by gokeefe
Time of year doesn't seem to matter. Current build status of the latest ships seems to be a more reliable predictor.
gokeefe
Railroad Forums
Moderators: MEC407, NHN503
NashuaActon&Boston wrote:I spent ten days in Sheepscot (Newcastle) a few weeks back when there was significant snow cover. The MEC Rockland branch was buried the whole time, no activity at all. A shame.Cement usage across the region always takes an annual dip during the construction offseason post- ground freeze, so a reciprocal drop in production and related decrease in carloads is likewise an annual event at any small/midsize plants. Totally normal for Dragon's carloads to get more intermittent between Dec. and Mar. before south-to-north ground thaw kicks off a new construction season. Only a real colossus of an operation the size of Boston Sand & Gravel ends up churning through winter loads robustly enough for their seasonal production dip to be barely noticeable to the outside world.
fogg1703 wrote:Are those new to CMQ ACF 4650 center flow hoppers destined for Dragon service?You only need about 3250cf to weigh out a 286kGRL car with 117 short tons of Portland cement. These 4650cf cars are way too big for cement. On a 263kgrl railroad you should just use even smaller 2800-3000cf cars to ship cement, because you're otherwise wasting car lease money on cube you can't even use.
jjoyce1 wrote:Thanks John for the inside knowledge. I can't think of any other online business necessitating covered hoppers, so perhaps the price was right.fogg1703 wrote:Are those new to CMQ ACF 4650 center flow hoppers destined for Dragon service?You only need about 3250cf to weigh out a 286kGRL car with 117 short tons of Portland cement. These 4650cf cars are way too big for cement. On a 263kgrl railroad you should just use even smaller 2800-3000cf cars to ship cement, because you're otherwise wasting car lease money on cube you can't even use.
JAJ
...because you're otherwise wasting car lease money on cube you can't even use.I agree that the car should match the service, but you don't lease a car by the cubic foot. Any difference in the price of a small cube vs med or high cube is going to be predominantly market-driven. You do waste train length as the bigger car, the longer. And if loading is not properly monitored, the risk of overloading is higher.
Cowford wrote:I guess I meant the difference in lease rates between new 3281cf 286k cars and older, 263kgrl 2980s. If you're on a 263 railroad don't waste the lease premium for 286 cars....because you're otherwise wasting car lease money on cube you can't even use.I agree that the car should match the service, but you don't lease a car by the cubic foot.
fogg1703 wrote:Are those new to CMQ ACF 4650 center flow hoppers destined for Dragon service?I have read That the ACF 4650 center flow hoppers are for haul grain from Aroostook county to market.
Dcl1332 wrote:Blue Seal Richford Vt oat traffic returning? Interesting MNR didn't lease the cars.fogg1703 wrote:Are those new to CMQ ACF 4650 center flow hoppers destined for Dragon service?I have read That the ACF 4650 center flow hoppers are for haul grain from Aroostook county to market.
Dcl1332 wrote:Indeed. Photos show CMQ cars spotted at Cavendish Fort Fairfield on the MNR.fogg1703 wrote:Are those new to CMQ ACF 4650 center flow hoppers destined for Dragon service?I have read That the ACF 4650 center flow hoppers are for haul grain from Aroostook county to market.
fogg1703 wrote:Not likely, blue seal absolutely despises the arrogant management and marketing of the cmq. And who can blame them...Dcl1332 wrote:Blue Seal Richford Vt oat traffic returning? Interesting MNR didn't lease the cars.fogg1703 wrote:Are those new to CMQ ACF 4650 center flow hoppers destined for Dragon service?I have read That the ACF 4650 center flow hoppers are for haul grain from Aroostook county to market.