Spirits in the night (Why do regionals run at night)?

[gabe]

(If you know the reference in the subject line, I like you)

It seems to me that a lot of regional railroads have a preference for running at night.  I just learned that one of the reasons I never catch a train on the TPW is they run most of their freights at night.  The Iowa Interstate runs at night.  And, Ed just informed me that the CFE tends to run at night.  Why do they do this?  Also, why do they paint their engines?

It seems to me that night running could increase the chance of accidents.

Gabe

[jsoderq]

Actually running at night decreases accidents as there is far less traffic. For the same reason the RR is less likely to be called for blocking streets.Many places they switch have only skeleton crews at night so they don't have to worry about running over plant employees. Also plants tend to load cars during the day and need them switched out for emptys at night. In the summertime it is cooler working at night. Cars from a major interchange may be dropped off during the day, so they go get them at night to place them for the next days business.

[pmsteamman]

Trackwork is also done during the day and its nice for them not to have to clear up all the time.

[jeffhergert]

  It would also depend where you are on a regional's system.  Iowa Interstate doesn't just run at night.  There are spots where traffic is busier in the daylight, other spots it will be after dark.

Jeff

[nanaimo73]

WSOR had to run at night into Chicago to avoid commuter trains. The Providence and Worcester runs on the NEC with Amtrak, probably mostly at night. 

[edblysard]

Would Bruce get it?

[Anonymous]

(If you know the reference in the subject line, I like you)

If it's Manfred Mann's version, that's okay, but if it's that overrated formerly gap-toothed wanna-be political *activist* being referenced, forget about it!

It seems to me that a lot of regional railroads have a preference for running at night.  I just learned that one of the reasons I never catch a train on the TPW is they run most of their freights at night.  The Iowa Interstate runs at night.  And, Ed just informed me that the CFE tends to run at night.  Why do they do this?  Also, why do they paint their engines?

It seems to me that night running could increase the chance of accidents.

Gabe

Used to be the local regional ran at night when owned by the Class I's, but when it went Shortline, they started running daytime.  None of the other shortlines I know of run at night.  The only real regional in these parts is MRL, and I believe they run their own trains during the day to allow BNSF to run it's run-throughs at night.

[ericsp]

I figured you saw the wine train at night.

[rogruth]

Could it be so material is available to on-line businesses when they open in the morning? Or to make connections with other railroads?

[rvos1979]

WSOR had to run at night into Chicago to avoid commuter trains. The Providence and Worcester runs on the NEC with Amtrak, probably mostly at night. 

When I worked for the WSOR, we could only fit into the windows Metra had between 10pm and 3am, thus, the yard crew in Janesville didn't get the train until about 7am, and outbound trains didn't start until 2pm.  Madison was about the same, but Horicon had a night yard job and the outbound trains started in the morning.

Last I heard, Metra wouldn't let them run during the day because of track space, but rumblings of expansion of the Fox Lake-Rondout line could change that.  WSOR was also thinking of trying a different way into Chicago, via Beloit, Rockford, Davis Jct, and the Metra Milwaukee west line.

[gabe]

Would Bruce get it?

He most certainly would . . . but, I already like you Ed.

 

[Randy Stahl]

I remember when we went to Monroe Wis, down the line to Freeport Ill and East on the CCP. Can't do that anymore .

We run alot of our trains at night simply because thats when the customer needs the stuff to move . As was stated before , the train schedules are customized for the needs of the shippers . Most shippers want the cars picked up at the close of buisness and have cars spotted for the crew in the morning .

Randy

[CShaveRR]

I would suspect that the same locomotive units that do the local work and other necessary switching and servicing of customers during the day have to be utilized for the over-the-road service as well, during whatever time is left to them--meaning the night.

[zardoz]

Last I heard, Metra wouldn't let them run during the day because of track space, but rumblings of expansion of the Fox Lake-Rondout line could change that.  WSOR was also thinking of trying a different way into Chicago, via Beloit, Rockford, Davis Jct, and the Metra Milwaukee west line.

I wonder why the WSOR does not seek trackage rights on the UP from Janesville to Chicago?

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

Last I heard, Metra wouldn't let them run during the day because of track space, but rumblings of expansion of the Fox Lake-Rondout line could change that.  WSOR was also thinking of trying a different way into Chicago, via Beloit, Rockford, Davis Jct, and the Metra Milwaukee west line.

