30 years ago (not as far back as Gilbert!) I lived right next to this ex-Reading line (Not B&O or CNJ, although B&O ran passenger trains to CNJ Communipaw station on it) outside Hopewell NJ, and watched freights like the old Tropicana OJ unit train go by from my kitchen table (when it ran late - usually it was overnight). Back in they day it connected with the Jersey Central just west of Bound Brook, near Manville, to get to Jersey City and the CNJ Communipaw passenger terminal on the NY harbor (Reading and B&O used this). Post Conrail, it now connects at Bound Brook to the former Lehigh Valley (now Conrail) for the run north through the northern NJ metropolitan area. (or you can stay on the Reading to Port Reading Jct and get on the former CNJ for the backdoor to the metro area, but perhaps with lower clearances.) Anyway, my reason for writing is that CSX was working for years to rebuilt or undercut quite a few bridges on the Reading line to improve clearances. Via Conrail in the northern NJ area metro area and then their own ex-Reading line, CSX is now good for double stacks from Selkirk right down to Philly, I think.
Anyway, the big catch is that just south of Philadelphia on CSX (south of Philly to at least Baltimore if not farther is the former B&O), there are some major height restrictions - one may be at Darby where tracks go under a few city blocks . I am nearly certain double stacks, and maybe autoracks, are not allowed. The Howard St tunnel in Baltimore (from the 1800's) is another height restriction, but I read they are finally getting to work on that one. Then it is clear sailing to Florida, I believe .
It might be a while until we see double stacks from Maine to Florida on a single carrier (and I'm not sure why we would), but it's a nice idea to think about. Probably we will see them from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean first (if it hasn't happened in Canada already).
Jim S
The
Gilbert B Norman wrote: ↑Tue Dec 01, 2020 8:58 pm
jamoldover wrote: ↑Tue Dec 01, 2020 6:24 pm
]You've forgotten about CSX's ex-CNJ/B&O line down to Trenton and the Philadelphia area that starts from Bound Brook (at the same junction NS's ex-LV line does). They have no problems getting south from the New York area on their own rails.
... As a kid during the later 40's, I can recall sitting by the tracks at Fanwood near my Aunt's house. Quite the parade of Blue B&O trains, Black and Green striped RDG, and best of all, CNJ Camelbacks.