Eastern Railroad Discussion > What is the U839 for clarification?

What is the new CSX New Castle Sub U839 coal train?

How did it come about, is it permanent, what is it, where is it going, does it have a reverse symbol?

Any interesting info?

Thanks
Tony

Powder River coal bound for ship loading at Baltimore MD.

does anybody know where the coal goes after it is dumped into "ships" at Curtis Bay? WB empties must have a symbol, eh?

The westbound symbol for this train is the same going back empty. Takes about 2-3 days in Baltimore to unload. As a matter of fact there is an empty out of Baltimore right now coming west and soon due in Cumberland. Symboled U83918. The power consists of only 2 CSX AC's. Original power for this was probably turned out on the first train out of Baltimore. BTW that train outta be in Ohio sometime in daylight tomorrow.

Power for the e/b U839-19 on Monday was UP #6760 + SP #149 (unpatched). Gerry

Scuttlebutt is that more Powder River coal will show on all Tide coal routes on CSX as the East Coal Mines are producing at capacity, and demand exceeding that. Until permits can be obtained to open more mines, Powder River will be the make up. The Eastern producers have the veins just not the legal means to dig them up.

The US dollar is currently weaker on the global market making US coal a better buy for offshore consumers. Major recent mine accidents in China and Russia and the government turmoil in Venezuela have prices up and exports down from those major suppliers.

As Johnnycando stated, eastern mines have cut back to survive during the last few years of low coal prices (some hit $26.00/ton or so FOB Huntington)and currently do not have the miners or active mines to ramp up quickly.

Eastern producers were burned a few years ago when prices shot up and they went on a hiring spree. Just as quickly, the bottom dropped out and many major players such as Quaker Coal and Addington ended up in reorganization court.

Add into the equation that the big two eastern Class 1's really do not want small coal companies to be in business (meaning very high carload rates for less than unit train shippers) and the deck is stacked against central Appalachian mines. Just try to find a single car loader in the mountains these days, they are as rare as hen's teeth.

In the past, these small operations could fire up on short notice and turn a major profit for a local coal operator by filling the export tonnage or domestic spot market needs. When things slowed back down, he would idle his operation and sit at home counting his millions while his workforce stood in line for food stamps. Now days, you have the giants such as AT Massey which is happy to keep their profit margin set in stone for the Wall Street investors by supplying to customers with long term contracts only and the out of work miners have left the area for greener pastures in the bigger cities. Want ads for miners can run for weeks in the local paper these days whereas in the '70s and 80's there would be 50 people signing up for two job openings.

IMHO, the best possible way to light a fire under eastern production would be for the likes of RJ Corman or some other upstart shortline operation to buy most of the major eastern coalfield lines and welcome single car loading again. (RJ has made a positive start on this by buying the Dawkins Sub from CSX ) The short line would then build unit trains and turn them over to CSX at terminals such as Russell, Huntington, Corbin or Patio or NS at Williamson using trackage rights. The class ones could then hustle the black diamonds to market from point A to point B just like they are enjoying doing with the western dirt trains.

My $0.02.
Robby--missing the old days

U839-20 had UP 6877 and UP 7314 for power eastbound.





-John Zuna

I believe this was the same power for this evening's K579 out of Cumberland headed west.