Tracking Trains

[Anonymous]

Does anyone know of a website(s) that tracks the progress and locations of long distance freights as they travel their route so the average person can view this information?

I've heard of one site that actually lists railcars by company serial number and indicate where they are dropped off along the way until the train reaches destination. I have not been successfull in finding this particular spot but I think perhaps there may be others too.

I know it is being done with commerical aircraft flights and thought something like this now may operating in the real train world?

All info is appreciated, many thanks! :)

Jay

[thirdrail1]

This inforamtion is available on individual carload shipments from each of the major railroads and on a nationwide basis through the AAR. However, it is only available to those with a legitimate use for it, such as the shipper and receiver of the carload and the railroads involved in the route. The permit such information to be gnerally available would allow competitors to spy on one another. If you wnet to your competitors plant and traced all the cars he shipped, you could find out who he was selling to. Also, the AAR charges for the use of its netREDI system, unless you are a big enough customer of one of the railroads, who will pay the AAR for your use.

[Anonymous]

Thanks Greg, makes good sense to me. Never thought about the competitive aspect. As a flight sim fan, I was thinking in terms of the website www.trip.com which will show you the progress of most any commercial flight in the USA second by second in real time.

Many thanks for the enlightenment and appreciate your prompt and knowledgeable response :)

Jay

[Anonymous]

I believe this type of information is privilaged to railroads and freight customers only for obvious reasons. Customers can access websites to track their shipments, but they have to pre-arrange for access to this information.

[Anonymous]

I recalled how I tracked a UPS parcel last year. They updated me periodically with date, time and present location as it traveled from Hawaii. Of course this is an entirely different type of situation.

I received an email earlier today and told it was a service that one subscribes to (for a fee) and are supplied special tracing software from the train company in order to keep track of specific units.

In any event, I have a much better idea of the situation now and appreicate all the help given me. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

I THINK ALL OF THE CLASS I RAILROADS, AND KNOW BNSF AND UP, HAVE PUBLIC CAR TRACES AVAILABLE ON THEIR WEB SITES. YOU WOULD NEED A REAL CAR TO TRACE, AND IT TRACES ON THE LEVEL OF CARS NOT TRAINS.

[thirdrail1]

CSXT requires a password.

[Anonymous]

Thanks Mac & Gregg,

Unfortunately, I live near CSXT rails but not having a password as suggested by Gregg would eliminate that. However as Mac said, I will trace a real car on a Class I RR and go through all the sites until I can locate something I can use. Thanks both for your comments.

Jay

[Anonymous]

For freight schedules in the Middle Atlantic area, try www.pacerfarm.org/wta.htm. There's lots of information regarding specific lines, freights, etc.

Tom