Brian Westgate Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I wonder if this means UP will start shortlining
> trackage like CSX is.

N ot sure just what trackage is left to "shortline" that the EsPee didn't already spin off? UP is having enough trouble providing service to the existing shortlines on the I5 Corridor at least.

A recent example is OPR at Canby had a 24 car pickup last Friday as well as 24 cars in Albina to deliver on Saturday night. The Friday pickup didn't happen until Monday night and the delivery not made until Tuesday morning. As a result Willamette Egg had to truck in soybean meal and the OPR track crew lost their three-day maintenance window.

With the Clackamas Industrial Park being turned over to a shortline soon (Progressive Rail dba Clackamas Valley Railway) the Canby work will be done by the MPDEU rather than the OC switcher (LIL75) which most likely made it's last trip to Canby on Monday night. This delays lumber shipments off the branch by a couple of days since the cars are taken to Eugene and brought back later on the MEUPD (can't pick up northbound because the interchange switch was removed years ago).

Until such time as UP gets its act together I can't imagine them creating any more potential failures to deal with in the way of spinoffs.

Dick Samuels
Oeregon Pacific Railroad