by jaymac
...could you please provide a certain railroad with the willingness to spend some money to improve efficiencies before it chokes on its own traffic increases?
The case in point? FI-1 got the D-3 okay to head west from West Main Street a bit before noon today, and it was close to a quarter of an hour later that FI-1 radioed back to say that that the west end of West Main was lined and locked normal. At 1214, 510 plus 24 covered hoppers and 6 long corn syrup tanks were west of Shirley at 28 mph, according to the 40.1 talker.
Back in the day of the buggy, someone from the rear would have dropped off, done the lining and locking as the train crept through, and then reboarded and high-balled, for a quicker and -- at least as far as not occupying Track 1 with a stopped train for that length of time -- more efficient move. Doing away with buggies doubtless has saved train loads of money, just as has removing power switches, but at a cost to operational efficiencies.
When the predicted unit grain trains and auto carriers do show up, they'll present even more capacity challenges to Ayer. To speed things up and increase capacity on the mains, it seems long-term that power switches need to reinstalled long-term and utilities hired short-term, so Santa, please be generous!
"...and visions of power switches danced in their heads..."
Happy Holidays to All, and to All a Better New Year!
The case in point? FI-1 got the D-3 okay to head west from West Main Street a bit before noon today, and it was close to a quarter of an hour later that FI-1 radioed back to say that that the west end of West Main was lined and locked normal. At 1214, 510 plus 24 covered hoppers and 6 long corn syrup tanks were west of Shirley at 28 mph, according to the 40.1 talker.
Back in the day of the buggy, someone from the rear would have dropped off, done the lining and locking as the train crept through, and then reboarded and high-balled, for a quicker and -- at least as far as not occupying Track 1 with a stopped train for that length of time -- more efficient move. Doing away with buggies doubtless has saved train loads of money, just as has removing power switches, but at a cost to operational efficiencies.
When the predicted unit grain trains and auto carriers do show up, they'll present even more capacity challenges to Ayer. To speed things up and increase capacity on the mains, it seems long-term that power switches need to reinstalled long-term and utilities hired short-term, so Santa, please be generous!
"...and visions of power switches danced in their heads..."
Happy Holidays to All, and to All a Better New Year!
"A gray crossover is definitely not company transportation."
