Rumford Branch, RUPO / PORU

I was referring to having the entire branch listed as being restricted on the speed summary not the actual logistical issue of the low speed. If it's lowered to 10 MPH in the timetsble there is no need to list it as such in the speed a summary because 10 is now its permanent MAS.

When I worked there the speed summary was 7+ pages. Its now around 3 by knocking back all the stuff that was perpetually 10 anyway.

Verso just announced that they're closing their Luke, MD plant which I might add is no small operation. Sad news for sure as I guess there aren't a lot of jobs down that way and it sounds like this will be devestating to the local economy. The press release mentioned that other Verso mills will pick up the slack which likely means increased production at Jay. Glad to hear they didn't close Jay instead but still hate to see these closings period....

That's a huge hit for Western Maryland. Many of the towns there are already seriously depressed.

Both that company is really hitting it out of the park with their mills.

https://www.pressherald.com/2019/08/08/ ... nvestment/


What's better for rail - more high end paper or more packaging paper?

Probably don't need coatings like what Omya produces for packaging?

What's better for rail - more high end paper or more packaging paper?


The answer is 1 word: cardboard

Everyone wants to make boxes and shipping containers for Amazon.

Recycled pulp has some interesting implications ... Lots of inbound scrap ... Boxcars would have loads inbound where right now they're almost always empty.

Inbound loads would be outbound empties unfortunately, would be my guess, unless it was in a pool car that could reload for a new destination..

Pan Am seems to use a lot of pool service cars (RBOX) along with their own paper service pool (BM, MEC).

The Raws will always come in rail if you want to be cost competitive... outbound rail goes a lot of places, but off line RDCs will be a stronger than before rail to location for these mills. Notice how they are expanding production capacity but not warehouse space?

Right now most on-rail warehouses from Bangor down to Philadelphia are jammed full of unsold paper rolls. So yes, not expanding Warehouse or storage space at the Mills is beginning to have some consequences.

Nice article in the August issue of Railfan and Railroad on the "Rumford Branch Revival."

Steve

PBMcGinnis wrote: ↑Thu Aug 15, 2019 8:05 pm Right now most on-rail warehouses from Bangor down to Philadelphia are jammed full of unsold paper rolls. So yes, not expanding Warehouse or storage space at the Mills is beginning to have some consequences.

Why produce more product and pay to warehouse it when it's not being consumed?

He's suggesting building a mill owned warehouse in order to reduce storage costs. This is not a new idea for Rumford and well worth considering.