While in grad school in NYC around 1963, I was interviewed for a summer job by the NYC System Supervisor, Tom Kelly. While waiting for him to get off the phone in his office high above GCT, his phone conversation went something like this: "If you don't find that car of bananas by tonight, you will find it tomorrow with your nose," and he slammed down the phone. The job was to walk every spur on every line to record NYC's missing cars.
kgbw49Gulfport, MS is an interesting setup. The port is just two huge quays built out in to the Gulf of Mexico, open to the sea except for two tiny barrier islands for some modicum of natural protection. Here are the map coordinates and you can see for yourself. Copy and paste them into Google: (30.3546584, -89.0938904)
The port is just two huge quays built out in to the Gulf of Mexico, open to the sea except for two tiny barrier islands for some modicum of natural protection.
Here are the map coordinates and you can see for yourself. Copy and paste them into Google:
(30.3546584, -89.0938904)
Looks as if tracks that served Chiquita have been severed from the lead that is serving the area.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
Gulfport, MS is an interesting setup.
Time flies like an arrow.
Fruit flies like bananas.
Julius Henry Marx (Groucho)
The hot train on the NYC Adirondack Division for many years was the "banana train." I'm certain it was a perishables train, but the name would indicate that bananas were involved.
The train ran all the way up the line from Utica to Montreal.
I have no idea where the bananas (or the train itself) originated. Being the Central, I'd guess New York Harbor.
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
Don't know anything about Gulfport and their bananas.
United Fruit use to have a dedicated pier at Locust Point in Baltimore. During the 40's, 50's and early 60's the B&O was noted for running Banana Specials out of Locust Point to various locations in the West.
When I was ATM at Locust Point in the middle 70's there were no longer any rail shipment of banans, however in the wee hours of the morning the road from Hanover Street down the street to the Fruit Pier would have reefer trucks parked on both sides of the street awaiting the arrival of the United Fruit boat from the Caribbean to unload and make the truk cargos available.
When I go to the store, if the banans are green enough, I will buy 4. If I get any more than 4, by the 5th day they will be too ripe for my personal taste.
In 2021, the last year of data available, 26.9 pounds of bananas were made available to each man, woman and child in the US. (USDA data) There is no significant banana production is the US.
~13% of these "Giant Herbs" Are brought in by boat through Gulfport, MS. I tried hard to get some of these loads on the ICG. The potential customers were quite willing to try our service. The barrier to this market developement was internal resistance from our own bureaucracies.
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