Ralph James Wrote:
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> First, my thanks to Scott for enlightenment on the
> racks & tanks subject. Hopefully not to wear out
> the welcome, here are a couple more questions:
>
> 1. Until recently the eastbound Q train (QFRNPP?)
> was a regular thru Blue Canyon in the late
> afternoon or early evening and typically carried
> 20-30 refrigerated loads mixed with 40-50 mostly
> boxcar priority merchandise loads. It was notable
> for being sufficiently powered (4+2) to usually be
> able to make near track speed up the hill. Lately
> the perishable loads seem to appear randomly
> throughout the day on various drags and the
> distinctive Q makeup is no longer obvious. There
> was no obvious westbound counterpart, but it could
> have been a nocturnal visitor. Is the Q still
> alive and is/was there a w/b priority symbol?
>
> 2. For many years the e/b Z train (ZLTCS?) was a
> regular morning visitor to Blue Canyon, over time
> varying from 6-9 am and initially averaging 50-80
> loads, then decaying to a mere handful of loads
> and last year working back to a typical 30 or so
> loads. The w/b Z (QCSLT?) had a much more
> consistent tonnage and was fairly regular in the
> mid-aftenoons. Am I suspecting correctly that the
> numerous slow orders which have plagued Amtrak
> across Nevada have also pushed the schedule of the
> e/b Z well into the pre-dawn hours and are the
> primary reason for the very erratic appearance of
> the w/b Z at most any time of the day if seen at
> all over the last several months?
>
> Thanks once again in advance for sharing your
> knowledge.


The QFRNPP has been abolished and is now the QRVNPP. I believe is is now an evening departure from Roseville (CA). As for the counter part to the old QFRNPP there was a QNPFRP that was typically an early morning train into Roseville (CA). It was a mixed freight with some empty refers in the consist. Typically the empty refers would trickle back on the MNPRV, MNPST and QNPFRP.

The ZSCLT has been getting hit with weather in the mid west and slow orders across Nevada. As for tonnage it has a large block of stacks that get set out in Reno with the pigs and single level stacks continuing on to Lathrop (CA). The eb ZLTCS is typically an early morning train thru Roseville and is usually over the hill by 10am.