Eastern Railroad Discussion > Farmin' & Trains

Started working ground today in prep for potato planting which hopefully will begin around March 15th. This is south of Vincennes, IN on the CSX CE&D sub. Here is CSX B619, a Chicago - Tampa FL loaded ethanol train off the CN. Leader was CN 2237 and the rear DPU is a former Citirail unit CN 2767. Quite interesting trying to shoot two moving objects! We'll also be working the ground on the other side of the tracks.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/26/26 18:00 by CSX2605.

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Next up was a northbound loaded coal train C895 after the southbound ethanol train. CSX 999 was leading and had a mid train DPU that I missed. 130 coal cars, 532 axles & 6,934' long and I think 18,000+ tons. Last light shot was M204 at the previous field we had worked. Conductor gave a nice wave. Nothing like the smell of fresh worked dirt in the evening. I think the crews approve as I got two shout outs to get the ground ready for those taters!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/26/26 17:56 by CSX2605.

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I always enjoy your posts.

So what kind of potatoes are you planting and for what market?

Posted from Android

train1275 Wrote:
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> I always enjoy your posts.
>
> So what kind of potatoes are you planting and for
> what market?
>
Chip varieties. All will go to make potato chips. They will end up in many different brand bags. Here are two that the trucker brought back for us. ;)

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Wow!
Here in eastern Pennsylvania we are still dealing with snow on the ground and some more forecast for Monday and Tuesday, and freezing overnights. While not a financial importance to me, as you real farmers, this is tough on my 625 ft sq "vegetable farm". I am far from starting seeds or working soil. Here in suburbia the ongoing suburban sprawl is driving the deer to find whatever food there may be, even if they don't like it. In the last two years they stripped the Arbivitae hedge, last year the Pachysandra ground cover and in total  desperation this year the bitter Yew bushes. Last year they devastated all the Tulips as they emerged from the ground, no coloful blooms. This year I put up protective fencing for much of the property. 
I've been here 30 years and this destructive foraging is new and very frustrating.
But we do have trains!
Gonut

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I buy those Kroger chips! !

but...............when i worked for Frito lay, the word was McDonald's got the best taters in world, Frito lay got the second best, think most or all McDonald's come from Idaho, same for Frito lay

of course there are many different standards for what is desirable, differing for application...



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/26/26 20:15 by dan.

Well, I never knew there were potato farms in Indiana. Certainly none that I'm aware of in central Indiana.

Posted from Android

dan Wrote:
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> I buy those Kroger chips! !
>
> but...............when i worked for Frito lay, the
> word was McDonald's got the best taters in world,
> Frito lay got the second best, think most or all
> McDonald's come from Idaho, same for Frito lay
>
> of course there are many different standards for
> what is desirable, differing for application...

Frito Lay has a large plant in Buttonwillow, California just outside Bakersfield.  Plant is served by the "old" SP Buttonwillow Branch.

Josiah
MP 363 on SP Coast Line
 

Great stuff, as always!!

Vernon Sargent
Greencastle, IN

Neat stuff!!

Dan

Posted from iPhone

P Wrote:
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> Well, I never knew there were potato farms in
> Indiana. Certainly none that I'm aware of in
> central Indiana.
>
> Posted from Android

Potatoes like very sandy soil

Posted from iPhone

P Wrote:
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> Well, I never knew there were potato farms in
> Indiana. Certainly none that I'm aware of in
> central Indiana.
>
Black Gold is in the Winimac area. Lennard Ag is in the Medaryville area.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/27/26 18:30 by CSX2605.

dan Wrote:
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> I buy those Kroger chips! !
> but...............when i worked for Frito lay, the
> word was McDonald's got the best taters in world,
> Frito lay got the second best, think most or all
> McDonald's come from Idaho, same for Frito lay
>
We use to raise for Frito Lay but they just wanted fewer & bigger growers. Their Super Bowl ad was a complete joke. Talk about blowing smoke up your arse. Not sure if it still is but the Frito Lay Frankfort, IN plant is the largest snack food plant in the US and maybe the world. Served by NS.
Years ago when McD's had the Super Size option for french fries, those extra fries caused a huge amount of more spuds getting consumed annually. I forget the number but it was mind blowing! Orlando, FL is a huge consumer of french fries