Eastern Railroad Discussion > Busiest "dark" line in North America

I did a post earlier today about the Burlington Northern Santa Fe "Peavine" line in Arizona. I concluded that rail line saw about 12-16 trains per 24 hours. I was corrected. More like 20 trains per 24 hours. So this had me thinking, what is the busiest dark line in the US, Mexico or Canada?

SantaFeRuss

Posted from Android

I'd love to see a count for 20 trains on the Peavine. Maybe there are that many if you include all the locals and yard jobs in the Phoenix area, but there can't be even half that many road trains, can there?

In Conrail days one of its busiest unsignalled lines was the Scottslawn Secondary between Ridgway and Columbus, Ohio. The former Monongahela Railway was also mostly dark territory when Conrail got it, but the busiest parts got signals soon thereafter.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/15/17 20:13 by toledopatch.

toledopatch Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I'd love to see a count for 20 trains on the
> Peavine. Maybe there are that many if you include
> all the locals and yard jobs in the Phoenix area,
> but there can't be even half that many road
> trains, can there?
>

Only about half that.  I addressed on the Western Board using DOT crossing data, which you can use to pull up train counts on any rail line in the US.

http://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?1,4272348

Toledopatch would be correct on the Scottslawn Seconday in Conrail days from what i know from the past. Alto no expert on AZ lines. I also would have to agree from what i have read about he 'Peavine'.6-8 thru trains per day max. BNSF, with their limited,small facilities in the Phoenix area, does a lot more business than UP. UP is essentially a branchline to the East. Check Google earth.

JLinDE Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Toledopatch would be correct on the Scottslawn
> Seconday in Conrail days from what i know from the
> past. Alto no expert on AZ lines. I also would
> have to agree from what i have read about he
> 'Peavine'.6-8 thru trains per day max. BNSF, with
> their limited,small facilities in the Phoenix
> area, does a lot more business than UP. UP is
> essentially a branchline to the East. Check Google
> earth.  

Totally agree.  Peavine 6-8 thru trains per day max.  Maybe near Phoenix with locals going back and forth and the connection trains to the A&C you might hit double digits.  But seeing more than 10 trains pass the GCRY depot in Williams in 24 hours would be unusual.

Is the west end of the old Soo Line to Portal dark? How much tracfic does that line see? I'm pretty sure NS and CSX both have some lines in the southeast that see pretty good traffic levels but are unsignalled.

Posted from iPhone

Last September train count was in the 8 to 10 range going through Williams, AZ on the Peavine. Lots of stacks and rack trains. I was amazed.

toledopatch Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I'd love to see a count for 20 trains on the
> Peavine. Maybe there are that many if you include
> all the locals and yard jobs in the Phoenix area,
> but there can't be even half that many road
> trains, can there?
>
> In Conrail days one of its busiest unsignalled
> lines was the Scottslawn Secondary between Ridgway
> and Columbus, Ohio. The former Monongahela Railway
> was also mostly dark territory when Conrail got
> it, but the busiest parts got signals soon
> thereafter.

Might the CSX (Conrail) Peoria and Eastern between Clermont and Ames be a contender? Between Amtrak, CSX and NS trackage rights it's about 3 to 4 trains each way daily. Granted it's only about 35 miles or so long.

Posted from Android

cabsignaldrop Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Might the CSX (Conrail) Peoria and Eastern between
> Clermont and Ames be a contender? Between Amtrak,
> CSX and NS trackage rights it's about 3 to 4
> trains each way daily. Granted it's only about 35
> miles or so long.

What trackage rights does NS run over that line? I'm aware they go to Crawfordsville but I thought those trains came down the Monon from Lafayette.

NS has trackage rights Crawfordsville to Indy as part of the Conrail deal but to my knowledge have never used them. They also have rights into Indy from east on the Indianapolis Line Sub (ex NYC, not to be confused with the ex B&O Indianapolis Sub) from Anderson but not sure they are using them anymore.

P&E Crawfordsville to Indy has Amtrak each way, road freight each way, 1 or 2 local each way, and usually AT LEAST one unit train of some sort each way. Easily 8 trains a day, more likely 10-12

Posted from iPhone



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/16/17 11:29 by scraphauler.