Western Railroad Discussion > UP Overland Route - Kearney Nebraska 24 hr. train count

For those who are interested in these details, I compiled the 24 hour train count at Kearney on Friday Sept. 5.
The total count was 55 trains, nowhere near the outdated 150 figure recently cited on a rail magazine website.

Steve Zahn
Broomfield CO
 

---

150 was when trains were single about 100 cars

Still a pretty impressive train count! 

Thanks for compiling this!  Really a big change from the shorter trains and coal heyday.

texchief1

Think the most I have seen driving H,way 30 , was 75 for the few hours. 
Regards,DK

Still waiting for the "pivot to growth" to happen.  Take away the coal trains, and UP is only moving about 1.5 trains per hour over its vaunted "Overland Route."

coach Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Still waiting for the "pivot to growth" to happen.
>  Take away the coal trains, and UP is only moving
> about 1.5 trains per hour over its vaunted
> "Overland Route."

All you do is complain. Go find another hobby.


Keith_Kevet

Posted from Android

Keith_Kevet Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> coach Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Still waiting for the "pivot to growth" to
> happen.
> >  Take away the coal trains, and UP is only
> moving
> > about 1.5 trains per hour over its vaunted
> > "Overland Route."
>
> All you do is complain. Go find another hobby.
>
>
> Keith_Kevet
>

BAHAHA! 😂

Tom Loftus
Omaha, NE

Keith_Kevet Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> coach Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Still waiting for the "pivot to growth" to
> happen.
> >  Take away the coal trains, and UP is only
> moving
> > about 1.5 trains per hour over its vaunted
> > "Overland Route."
>
> All you do is complain. Go find another hobby.
>
>
> Keith_Kevet
>
> Posted from Android

I don't consider pointing out the long slow decline in freight carloadings as complaining. Railroads today are focused on Wall st. Cut costs , lay off employees ,haul less, charge more. The shippers and public be dammed.

I want the UP to be better, as it once was.  On several posts here, I praise great posts and photos.  The reason why I always point out the UP is many of my trucking customers have stopped using them for long-haul service, while still shipping LTL for short haul / smaller pallet shipments.  It's the service aspect that needs to come back. 

Could be a slower week with fewer shipments originating later with the labor day holiday. I.E. Monday shipments delayed until Tuesday or Wednesday. I know some intermodal trains were annuled, but not sure if it was any that normally pass Kearney. 

Keith_Kevet Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> coach Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Still waiting for the "pivot to growth" to
> happen.
> >  Take away the coal trains, and UP is only
> moving
> > about 1.5 trains per hour over its vaunted
> > "Overland Route."
>
> All you do is complain. Go find another hobby.
>
>
> Keith_Kevet
>
> Posted from Android

Got a way to back that up.

run8diesel Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> For those who are interested in these details, I
> compiled the 24 hour train count at Kearney on
> Friday Sept. 5.
> The total count was 55 trains, nowhere near the
> outdated 150 figure recently cited on a rail
> magazine website.
>
> Steve Zahn
> Broomfield CO


How many of the merchandise trains were the new double train standard? From my observations most carload trains are well over 200+ cars that pastt through Mo Valley IA.

Larry

Every since I started watching the Rochelle cameras within the last few years I've been shocked at how low the UP traffic is on them - much lower than I realized. You can go a long time without anything passing. 

Andrew (florida581) counted 51/day during Covid at Kearney the week of 5/16 to 5/23/20.  My UP Kearney one-week count a month later (6/30-7/6/20) was 59/day-  https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?1,5062561,5062561#msg-5062561  
For comparison-
                       WB + EB= TOTAL                              
Z expedited       29      28    56       
I intermodal      21      11    32=   88  12.6/day  21%
A auto                6                6+                                  
       repo                    14    14=   20    2.9/day   5%
M manifest        68      59  127             
L local                4        4      8= 135  19.3/day  32%    
C coal load                  65    65                                   8 doubles (two trains combined)
       empty       78               75= 140  20.0/day 33%   2 doubles             "
G grain             12        7    19      19    2.7/day   5%
O soda ash         1                1
S windmill                    2      2
U ethanol                     1      1
W work                        6      6       6     0.9/day   1%
Total trains     216 + 196= 412=         58.9/day         
                      52%    48%

I saw 20 coal loads and empties per day, you saw 19.  The daily count of trains in 2020 varied from 51 to 68/day:
Tu 6/30- 55
We 7/1-  57
Th 7/2-  68
Fr 7/3-   62
Sa 7/4-  58
Su 7/5-  61
Mo 7/6- 51 
412= 58.9/day average

I appreciate you guys who put the time in and put these counts and statistics together.  It paints a much clearer picture of what is actually happening, as opposed to generalized and not factually based figures circulated in more mainstream circles.