Western Railroad Discussion > Disruption averted at PNW grain terminals (for now)

http://www.grainnet.com/articles/Disruption_Averted_at_Pacific_Northwest_Grain_Terminals-128548.html



Allen

Thank God, a strike would affect far more than just the ILWU workers. Lots of employees of the farmers, elevator operators, railroads, and more would be affect by a strike, and right before Christmas. The amount of grain that goes to export here in the Pacific Northwest is staggering, accounting for 1/3 to 1/2 the traffic on BNSF's northern Transcon, and a good chunk on the UP down through the Columbia River Gorge as well.

Ted Curphey
Ontario, OR

From the article:

"The ILWU, which had previously threatened to strike during the labor negotiations, has stated it has safety concerns with the terms of the latest offer, but it is willing to extend talks through December 21 or 22, when its members can vote on the offer."

Yeah, they feel unsafe being asked to get off their duffs and work.

funnelfan Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The amount of grain that goes to export
> here in the Pacific Northwest is staggering,
> accounting for 1/3 to 1/2 the traffic on BNSF's
> northern Transcon.

So I would like to know what are the reasons BNSF hands off to the MRL their marine stacks destined to Chicagoland terminals or interchange and manifest traffic destined to the Northtown and Galesburg humps. That traffic used to move via the High Line.

Possible reasons:

1. Too much grain on the High Line.
2. Too many idle crews in the coal fields, so better to route the marine stacks that way than pay to furlough the crews.
3. Too much oil and frac sand traffic in North Dakota on the High Line.

Anyone can advise the relative significance of these or other reasons?

Thanks in advance,

Rob L.

Another possible reason for the MRL handoff might include a contractual commitment to run a certain amount of traffic via the ex-N.P./MRL line. BNSF has never been shy about furloughing people.

Posted from iPhone

Because we move them better is the simple answer. The reroutes started this spring and have never left. They started when BN kept dumping trains on the ground on the Hi-Line this year numerous times and stayed down here while work windows went into effect. BNSF found out the trains are getting better transit times across the MRL and the trains have largely stayed. What I want to know is why I passed a 5X4 westbound stack train the other night?

The high Line is in bad shape in Eastern Mt and N Dakota. We have been told they are about done with there maint blitz and traffic should be coming back to the high line.
Kevin

Pacific_Division Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The high Line is in bad shape in Eastern Mt and N
> Dakota. We have been told they are about done with
> there maint blitz and traffic should be coming
> back to the high line.
> Kevin

If we kept the amount of trains we have right now, we can actually have good trips out here. BNSF is adding 2 new locals to the Minot-West area soon, add more oil trains, and the MRL will start taking more Hi-Line trains.

Pacific_Division Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The high Line is in bad shape in Eastern Mt and N
> Dakota. We have been told they are about done with
> there maint blitz and traffic should be coming
> back to the high line.
> Kevin

How much of the high line is double or triple track? It seems like train volume is way up in recent years.

Thanks

Most single MT and passing sidings

Lackawanna484 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> How much of the high line is double or triple
> track? It seems like train volume is way up in
> recent years.

West Williston (MP 124) to Epping (MP 104), Des Lacs (MP 14) to Gassman Switch (MP 6), and WL Switch to JD Switch (in Minot, MP 4 to MP 0 then 3 miles on the KO Sub).

rob_l Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

> So I would like to know what are the reasons BNSF
> hands off to the MRL their marine stacks destined
> to Chicagoland terminals or interchange and
> manifest traffic destined to the Northtown and
> Galesburg humps. That traffic used to move via the
> High Line.
>
> Possible reasons.....

You really had most of the reasons. The Hi Line has become too congested with a bountiful grain harvest, and high demand for export grain to Asia. Add in the impressive demand for supplies to the Bakken Oil Formation that has locals tying up all the available track space between Minot and Havre. Unit Crude trains multiplied this year and are now going everywhere. Meanwhile a very soft coal market finally opened up some space on the important Alliance-Lincoln corridor. I remember years ago when the P-MEMSSE was kicked off that line due to heavy coal traffic, making it virtually a coal only railroad. Also by going via the former Burlington route lines to Chicago, stack trains have more direct access to many Chicago area intermodal yards, particularly Logistics Park. What I find amusing considering the sentiment at the time of the original BN merger, empty grain trains can run most of the Original NP Transcon from Auburn to Minnesota without touching one stick of GN rail.

Ted Curphey
Ontario, OR

funnelfan Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> You really had most of the reasons. The Hi Line
> has become too congested with a bountiful grain
> harvest, and high demand for export grain to Asia.
> Add in the impressive demand for supplies to the
> Bakken Oil Formation that has locals tying up all
> the available track space between Minot and Havre.

Actually, it's slow moving grain trains that tie up everything. The locals don't get any time to do the work because of hot shot Z's, Amtrak and short timers.

> Unit Crude trains multiplied this year and are now
> going everywhere. Meanwhile a very soft coal
> market finally opened up some space on the
> important Alliance-Lincoln corridor. I remember
> years ago when the P-MEMSSE was kicked off that
> line due to heavy coal traffic, making it
> virtually a coal only railroad.

The stack trains are slowly coming back to the GN off of the coal route.

> What I find amusing considering the sentiment at the time of the original BN
> merger, empty grain trains can run most of the
> Original NP Transcon from Auburn to Minnesota
> without touching one stick of GN rail.

Really? There's got to be a dozen X trains on the Glasgow-Minot lineup today.

I took a U BERPWT out of Berthold last night, and was dogcaught a mere 50 miles West of there, because of a heavy short time fleet of Westbounds that ran around us. Ted, really, you should leave the postings of information to people who actually run the route daily.

Welch, you are doing a great job proving you are a arrogant SOB! You can't read either, as none of your statements refute what I said, in fact they support my statements in some ways.

Ted Curphey
Ontario, OR