains for years were always only BNSF units. Last couple years did not even see a green unit. For the past few months # of locos have been reduced on some except UPS / FED EX trains. About 1 in 5 of the trains have other RR units with some having older SD units.
Read on another site that UP is pulling all available units back into service. To add to that is reported that UP has pulled in all its SD-9043MACs at Bailey yard to return them to service. Wonder how long they can last without failing ?
I live near a BNSF secondary line used primarily for hauling unit trains of grain or alcohol out of the Dakotas. They are normally powered by two BNSF engines leading with a third pushing. Lately I've noticed the inclusion of a CSX engine or two in the mix. Additionally, the pusher is missing in a significant number of the consists.
blue streak 1 As posted before -- The BNSF haulage intermodal trains for years were always only BNSF units. Last couple years did not even see a green unit. For the past few months # of locos have been reduced on some except UPS / FED EX trains. About 1 in 5 of the trains have other RR units with some having older SD units. Read on another site that UP is pulling all available units back into service. To add to that is reported that UP has pulled in all its SD-9043MACs at Bailey yard to return them to service. Wonder how long they can last without failing ?
There's still a few tracks at Missouri Valley stuffed with dead SD9043MACs. A track or maybe two were pulled a few weeks ago, when I first noticed there seemed to be less engines there. I don't know that they've been returned to service, but I did notice the vacated tracks are now filled with track machinery and the train that hauls it for a track project in the area. They may have just been making room there. I think Marshalltown also had some stored there, but I haven't been that way for quite a while.
I haven't seen any of the 9043s in service, but have seen some of the other junk that's been pulled back into service.
Jeff
jeffhergert blue streak 1 As posted before -- The BNSF haulage intermodal trains for years were always only BNSF units. Last couple years did not even see a green unit. For the past few months # of locos have been reduced on some except UPS / FED EX trains. About 1 in 5 of the trains have other RR units with some having older SD units. Read on another site that UP is pulling all available units back into service. To add to that is reported that UP has pulled in all its SD-9043MACs at Bailey yard to return them to service. Wonder how long they can last without failing ? There's still a few tracks at Missouri Valley stuffed with dead SD9043MACs. A track or maybe two were pulled a few weeks ago, when I first noticed there seemed to be less engines there. I don't know that they've been returned to service, but I did notice the vacated tracks are now filled with track machinery and the train that hauls it for a track project in the area. They may have just been making room there. I think Marshalltown also had some stored there, but I haven't been that way for quite a while. I haven't seen any of the 9043s in service, but have seen some of the other junk that's been pulled back into service. Jeff
Interesting information; here's some of what I've been seeing around this area;
the last week out here in South Central Kansas been noticing some of the unusual ( out side of the 'norms" ). GP ( B+B) units on the lead with a SD style running second( and so far seem to be more NS than what seem to get down here. There seem to be, also recently, only three head end units witholder style GP's in the mix.
Also some of the higher priority Stackers and TOFC trains are running with less power ( Two GE's where you would expect to see three) The Stackers are in several cases running with one unit on the head end and two in DPU. Those trains ( the Stackers) would normally have anywhere from three to five units on the head, some with DPU's (always seems to be a pair of matched units). The TOFC trains always seem to have all the power on the head end.
The solid Auto Rack trains generally on two units for their trains ( 50/70?cars?)
Kind of interesting, until recently all we saw out here on the T con was pretty much matched power, with the Grain Trains having a mix of War Bonnets and EMD or GE power. When 'foreign power was used it was mostly NS and rarely a CSX single or one with a road slug( never saw a CSX lead around here...
UPR power out here on the T-Con, only rarely. Last time there was a lot, it was on the accident out in Western Oklahoma that sent a bunch of UP trains East thru this area. Do not see a lot of traffic coming and going on the ArkCity sub. They do get some UP Coal trains, and maybe some grain trains ?
Any new engines the BNSF is receiving now were ordered last year before the winter weather affected everything.
Dave H. Painted side goes up. My website : wnbranch.com
Nothing quite like terminal congestion to create power shortages. Trains waiting to be yarded have the power the trains ready in the yard need to depart ..... over and over and over. Getting power to a terminal that needs power require crews and track space that both are in short supply account the trains being held out.
There is no silver bullet to end the congestion - just hard work and planning by ALL concerned in the operation of the railroad - from the top Operating Officer down to every Train Dispatcher, Yardmaster, Train Crew and Switch Crew and all the utility men and all the levels of operating management in between. While there rarely seems to be a light at the end of the tunnel, you can't let up on trying to make moves that benefit the through put of the carrier.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
Past few mornings in the 7 AM - 8 AM time frame, the Lehigh Line "southbound" NS freight stopping at the usual place on the approach to Allentown Yard (under the high-level Route 22 bridge) has had only 1 NS unit, but 2 more units painted as either UP or BNSF (can't see them well enough to tell if they're still railroad-owned, or leasing company units). Until recently, 2 or 3 NS units - occasionally a CN, too - was the norm.
I've been seeing quite a few BNSF units on UP trains lately. In my area, you would rarely see one and then usually on a stack train. Lately, I've seen them on just about any kind of through train. It seems like I'm seeing more CSX and NS power, too. Although that find of goes in streaks.
The other day when we went by the CN yard in Council Bluffs, I saw two CSX and one NS engine in their yard. This was in addition to the regular CN engine. Yesterday, we went by the CN local where we parallel them and it had the NS engine running long hood forward. Since this line normally only has a local freight, I don't know where all the foreign power got out there.
The other day I had a manifest going to the CN at Itasca, WI. The third engine was one of those newer blue GEs (CEFX I think) that I had thought were mostly leased to the BNSF. It had some kind of defect (not specified, just tagged do not use) and was going to the CP at St. Paul. I was surprised to see a tea kettle on it. It's not unusual to see them on Canadian engines, especially those for use in Canada, but it was kind of useless on this engine. There wasn't any hot plate on it.
Trains are still outlawing here in NW Indiana. It has gotten better, but the Chicago mess is still affecting operations.
Lately I have heard the crack Q010 UPS train which always ran thru Suman around 8am charging up the hill at noon. Twice that occured last week.
Lots of oil cans running and surprizingly quite a bit of PRB coal.
Ed
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