Rheemed Wrote:
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> As for UPS it would probably be faster to dray the
> containers to Oakland than wait on a switch job to
> pull the loaded cars down there. UP is already
> running UPS laden containers and trailers with SJ
> and Oakland sort center traffic on the
> ZOAG2/ZG2OA.


UPS spent several million dollars last year upgrading their sort facility at North Bay, including two brand new straddle buggy lifts to handle double stack loading, so North Bay isn't going away. Allowing trailers to be dragged through a bunch of bay area freeway traffic to get loaded at Oakland may be a secondary measure to fill out trains, but my money is on North Bay continuing to be an important point for UPS.

How about this: Keep building and breaking down the trains at North Bay the way they have always been, but deliver/pull trains to the UP right at the new connection. Have UP light engine set tie on/cut off on one end, with the BNSF roadswitcher tied on/cutting away at the other, specific to which direction the train is headed. After which, the roadswitcher runs light back to North Bay or with the inbound train, and UP makes a similar move on their end.