Eastern Railroad Discussion > Illinois Terminal

As of 7:30 am Tuesday ITs still here

Thanks Vinnie

VinnieM Wrote:
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> As of 7:30 am Tuesday ITs still here


and where is 'here'? Dave W

dwi189 Wrote:
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> VinnieM Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > As of 7:30 am Tuesday ITs still here
>
>
> and where is 'here'? Dave W

Linden, NJ

Posted from Android

Phillips 66 Unloading facility, Linden, NJ.

Thanks Vinnie for the updates, odd its still there, almost a week now!

Posted from Android

Does the Illinois Terminal have mechanical issues or is it just sitting waiting to go out on an empty? Almost a week now she has been sedentary...

Posted from Android

Forever-Railfan-45 Wrote:
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> Does the Illinois Terminal have mechanical issues
> or is it just sitting waiting to go out on an
> empty? Almost a week now she has been sedentary...
>
>
> Posted from Android


It certainly is a curious situation. Three trains have now departed, and it's still there. Hardly what I would have expected from a power short organization, unless there's more to the story.

NS usually has more engines than it needs in the North Jersey terminal area, and gathers them up on regular light engine moves west to Allentown and Harrisburg. I wonder if this unit is just a little out of reach?

2 empty trains have left since last Thursday when the IT came in. Does not appear to have mechanical issues I have seen it move around under its own power

My mistake 3 emptys

Thanks for the updates Vinnie still waiting to come back thru Eastern Pa.

Lackawanna484 Wrote:
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>
> NS usually has more engines than it needs in the
> North Jersey terminal area, and gathers them up on
> regular light engine moves west to Allentown and
> Harrisburg. I wonder if this unit is just a little
> out of reach?


Not necessarily true. With 15J and 21W now running several times per week, they are often scrounging for power ... so much so that 294 often brings their power to NJ after dropping the train in Bethlehem.

Because the plant layout at Linden requires an outbound 66Z to be built rearward forward, and the cars pulled out from the rear end before the train can head south on the Garden State Secondary, the IT unit is being used to assemble the trains, and is cut off the rear before departure. Not putting DPU's on the empty outbound train saves time on the setup/test procedure, and allows the train to get out quicker so the often-waiting inbound train can get in and be spotted up.

bioyans Wrote:
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> Lackawanna484 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> >
> > NS usually has more engines than it needs in
> the
> > North Jersey terminal area, and gathers them up
> on
> > regular light engine moves west to Allentown
> and
> > Harrisburg. I wonder if this unit is just a
> little
> > out of reach?
>
>
> Not necessarily true. With 15J and 21W now running
> several times per week, they are often scrounging
> for power ... so much so that 294 often brings
> their power to NJ after dropping the train in
> Bethlehem.
>
> Because the plant layout at Linden requires an
> outbound 66Z to be built rearward forward, and the
> cars pulled out from the rear end before the train
> can head south on the Garden State Secondary, the
> IT unit is being used to assemble the trains, and
> is cut off the rear before departure. Not putting
> DPU's on the empty outbound train saves time on
> the setup/test procedure, and allows the train to
> get out quicker so the often-waiting inbound train
> can get in and be spotted up.

Thanks for that additional information, it's very helpful. It also explains why the Illinois Terminal power seems to move around a bit. So, I guess it may be possible to see the (eventual) rear end of the train almost from the NEC if it needs to clear and get the power on the (eventual) front end of the train. With 100+ cars, buffers, and engines, the train will need a lot of space to clear the refinery spur.

The info about the need for power in the NJ Terminal is interesting, as well. That's a change from earlier in the summer, when the flow ran the other way. Regardless, it sounds like more guys are working, and more freight is moving. Both are welcome improvements.

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If I might pick your considerable knowledge on a related subject. It looks like Phillips is clearing an additional section along Lower Road, directly opposite the park. Although the layout wouldn't flow with the current unloading, it seems like they could put more unloading tracks on that part of the site, and put a new spur in from the area of the Lower Road grade crossing. Have you heard anything about an expansion?

Almost sounds like the IT is a "dedicated switcher" at this stage?

John R -- CP Spring
Carlisle, PA

The existing unloading racks are only phase 1 (of 2) for the facility. I believe they will eventually have capacity for two trains at once.

I also believe the IT unit was fetched from P66 today by a local NS crew, but I don't know where they took it or what it is going out on.

Posted from Android



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/09/14 19:33 by bioyans.

Long way to extend an power cord for the lack of overhead wire in NJ!