Western Railroad Discussion > Lots of lumber on this BNSF

Lots of lumber on a BNSF southbound through Tehachapi, Calif. Check out the Tehachapi camera there, going back in the history to 10:51 a.m.  I lost track of the count, but I think it's almost forty cars up front, with one boxcar and a flat of poles in the middle of the group.  Usual boxcars (probably forest products in lots of these, too?), hoppers, and tanks for the rest of the train. Stopped in Mojave the last time I checked at 1:02 p.m.
I usually think of UP as the big lumber hauler since they have more track in northern Calif. and Oregon.  Could be wrong, but that's why I notice it here. . 

Before the Great Recession of 2007, BNSF operated two Barstow terminators (H EVEBAR & H PASBAR). The H EVEBAR had significant tonnage of lumber from Canada, and, to a smaller extent, US PNW lumber loads. These volumes never fully recovered. BNSF now operates H symbols LVJ/VAWFRS & PASFRS because the tonnage for BAR are much lower than cars destined to the CA Central Valley. There’s still a BAR train block on these FRS terminators, but they have to find a ride out of Calwa to get to Barstow. I’d love to see these volumes return to per 2007 levels…

There's less Canadian lumber coming south due to increases in the softwood lumber tariffs. Big bone of contention between the US and Canada. 

It had reached the point where Sierra Pacific, the lowest cost lumber producer in California, couldn't 
compete with similar products brought all the way from Canada. I'm not a big tariff fan but they were
dumping.

Out 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/31/24 23:01 by callum_out.

callum_out Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> It had reached the point where S ierra Pacific,
> the lowest cost lumber producer in California,
> couldn't 
> compete with similar products brought all the way
> from Canada. I'm not a big tariff fan but they
> were
> dumping.
>
> Out 

And there are multiple lumber mills closing in BC too. Lack of log supply is one of the reasons given.

PHall Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> callum_out Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > It had reached the point where S ierra Pacific,
> > the lowest cost lumber producer in California,
> > couldn't 
> > compete with similar products brought all the
> way
> > from Canada. I'm not a big tariff fan but they
> > were
> > dumping.
> >
> > Out 
>
> And there are multiple lumber mills closing in BC
> too. Lack of log supply is one of the reasons
> given.

Not like the Canadians have ever been concerned about their forests---they decimated all the old growth on Vancouver Island--alot of it for phone books!!!  Criminal.

No wonder they're closing mills.  Oldest story in logging.  Log an area, close the mill, find a new forest, open a new mill...

I've worked for a lumber company on their land when I was younger, so I've seen it.

I've been wondering if the recent hurricanes and flooding in Florida and North Carolina have caused an increase in lumber demand.

Yes and once building comes back there will be even more  requirement. I'm sure that all
the lumber to rebuild Lahaina will come from the West Coast.

Out 

The building lumber market has become very complicated regarding what they can use, it's not just 2x4's anymore. Reading the Canadian news the Forest resource concept has become very complicated, I don't quite understand it, especially the wood chip 'Companies'.

A little off topic but the what I see as modern Forest Management is resulting in lots of burned up forests.

What happened in the 1980's lumber market is not what's happening today. Different techmologies in play, different market tools, few small mills but lots of moderate sized mills being bought and sold, etc. The overseas markets are both larger and smaller but there is an overseas market, more so for Canada.

Watching the trains going through Dunsmuir a lot of the wood doesn't fit into the modern home with the exception of plywood for roof sheathing, suspect I'm seeing a lot of material for concrete forms going past, long 2x6 and similar long material. Not so much 8ft 2x4's or 2x6's.

I saw a train that looked like that off the Inside Gateway come through Oroville, CA last Tuesday 10/29. 3 units on the point, had 1 tank car, 1 TBOX, a flat load of poles, and maybe 40-50 loaded centerbeams. That was the whole train. I thought it looked like a rather strange train from what I'm used to seeing off the Gateway. Thought maybe it was a new symbol or something along those lines.

Posted from Android

To the comment on 8 foot anythings, all the new building around here is going to 10 foot ceilings and 2 X 6 stud walls,
so yes lumber is chaging.

Out 

callum_out Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> To the comment on 8 foot anythings, all the new
> building around here is going to 10 foot ceilings
> and 2 X 6 stud walls,
> so yes lumber is chaging.
>
> Out 

Cheap builder spec is out, durability is in....High ceilings make air conditoning easier...you live on the floor...heat goes to the ceiling...makes heating a little hard but with good insulation it's not too bad. 

SPbird Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I saw a train that looked like that off the Inside
> Gateway come through Oroville, CA last Tuesday
> 10/29. 3 units on the point, had 1 tank car, 1
> TBOX, a flat load of poles, and maybe 40-50 loaded
> centerbeams. That was the whole train. I thought
> it looked like a rather strange train from what
> I'm used to seeing off the Gateway. Thought maybe
> it was a new symbol or something along those
> lines.
>
> Posted from Android


Nope just the H LVJFRS. I was the engineer from Bend to Klamath. It was unusual to see indeed!