by bostontrainguy
I am reading so much lately about the interest in developing ports in the Northeast. Searsport, Saint John, Portland, etc. are all in the news. Supposedly there is much more interest in potential smaller ship operations similar to Eimskip coming to the area. Portland is very small and limited.
The discussion of rail to Conley has been beaten to death and there is still no hope. Yet as many have mentioned, CP is now running double stacks to Saint John so the old thought that Conley is just too small isn't very valid. It could be done if the powers-to-be wanted it.
Track 61 does actually have rail on dock at it's end and smaller Eimskip type of ships could utilize that if wanted. No need for tall cranes which would not be possible because of the closest of Logan Airport. I often wondered if this was ever considered before Eimskip jumped ship to Portland. Track 61 could be fairly easily reactivated after the T Red Line program is over. There is a small yard at the western end so the direct crossing at Southampton Yards can be avoided and trains could be assembled there for easy main line haul out the B&A.
BUT . . . after thinking a lot more about the possibilities, it brought me to rediscover Moran. It's got a huge dock with lots of unused capacity. It is technically rail connected with a lot less investment than Conley to get it up and running. They could install OWLS crossings at FX to greatly lower the maintenance issue. It would be single stack of course but that is all there is going west through to Hoosac anyway and it could be double stacked at Ayer for going out via CSX or combined with trains coming down from Maine to go out PAS single stack.
I would think that there are possibilities for smaller "Crane Ships" like Eimskip's to utilize Moran in Boston. It seems like a giant waste of capacity and lost opportunity if these ships land elsewhere. I hope someone at Massport is interested in doing something with these smaller companies. The infrastructure is there. It's a shame that Massport is letting it deteriorate like it is. The potential here is rather exciting if Massport will get in the game.
The discussion of rail to Conley has been beaten to death and there is still no hope. Yet as many have mentioned, CP is now running double stacks to Saint John so the old thought that Conley is just too small isn't very valid. It could be done if the powers-to-be wanted it.
Track 61 does actually have rail on dock at it's end and smaller Eimskip type of ships could utilize that if wanted. No need for tall cranes which would not be possible because of the closest of Logan Airport. I often wondered if this was ever considered before Eimskip jumped ship to Portland. Track 61 could be fairly easily reactivated after the T Red Line program is over. There is a small yard at the western end so the direct crossing at Southampton Yards can be avoided and trains could be assembled there for easy main line haul out the B&A.
BUT . . . after thinking a lot more about the possibilities, it brought me to rediscover Moran. It's got a huge dock with lots of unused capacity. It is technically rail connected with a lot less investment than Conley to get it up and running. They could install OWLS crossings at FX to greatly lower the maintenance issue. It would be single stack of course but that is all there is going west through to Hoosac anyway and it could be double stacked at Ayer for going out via CSX or combined with trains coming down from Maine to go out PAS single stack.
I would think that there are possibilities for smaller "Crane Ships" like Eimskip's to utilize Moran in Boston. It seems like a giant waste of capacity and lost opportunity if these ships land elsewhere. I hope someone at Massport is interested in doing something with these smaller companies. The infrastructure is there. It's a shame that Massport is letting it deteriorate like it is. The potential here is rather exciting if Massport will get in the game.
