rail layout.jpg (558.04 KiB) Viewed 2686 times
RailAdvisor wrote:Rockguy:
You have come to a good place to research the rail-connected options for your business. There are a number of traprock quarries in CT and MA that are rail-connected, or are close by a rail facility. Good quality sand from the mid-Atlantic states is being shipped into the area by rail in covered hoppers. Washed stone is available in eastern CT, and is shipped regularly by rail. It would be wise to consider obtaining your own open top rail cars, to assure an uninterrupted supply of rail cars during the busy construction season. It will also be important to carefully plan the layout of your receiving facility to minimize redundant railcar switching maneuvers, which can become costly, over time. With good planning, you can build a lower-cost rail operation that will serve you well.
I would think shipping sand from the mid-atantic would be cost prohibited. You can get railcars fairly cheap but the maintenance worries me. If there is a problem with the car inroute its on you. That can get pricey. Ex-aluminum coal cars seem to be my best best. Most existing pits by the time you pay for material, mining, and crushing its to much.
I am all for a good design. Anyone here think they can design a better siding for us? Would like to get maybe 20 cars at a time (The more at once the better for pricing im told). The grade on the river side is better for a pit for unloading. Just past the road crossing in our yard the grade splits around 4'. Not sure if a ladder track or try to fit a loop in. According to the old map I believe the spur was 1,090' long at one point which was under the big pile in our yard.
I was thinking relocate the switch to the main up by the bridge since id have to pay to fix the south leg of the wye and not be able to utilize it for switching. Then from there do a few ladder tracks towards the street and come off the main track with a track towards the river for an unloading pit.
rail layout.jpg (558.04 KiB) Viewed 2686 times
Not the best setup as we would have to switch/unload one car at a time but doesn't kill all the yard space. Where the proposed building was going to be located will be the stockpile and truck loading area. This layout also keeps panam from fouling the commuter rail track while switching us.