Portland Waterfront Rail Ops (Yard 8, Intermodal, etc)

The cogeneration plant at S.D.Warren/Sappi in Westbrook used to receive coal from Sprague, delivered
by truck. The plant was designed to burn a mix of coal and biomass like the plant at Rumford.

The Maine Port Authority has announced that $16 Million is now available to build a new freezer operation at the Portland docks. Now all they have to do is find a partner to build and run the operation. Lets wait to see what happens next.

MEC407 wrote:What other customers does Sprague supply coal to?

Coal is actually one of the top inbound commodities into the State, several customers take it in truckload quantities through out. It’s enough to bring it in by vessel, too bad with the coal markets shot here in the USA that they couldn’t bring in unit trains instead of ships.

The $16 million is just one part of the Freezer project. There is some matching funds to be accessed plus outside financing. They just have to convince someone that the project is feasible and have them chip in a large portion of the financing. Good Luck.

Worth noting that Rumford has been burning a fair amount of chipped tire this winter. Some may have recently been brought in via "NW" (NS logo) gondola cars.

Tire chips??

Shredded tires. Coming off NS in NW, Southern and NS hicube gons.

Should have clarified: I mention that in relation to coal business at Sprague. Rumford Mill has been a major customer in the past. Some of the tire chip is likely displacing coal. Also of note: coal now being moved in new(er?) MEC and BM hopper cars.

The water being shipped to New Jersey (previously being discussed in this thread) has come to an end. Supposedly not Pan Am's fault either. Over this weekend pigs will be unloaded and added to 23k to go west.

Wow. That's unexpected. Any idea if water to Ayer will continue?

Why wouldn’t it?

Wasn't sure if maybe there were other cuts that hadn't been reported.

Nestle's going thru some major changes right now.So anything is possible at this point.They are getting rid of their Nestle DSD trucking.Laying off 4700 people.

gokeefe wrote:Wow. That's unexpected. Any idea if water to Ayer will continue?

AFAIK it's just NJ water ending, nothing should change with the water they've been shipping from the start.

pnolette wrote:Nestle's going thru some major changes right now.So anything is possible at this point.They are getting rid of their Nestle DSD trucking.Laying off 4700 people.

The Nestle layoffs do not impact PS from what I understand, it's just for it's food brand products (pizza & ice cream) business. I was going to say I would be surprised if PS had 4700 drivers, as they contract out final mile logistics under a dedicated account to A Duie Pyle, who owns the chassis fleet and tractors for the door moves out of Ayer. On the Maine side, RC Moore has most if not all of the dray contract.