Eastern Railroad Discussion > Grain trains on the D&H

At least two loaded grain trains came up the former D&H last week. Both had BNSF power (with some NS in there as well), and the trains themselves were mostly BNSF hoppers. I assume these are headed for Cargill in Albany for export. 

Interestingly, the second of the two trains had distributed power, a single NS unit on the rear. This is the first use of a DPU I've seen on the D&H. 

Anybody have more background on these moves?

I'm guessing at least one of the grain trains was a 46A headed for Ardent Mills at Ayer? B&E handles 2-3 grain trains per month.

Hmmm, this makes a little sense. One of the trains had an SD60 leading. Mostly New England trains get those. 

Didn't know there were any full unit train customers in New England. 

46a goes to Martin's Creek, Pa.

twl

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Isn't there also a big grain mill at Mount Pocono PA?

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globalethanol Wrote:
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> 46a goes to Martin's Creek, Pa.

Yeah and that comes out of Allentown and the big grain mill in Mt Pocono that 484 mentioned is served by the DL who I believe gets their cars from NS at Taylor, PA.  I think march_hare lives somewhere on the D&H Albany and Susquehanna main north of Binghamton and is inquiring about grain trains heading to the Albany area and New England.

Yes to that. I'm just a few miles SW of Albany. 

globalethanol Wrote:
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> 46a goes to Martin's Creek, Pa.
>
> twl
>
> Posted from Android

Given these grain trains run as needed only a few times per month, 46A and 48A symbols can apparently be used for NS grain trains delivered to either B&E at Mechanicville bound for Ardent Mills in Ayer, or trains deleivered to Martins Creek.

NS 46A loaded grain train at Gardner MA March 2026

A lot of wheat originates in Texas and Oklahoma, is that true of this product going to PA and MA?

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Lackawanna484 Wrote:
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> A lot of wheat originates in Texas and Oklahoma,
> is that true of this product going to PA and MA?

FWIW, according to the listing of BNSF freight train symbols at railroadfan.com, BNSF train G-LINNSI9 originates at Hobson Yd at Lincoln Nebraskra and is delivered to NS at Cicero IL to become grain train 48A.
This exhaustive list of BNSF trains shows countless loaded grain trains (ie G-XXXX) originating primarily in the midwest (eg, ND, SD, MN, IA, KS, NE, IL). Grainbelt Corp does originate a few grain trains turning them over to BNSF at Enid OK. Texas seems to be a destination and not an origin for BNSF's loaded grain trains.

https://railroadfan.com/wiki/index.php/BNSF_Train_Symbols#G_Series_-_Loaded_Grain

Thank you for the link

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