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Re: American Farms are in Jeopardy—Because of Inefficient Rail Service
Author: Ed Workman
Date: 09-09-2014 - 08:35
Re-regulation= give us transportation for free
Hmm how?
The grain harvest has ALWAYS been a problem- WE want lots of cars for a few weeks out of the year- so what if they sit around for most of the time earning squat doodly nil zip zed WE Neeeeeed them when we want them. Try a google search for 'car shortage'
On line, you thieves that want re-regulation- whatever that is except thievery, can find reports by state DOTs regarding branch lines that 'serve' the grain folks.
The number of cars per mile of route per year, and the total number of loads per year per line are revealing. On the worst lines, and there are many, speeds are 10 mph, some up to 25 mph. The revenue from loads doesn't cover much maintenance, and on many there is no other traffic WHATEVER. RRs attempted to solve some of the problems- such as buying their own 286000 lb covered hoppers instead of relying on 40 ft boxcars with cardboard grain doors, and taking reservations for them in order to try to make an investment break even. And BNSF has built with the cooperation- the small elevators say connivance- with large elevator operators on mainlines 100 car loading loops. Yes there the other traffic can 'subsidize' the maintenance of heavy permanent way required to mocve the grain economically. Those big elevators even subsidized the growers by discounting the rate- just about enough to offset the cost of trucking the grain off the wobbly branch to the efficient facilities.
The ststes in the BNSF sphere made the studies to consider various options- buy the branches and somehow operate them, assist the branches etc. Kansas decided to help buy the remnants of MILW and RI, thus there are a boatload of shortlines to serve the orphans, where economically justified. Nit pickers don't need to jump in- the process is thru 'port authorities' .IIRC the cost-benefit ratio must be 1.0 or less. That sounds reasonable, at least the folks in the state that benefit pay most of the cost.
Grain folks in MT WY ND SD can compete with the other states by:
Quitting the grain bidness
Buying the branches
Buying the trucks that bled traffic off the RRs
Buying their own dang covered hoppers- they can use them for storage in the off season,at cost to themselves. If not - tough cornpone { didja notice that the tankcar problem is mostly in the hands of the oil industry who own the majority of the fleet Huh Huh DIdja??]
Like somebody said- why didn't the states buy the PCE? cuz they had 'free' railroads and the same ability to predict the future as the rest of us.
And lastly for you regulation numnuts- was it not the revered ICC that approved the BN merger?????
Now what if they, in their infinite, um, er, wisdom, had said no to the inclusion of NP??
ooooo looky COMPETITION ? or failure of all 4, plus part of the SP&S. And gosh- anybody wanna go back and read the testimonies of the BN zone state folks, elected by ????
Gummint nitwits have had plenty of chances not to screw up, Staggers is the exception that proves the rule.
Shoot, if only Harriman had succeeded with his Northern Pacific Corner
There's a grain unit train leaving Fargo a 4 o'clock- be under it
Hmm how?
The grain harvest has ALWAYS been a problem- WE want lots of cars for a few weeks out of the year- so what if they sit around for most of the time earning squat doodly nil zip zed WE Neeeeeed them when we want them. Try a google search for 'car shortage'
On line, you thieves that want re-regulation- whatever that is except thievery, can find reports by state DOTs regarding branch lines that 'serve' the grain folks.
The number of cars per mile of route per year, and the total number of loads per year per line are revealing. On the worst lines, and there are many, speeds are 10 mph, some up to 25 mph. The revenue from loads doesn't cover much maintenance, and on many there is no other traffic WHATEVER. RRs attempted to solve some of the problems- such as buying their own 286000 lb covered hoppers instead of relying on 40 ft boxcars with cardboard grain doors, and taking reservations for them in order to try to make an investment break even. And BNSF has built with the cooperation- the small elevators say connivance- with large elevator operators on mainlines 100 car loading loops. Yes there the other traffic can 'subsidize' the maintenance of heavy permanent way required to mocve the grain economically. Those big elevators even subsidized the growers by discounting the rate- just about enough to offset the cost of trucking the grain off the wobbly branch to the efficient facilities.
The ststes in the BNSF sphere made the studies to consider various options- buy the branches and somehow operate them, assist the branches etc. Kansas decided to help buy the remnants of MILW and RI, thus there are a boatload of shortlines to serve the orphans, where economically justified. Nit pickers don't need to jump in- the process is thru 'port authorities' .IIRC the cost-benefit ratio must be 1.0 or less. That sounds reasonable, at least the folks in the state that benefit pay most of the cost.
Grain folks in MT WY ND SD can compete with the other states by:
Quitting the grain bidness
Buying the branches
Buying the trucks that bled traffic off the RRs
Buying their own dang covered hoppers- they can use them for storage in the off season,at cost to themselves. If not - tough cornpone { didja notice that the tankcar problem is mostly in the hands of the oil industry who own the majority of the fleet Huh Huh DIdja??]
Like somebody said- why didn't the states buy the PCE? cuz they had 'free' railroads and the same ability to predict the future as the rest of us.
And lastly for you regulation numnuts- was it not the revered ICC that approved the BN merger?????
Now what if they, in their infinite, um, er, wisdom, had said no to the inclusion of NP??
ooooo looky COMPETITION ? or failure of all 4, plus part of the SP&S. And gosh- anybody wanna go back and read the testimonies of the BN zone state folks, elected by ????
Gummint nitwits have had plenty of chances not to screw up, Staggers is the exception that proves the rule.
Shoot, if only Harriman had succeeded with his Northern Pacific Corner
There's a grain unit train leaving Fargo a 4 o'clock- be under it
