NS Pittsburgh Line question.....

1507 views

4 replies

cpbloom

Member since
August 2003
From: Still on the other side of the tracks.
397 posts

NS Pittsburgh Line question.....

Posted by cpbloom on Tuesday, February 1, 2005 5:57 AM

My question is how much traffic does the main Pittsburgh line see (the part between East Pittsburgh and Downtown Pittsburgh)?

When I lived in Pittsburgh, the only traffic I saw on the Port Perry branch was coal and general freight trains. The only thing I saw on the main line was TV, MAIL, Amtrak and general freight trains. But of course that all changed after the clearance improvement project allowed doublestack containers, which use the Port Perry branch.

Does NS run any pure trailer trains/stack trains on the Pittsburgh line, or do they just mix them together and call it all intermodal? Because if they are combining them that means none of it can run on the main line. The Conemaugh line seems to see more traffic too (probably no intermodal), so what is still using the main line?

I hope this made sense [xx(]

bbrant

Member since
February 2001
415 posts

Posted by bbrant on Tuesday, February 1, 2005 6:16 AM

I don't know exactly how many trains the line sees a day - I thought I once heard that there were upwards of 50 or so a day but don't hold me to that. Some of the trains (such as autorack & double stacks) use the Port Perry line because of the clearances but pure TOFC trains, RoadRailers, and general freights (and Amtrak of course) still go through downtown. I also see a few general freights going on the Port Perry line but not as often as the stacks & racks.

I'm guessing that maybe 1/4 - 1/3 of trains go down the Port Perry branch with everything else staying on the mainline between E. Pittsburgh & downtown.

Hope that helps.

Brian

oltmannd

Member since
January 2001
From: Atlanta
11,971 posts

Posted by oltmannd on Tuesday, February 1, 2005 8:57 AM

About 30/day thru CP-E Pitt. Includes passenger trains.

-Don (Random stuff, mostly about trains - what else? http://blerfblog.blogspot.com/)

dwil89

Member since
January 2004
From: NY
913 posts

Posted by dwil89 on Tuesday, February 1, 2005 12:39 PM

Does NS run any pure trailer trains/stack trains on the Pittsburgh line, or do they just mix them together and call it all intermodal? Because if they are combining them that means none of it can run on the main line. The Conemaugh line seems to see more traffic too (probably no intermodal), so what is still using the main line?

I hope this made sense [xx(]

NS does mix some intermodals, where you'll see trailers and stacks on the same train, but they also run pure stack trains as well as pure Trailer trains. Anyone living near, or railfanning the Main between Pittsburgh and Conpit, will not see the full volume of traffic, as most heavier Eastbounders such as Grain Trains, Coal drags, and General Manifests will take the Conemaugh Line because it has easier grades and thus does not require helpers.Lighter Freights will still use the Main, such as short Manifests, Autoracks, Amtrak, Pigtrains, and heavier trains with helpers when necessary. The Conemaugh rejoins the main at New Florence, otherwise known as Conpit Junction, 15 miles west of Johnstown. The tracks split apart again between Conpitt and Johnstown, as the North track(Track 3) runs on a separate line called the Sang Hollow Extension and then the tracks come back together again and don't separate again until they get near Gallitzin. When the Conemaugh was shut down for a 2 week maintenance blitz a couple of Autumns ago, traffic spiked on the Mainline, and the railroad found themselves short of helpers. They pressed a pair of NS C40-9W's into helper service during that two week span. Normally, most helpers will work between Conemaugh and Altoona, but some heavier trains using the main will use helpers all the way from Pittsburgh, unless they take the Conemaugh line. Dave Williams http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nsaltoonajohnstown

David J. Williams http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nsaltoonajohnstown

cpbloom

Member since
August 2003
From: Still on the other side of the tracks.
397 posts

Posted by cpbloom on Tuesday, February 1, 2005 7:33 PM

Thank you to all who answered! [:)]

MAGAZINE
NEWS
RAILROADS

BLOGS & FORUMS
PHOTOS & VIDEOS
LOCOMOTIVES

SHOP

CONNECT WITH US

Join our Community!

Search the Community

Newsletter Sign-Up