POSE / SEPO (Portland - Selkirk trains)

I don't know the extent of the damage or if detours will occur. It did not sound that bad.

johnpbarlow wrote:

newpylong wrote:SEPO just derailed and tore up the west end of the Hill yard.

Detours via Gardner if there's room to switch ends?

I don't think the switch at the west end of Track 9 is quite that important.

SEPO still completed their work and carried on.

Does anyone know why SEPO/POSE has had three units for power lately? It doesn't seem like there's a drastic increase in length. I would think Pan Am would object since I think there would be additional horsepower-hour charges.

neman2 wrote:Does anyone know why SEPO/POSE has had three units for power lately? It doesn't seem like there's a drastic increase in length. I would think Pan Am would object since I think there would be additional horsepower-hour charges.

SEPO/POSE set out and pick up blocks at Hill Yd Ayer so perhaps tonnage between Ayer and Selkirk warrants the use of three AC (usually) locomotives?

neman2 wrote:Does anyone know why SEPO/POSE has had three units for power lately? It doesn't seem like there's a drastic increase in length. I would think Pan Am would object since I think there would be additional horsepower-hour charges.

According to pictures and reports I have seen, CSX has been putting three units on most of the manifests that run between Selkirk and points on the B&A since about last October. It has actually been really cool to see Dash 8's and older GEVO's on Pan Am territory that you would hardly ever see with just the two unit lashups.

Thanks for the response.

SEPO on ground Ayer east wye no more info.

Nice video of Eimskip container block (15 units) headed to Maine on SEPO 3-31-2016.

https://youtu.be/i1XHjtf6NDk

Perhaps even more interesting .... SEPO on 3-29-2016 with a 30 unit Eimskip container block. (It's on the end of the train)

That 30 block went all the way to Waterville.

I was heading through Ayer about 7:30pm this evening and four PAR units were coming off the east wye with a train. The general freight looked like SEPO traffic (Sappi boxcars, etc.) with 30 containers tacked on the end.

neman2 wrote:Does anyone know why SEPO/POSE has had three units for power lately? It doesn't seem like there's a drastic increase in length. I would think Pan Am would object since I think there would be additional horsepower-hour charges.

The tonnage limit over the mountains was increased to 10,700 in order to run fewer trains. Two engines would stall every time at that tonnage, they used to struggle with 8,000 tons. Due to traffic patterns into N.E., eastbound trains tend to be short but heavy, being mostly loads. Westbounds tend to be longer and lighter being mostly emptys and thus can have more cars. The westbound grade is also steeper and has more curvature.

johnpbarlow wrote:

neman2 wrote:Does anyone know why SEPO/POSE has had three units for power lately? It doesn't seem like there's a drastic increase in length. I would think Pan Am would object since I think there would be additional horsepower-hour charges.

SEPO/POSE set out and pick up blocks at Hill Yd Ayer so perhaps tonnage between Ayer and Selkirk warrants the use of three AC (usually) locomotives?

It'll be 2 AC's and 1 DC on the freight trains, can't have 3 AC's online.

SEPO under Kingston Rd in Plaistow yesterday at 630pm. Was pretty short for a SEPO maybe 20-30 cars

Video of SEPO from 4/2/2016 showing 15 Eimskip containers on the end of the train. I'm guessing this is the usual Saturday shipment from the International Marine Terminal.