Single-level container train on the ex-NYC

The other day, I happened to catch a westbound container train passing through Erie, PA on CSX that wasn't a double stack, but all cars were loaded with only one container, (or two 20-footers). Now, the overwhelming majority of CSX container trains I see are double stacks. So I’m assuming that this train has a portion of it’s routing that is height restricted. Could this be a Boston train that can’t carry double stacks due to height restrictions on the old B&A?

Also, the train wasn’t all containers. There were a few trailers in the train as well.

That sounds like it was a boston-bound train. Although they do slash the double stacks in syracuse as well.

Being a West bound it wasn't headed to Boston, but most likely Willard and points West. Good chance it came off the B&A and with traffic upswing over the holiday season, may have been an extra section of a priority B&A train and didn't take time to double up at Syracuse. A note of interest, Q140 has returned. Q140 is a priority UPS train dropped when traffic declined last spring. Hopefully it will remain past Xmass.

How often is Q-140 running these days?

elbow wrote:That sounds like it was a boston-bound train. Although they do slash the double stacks in syracuse as well.

The B&A has sufficient clearances for doublestacks as far east as Worcester, Ma. where the majority of containers that CSX carries to NE terminate...single level container trains are not common on the Boston line..

v8interceptor wrote:

elbow wrote:That sounds like it was a boston-bound train. Although they do slash the double stacks in syracuse as well.

The B&A has sufficient clearances for doublestacks as far east as Worcester, Ma. where the majority of containers that CSX carries to NE terminate...single level container trains are not common on the Boston line..

Not exactly, the B & A can clear 19 -2 but not 20 -2.
Noel Weaver

Yes, the B&A can only handle standard height containers doubled, not the "Hi-Cube" which exceed the 19'2" clearance. Which is why Syracuse fillets the doubles exceeding that height. The "Hi-cube" containers must travel as single level. East Syracuse has clearance detectors along the entrances of the East side at Kirkville and Minoa to scan cars for excess height issues for all B&A bound trains.