I wonder why the WSOR does not seek trackage rights on the UP from Janesville to Chicago?

Even if the trackage rights fees were reasonable, WSOR would still have to work around Metra Northwest Line suburban trains once they reached Harvard.

[Anonymous]

Actually, I was wondering about this very same question w/ particular reference to regional RR's like Boston and Maine in the NE.  I visited ME once for about a week, and in all the time I was there, I never even saw a hint of a daytime freight (it was around Brunswick, near that Naval Iron Works complex nr Bath, which made it even more puzzling to me).  Although jsoderq is probably right about the amt of traffic being lower (hence the potential for fewer accidents), I'd guess that graveyard RRing might have more exposure to more serious kinds of accidents, such as extreme drunkenness, or groggy drivers on the virge of falling asleep.  Especially  given the general tendency of RR yards to not be in very safe neighborhoods, could there also be more security issues if more people working at night were to face potentially dangerous situations?  The two RR's I was especially curious about on this question were the Boston and Maine (especially w/in very large cities) and the Florida East Coast.  I haven't seen a whole lot of FEC pictures, and was just curious if this happened to be b/c most of the RR's movements took place during hours that it was difficult to photograph....

Riprap

[rvos1979]

Last I heard, Metra wouldn't let them run during the day because of track space, but rumblings of expansion of the Fox Lake-Rondout line could change that.  WSOR was also thinking of trying a different way into Chicago, via Beloit, Rockford, Davis Jct, and the Metra Milwaukee west line.

I wonder why the WSOR does not seek trackage rights on the UP from Janesville to Chicago?

Even if the trackage rights fees were reasonable, WSOR would still have to work around Metra Northwest Line suburban trains once they reached Harvard.

There is also the little deal with the CNW ATS/ATC, WSOR would have to either equip it's engines with ATS/ATC or have an ex-CNW unit leading.

I don't think Metra would have too many problems on the UP line, it is two and three tracks from Harvard south.

[MP173]

Gabe:

The CFE just doubled operations.   They are now running a daily train into and out of Chicago.  Both are primarily at night.

Business is booming on the line.  I dont know yet if the rumored coal trains are factual.

ed

[BaltACD]

The reality of railroad operations almost anywhere.....

Trains run at night.

Maintenance forces work on the track during the day.

Late Afternoons all heck breaks out as both trains and maintenance forces fight for track time.

Industries do not want the railroads in their plants when the industry work force is trying to produce product.

Understand these timing constraints and you can figure when trains will be running.

[cr6479]

(If you know the reference in the subject line, I like you)

If it's Manfred Mann's version, that's okay, but if it's that overrated formerly gap-toothed wanna-be political *activist* being referenced, forget about it!

It seems to me that a lot of regional railroads have a preference for running at night.  I just learned that one of the reasons I never catch a train on the TPW is they run most of their freights at night.  The Iowa Interstate runs at night.  And, Ed just informed me that the CFE tends to run at night.  Why do they do this?  Also, why do they paint their engines?

It seems to me that night running could increase the chance of accidents.

Gabe

Used to be the local regional ran at night when owned by the Class I's, but when it went Shortline, they started running daytime.  None of the other shortlines I know of run at night.  The only real regional in these parts is MRL, and I believe they run their own trains during the day to allow BNSF to run it's run-throughs at night.

 

Actully....... one shortline runs at night where i live. The Rochester Southern railroad runs in the afternoon until 12am-1:50am.

[DPD1]

Could it be so material is available to on-line businesses when they open in the morning? Or to make connections with other railroads?

That was (and sometimes still is) the reason why the EJ&E runs at night. Most MF work is interchange, and in the old days it had something to do with how interchanges were charged back. I forget exactly how it worked.

Dave
http://www.dpdproductions.com
- Featuring the TrainTenna Railroad Radio Antennas -

[SFbrkmn]

I'll take night work over day work anytime. You can see block signals much, much better, no form B's to mess with and during summer, the weather is pleasant

[Hugh Jampton]

I'll take night work over day work anytime. You can see block signals much, much better, no form B's to mess with and during summer, the weather is pleasant

And those pesky Trainmasters and Roadmasters are usually safely tucked up in their beds..