No Room at the Bin for Grain

[jkinzel]

Interesting read. You would think BNSF would have cleared this up by now.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-...n-for-grain-amid-buffett-s-bnsf-rail-jam.html

 

[Bill Anderson]

There is not just a problem with the number of available grain hoppers. There is a problem with the number of available diesels and track capacity due to the increase in oil tank trains. There have been articles about BNSF's construction projects in eastern Washington and the Dakotas to increase track capacity.

Yesterday one of the MP 18 gang said he had heard that a major fruit shipper in Washington was canceling its "Cold Train" because the ETA had gone from three days to the East Coast to six days. I have not seen any articles to verify this, but I'll keep looking.

Edit: Check out the link in the next post.

 

[Pete Sakes]

Cold train suspends operation: http://www.producenews.com/news-dep-menu/test-featured/13768-cold-train-ceases-expedited-intermodal-service-in-washington

"...from November of 2013 to April of 2014, BNSF’s On-Time Percentage dramatically dropped from an average of over 90 percent to less than 5 percent.”

 

[Bill Anderson]

Cold train suspends operation: http://www.producenews.com/news-dep-menu/test-featured/13768-cold-train-ceases-expedited-intermodal-service-in-washington

Thanks for finding the link. I'll correct my post accordingly.

 

[redlynx]

Amazing. Hopefully the capacity improvements will help, and enough engines and crews can be found... I can see a need for many more immediate projects to keep things moving, including the "funnel" and all three Cascade crossings...

 

[jkinzel]

Lots good information, thanks. I will be interesting to see what transpires this winter. Well, let's not think about winter now, I haven't had enough summer.

Bill: Thanks for the title change, I had to laugh when saw it. I'm not too creative before 0700 and only half a cup of coffee. BTW, I have lots of tomatoes this year.

 

[Bill Anderson]

Lots good information, thanks. I will be interesting to see what transpires this winter. Well, let's not think about winter now, I haven't had enough summer.

Bill: Thanks for the title change, I had to laugh when saw it. I'm not too creative before 0700 and only half a cup of coffee. BTW, I have lots of tomatoes this year.

I thought you wanted to use the same title as the article and made the correction.

 

[jkinzel]

Well that is funny, I never read the title, I just saw the picture and started reading the article. I guess I better start paying attention.

 

[Pete Sakes]

Hopefully the capacity improvements will help, and enough engines and crews can be found... I can see a need for many more immediate projects to keep things moving, including the "funnel" and all three Cascade crossings...

They're gonna need it! More coal will be on its way to Roberts Bank: http://www.worldcoal.com/news/ports-and-terminals/articles/World-Coal-Cloud-Peak-increases-its-coal-export-capacity-at-Roberts-Bank-coal1182.aspx#.U-2YlqNzeSq

 

[Bill Anderson]

Amazing. Hopefully the capacity improvements will help, and enough engines and crews can be found... I can see a need for many more immediate projects to keep things moving, including the "funnel" and all three Cascade crossings...

BN was extremely short-sighted when it abandoned the former SP&S mainline between Spokane and the Tri Cities and the former GN mainline between Spokane and Newport.

 

[redlynx]

BN was extremely short-sighted when it abandoned the former SP&S mainline between Spokane and the Tri Cities and the former GN mainline between Spokane and Newport.

Not to mention the Stampede Tunnel enlargement and signaling, or chokepoints between Everett and Seattle, trackage on the east side of Lake Washington...