Loaded Grain Trains Returning to the Scenic Sub

[Trackside]

Ladies & Gentlemen, I heard from my most trusted source that loaded grain trains are returning to the Scenic Sub starting early next month!! Also spoke with another source that said the MOW steel & tie work on the Fallbridge Sub will last all summer with all-day absolute work windows.

I am told this will mean the awakening of Stampede Pass with increased traffic on both Stampede and the Scenic Subs. It's a great morning to be a NW Railfan people!! Enjoy, and remember that you heard it here first!!

 

[martin burwash]

Okay, no messing around this time...forget the berries...I GOTTA get some shots!

Martin Burwash

 

[Trackside]

Agreed these trains are Monsters!

 

[Ballard Beaver]

i think that in the last week they have been sending more stack trains than normal(especially from tacoma, but also from seattle) south to the fallbridge, maybe because the welders have been very active on the columbia river sub. i wonder if these MOW windows on the Columbia River are in prep for the grainers. not that there isnt traffic up there -- still lots of empty grain, and the z's. but the welders have been busy.

 

[washy]

Agreed these trains are Monsters!

Lmfao!! OMG, I do it everyday in LaGrande and the BNSF does it once in a while and its a huge deal! Please...

 

[martin burwash]

Nice going Ross. Looks like you got ol' Smoky the UP Bear out of hibernation....

Martin Burwash

 

[washy]

Nice going Ross. Looks like you got ol' Smoky the UP Bear out of hibernation....

Martin Burwash

I look over here everyday Martin, there hasn't been anything to chime in about, been pretty boring...

 

[PNWhogger]

Still no UP trains on the Stampede Sub!

The Stampede sub is going to return to it's post 1996 glory daze for a short time but no the 23 trains a day that was forecast when it first reopened.

 

[Trackside]

I look over here everyday Martin, there hasn't been anything to chime in about, been pretty boring...

Speaking of talking points, they are doing major upgrades to the Yakima Sub this Spring/Summer. I heard it was for "Future Use."

 

[Ballard Beaver]

this is only sorta related, but what is the trains-per-day capacity on scenic? i have to imagine around 24 -- it seems that the tunnel only allows about 1 train per hour, with travel time through the tunnel and then time to run the fans.

not that it's near capacity -- i count only around 16 or 17 trains per day the last couple of days

 

[austinjacox]

What kind of work are they going to be doing up there all summer

 

[run8]

Lmfao!! OMG, I do it everyday in LaGrande and the BNSF does it once in a while and its a huge deal! Please...

Unlike the UP in the Blues, the Scenic sub hasn't see the big tonnage until recently. So yeah, it is a "huge deal" to see big trains like that up on Stevens.

 

[washy]

Speaking of talking points, they are doing major upgrades to the Yakima Sub this Spring/Summer. I heard it was for "Future Use."

YA YA YA, and I can fly!! LOL! The BNSF is going to have to do something, they're about at capacity on the Fallbridge now, and the new grain terminal at Longview opens in three to four months and AGP's expansions will be finished the third quarter, I see gridlock by this fall...

 

[PNWhogger]

YA YA YA, and I can fly!! LOL! The BNSF is going to have to do something, they're about at capacity on the Fallbridge now, and the new grain terminal at Longview opens in three to four months and AGP's expansions will be finished the third quarter, I see gridlock by this fall...

The BNSF will just tell the UP that they'll have to find another way to get to Sea/Tac!

 

[Trackside]

this is only sorta related, but what is the trains-per-day capacity on scenic? i have to imagine around 24 -- it seems that the tunnel only allows about 1 train per hour, with travel time through the tunnel and then time to run the fans.

not that it's near capacity -- i count only around 16 or 17 trains per day the last couple of days

I've seen unofficial train counts (ATCS Monitor) spike at 23 trains a hand full of times in the last 2-1/2 months. Most I've ever seen in the logs is 26 and as you know WBs take a real short flush before the next train. Again looking at ATCSMon I regularly see a westbound pop out of the tunnel and by the time its past the west switch a EB has the light and vent. Note the current view minutes old.

Unlike the UP in the Blues, the Scenic sub hasn't see the big tonnage until recently. So yeah, it is a "huge deal" to see big trains like that up on Stevens.

Agreed loaded grain on the Scenic Sub is a choice not the only route available although I have much respect for Washy and his UP colleagues for doing it everyday. I also have Much Respect for mentors like Run8 and PNWHogger for insuring BNSF has the most attractive and fastest route to the Pacific Rim.

 

[washy]

I've seen unofficial train counts (ATCS Monitor) spike at 23 trains a hand full of times in the last 2-1/2 months. Most I've ever seen in the logs is 26 and as you know WBs take a real short flush before the next train. Again looking at ATCSMon I regularly see a westbound pop out of the tunnel and by the time its past the west switch a EB has the light and vent. Note the current view minutes old.



Agreed loaded grain on the Scenic Sub is a choice not the only route available although I have much respect for Washy and his UP colleagues for doing it everyday. I also have Much Respect for mentors like Run8 and PNWHogger for insuring BNSF has the most attractive and fastest route to the Pacific Rim.

I do applicate your nice commits Ross, but as an engineer with a lot of pride, I can't figure why the BNSF crews need a mentor all the time.. But don't get me wrong I'd love to have both of their jobs!! LOL! Also, I'm jabbing about the grainers on either Stevens or Stampede, at least the BNSF is trying to change some of the routing. Now as for the quickest routing, with the new Z-trains we've been running, beating BNSF times to Chicago by 2-5 hours. And that's all I'll say about that..

 

[Larsenisi]

Now as for the quickest routing, with the new Z-trains we've been running, beating BNSF times to Chicago by 2-5 hours. And that's all I'll say about that..

I love how you can just randomly throw out some numbers and make those into facts. With that said as for 2011 the BNSF has been running 97% of the Z trains better then then UP and has beat their times by as much as 56 mins into Chicago and unloaded their trains 3 hours faster then the UP has. The BNSF has been using on average 1800 gallons less fuel then the UP to boot.

DL

 

[washy]

I love how you can just randomly throw out some numbers and make those into facts. With that said as for 2011 the BNSF has been running 97% of the Z trains better then then UP and has beat their times by as much as 56 mins into Chicago and unloaded their trains 3 hours faster then the UP has. The BNSF has been using on average 1800 gallons less fuel then the UP to boot.

DL

Going off running time on the ZPDG2/ZG2BR.. Average for the month of December, 56hours e/b, 57hours w/b... January 58hours e/b 56hours w/b.. I didn't say anything about loading and unloading times or did I mention anything about fuel, those are running times from point to point. And only from Portland. I know the ZPTLCH is running that fast.. That is the only lane that I compare since the other traffic the UP doesn't care to have..

 

[Midsouth fan]

^^^ meanwhile, all of us shortliners just kick back, read these competitive comments, and smile. Mostly because you can only do so much in 12 hrs with a 10 mph speed limit running from nowhere to nowhere! And we also wish we could get the business that the UP and BNSF doesn't want.

 

[Pete Sakes]

I can't figure why the BNSF crews need a mentor all the time..

There are a lot of young engineers who have come back from being furloughed and have not run since class. Some went straight from conductor's class into the engine program and then got furloughed right out of class. Most young 'uns that have been recalled have been working as low seniority switchmen.