286k ?

[TH&B]

So if 286k cars are so important to the modern efficient competetive edge in railroading, how come I frequently see 286k cars not fully loaded?

For example I've lately seen a new movement of NS cars with steel slabs, there appears to be less slabs on these cars then there is room for and the capacity is around 230.000 lbs or 115 tons, but the cars are genrealy very unevenly under loaded with some as little as 50 tons of steel while others are 90 tons. What gives here?

I've suspected cars aren't fully loaded for a while but this was the first time I saw the way bills for some cars. I hear about short lines going out of bussiness due to not being able to handle 286k cars and car leases that can't earn their return because they are only 263k, so why would you then have a cut of 286k cars not fully loaded ((even half loaded)) like this? And in this particular example the cars are relatively new and the bussiness is new.

Seeing this makes me not beleive in the pro 286k arguements.

[mudchicken]

(1) Smaller shippers don't always require massive shipments to one location.

(2) On coil cars, it matters how the receiving end gets coils out of the car.

(3) You load your tonnage based upon what's available to load.

Running 286K (Cooper's E-80 tonnage) on 263K bridges (E60 or below) will lead to bridge failures. Happening with timber bridges right now (snapped stringers, crushed pile caps and failed bents)...Track modulus on 90# or below rail on lightly maintained track (wasted all the $$$$ on shiny locomotives again?) creates havoc.

Weight restrictions on the receiving end? Once those cars get off into a yard or backtracks, 263K may even be wishfull thinking. Roadmasters tend to fear coil cars and slab cars in the backtracks - they are unforgiving.They destroy everything in their paths once they fall off the rail. Ask MP173 if he's seen the Vernon Team track at Malabar. Center-bound trucks and coil cars are synonimous.


How fast and how far are the slab cars going ( with or without tie downs)?

Forgetting about all those coal gons and covered hoppers?

I take it you're one of the guys smoking at the gas pump and don't wear seat belts?

Welcome to the real world, bubba!

[banghead][banghead][banghead]

[Anonymous]

Mark-

I'd agree, except in my humble experience those cars that can be loaded to the limit are frequently loaded well beyond the limit. As much grain, particularly corn is loaded "by eye" and sold upon destination weight it is very easy to get the shipper (who is usually paying the freight) to load up the cars as much as possible as they are paying a carload rate. Often cars with 286K maximum capacity weigh out as over 300K at destination.

As MC says, the overloads leave a lot of broken, crushed and splintered piling, caps and stringers behind them...

LC

[TH&B]

The example I gave was just an example, but generaly I find cars are rarely loaded to the max, sometimes they are, so the track must be rated ok. Covered hoppers seem the be the most commun cars fully loaded by weight and because I can't see inside I will asume that any such cars that are under weight probably maxed out in volume.

But open cars loaded to half or less capacity in weight and volume still suprises me.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE:
I recall seeing about 25 years ago a small "wagon mine" loading onto the team track at Brendel, Utah, loading three hoppers with so much coal that it was peaked above each car almost at a perfect angle of repose. He had to come back and reduce them. The coal went onto the ground and gradually was hauled away by locals to heat their houses and barns.

Those small business guys need to get the most they can for their dollar. [(-D]

[ericsp]

What do railroads usually do if they find a car is overloaded?

[mudchicken]

QUOTE: Originally posted by ericsp

What do railroads usually do if they find a car is overloaded?

Depends on the commodity and dunnage.

Many times, the loads sit at a team track untill partially unloaded by a local contractor (Ag products)

Some times a premium rate is charged and the load goes on, if not too far a distance.

Sometimes, it's call out the cranes! (Randy must have a few stories)

Sometimes the excess load sits on the ground for weeks/months/years.[;)]

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

Also keep in mind that some commodities will load to weight well before they fill to cubic capacity. Ore loaded in conventional hoppers when jennies are in short supply is a good example.

[enr2099]

Another reason they may not run the 286k cars full is because they may be coming off a short line that has trackage that can't handle 286k. Like the Esquimalt and Nanaimo Railway. Their trackage can handle up to 265k (lbs), so cars are only loaded 3/4 full. On the old CN trackage on the island could only handle 177k. Cars were only loaded half full. The contents of two fully loaded cars were spread out in 4 half full cars.