gokeefe wrote:Quite possibly one of the more interesting editions of PORU in the last ten or twenty years ... Why is that you say? ... New cars with reporting mark NDPX parked in the Rumford Yard this afternoon. The linked video confirms that my vision is not failing. Bonus in the video also includes a string of regularly sighted railroad owned coal hoppers (BM or MEC marks).
If my supposition is correct "NDPX" would be ND Paper ... Even more interesting these are gondola cars. Purpose is unknown but shipping tire chips or other solid fuels seems within the realm of possibility. Here are some photos of what would appear to be the same large green hopper cars in service on "The Bay Line" whose name they still carry. Notable that it would appear these cars had wood chips in them.
As best I know Boise Cascade was the last operator of the Rumford Mill to own any of their rail rolling stock. Boise Cascade sold to Meade in 1996 (23 years ago).
Correct that NDPX is Nine Dragons Paper. They are loaded with shredded tires, likely replacing the NS hi-side gons that had been coming up there. These cars are huge, 8253' cap, almost 70' long, Plate Fs. It'll be an interesting time spotting these on 2 Log to be unloaded, there were twelve on that PORU, normally they only come up a couple at a time.