MIR Logistics (I'm not sure if that's the exact name, but it should be close), the company that gets all those hoppers at Passaic Jct, purchased Bulk (I don't know the exact name of the company), the company that gets all those hoppers down in North Bergen. Due to increasing demand for track space down in the swamp, and a couple new customers coming on line, MIR is looking to shift some of the traffic from North Bergen to Elmwood Park. As a result, they want to use the track space currently occupied by the shopped cars.
Proven Theory #2 - If you don't work for the railroad, you don't know more than the people who do, no matter how many years you've hung around the tracks, or how well you think you understand railroading.
Rest in peace Jtgshu.