• Toys R Us traffic on the M&E?

  • Discussion about the M&E, RVRR and SIRR lines of New Jersey, and also the Maine Eastern operation in Maine. Official web site can be found here: www.merail.com.
Discussion about the M&E, RVRR and SIRR lines of New Jersey, and also the Maine Eastern operation in Maine. Official web site can be found here: www.merail.com.

Moderators: GOLDEN-ARM, cjl330, mikec

  by rb
 
Hi, all.

I know Toys R Us is a major shipper for the M&E. I am curious about what products they receive by rail. Can someone please fill me in?

Thanks.

Rob

  by james1787
 
If I had to guess, I would say toys? :-D

  by njt4172
 
They get box cars.... I saw a string of about 5 of them last week! With the holiday season coming up i'm sure they will be busy...They have been known to bring 20+ cars down there!

Steve

  by cjvrr
 
Yep, I think they are Santa's helpers too. Delivering toys to stores near you.

  by Ol' Loco Guy
 
Disposable diapers !!!!

They cube out out well before they weight out.

Toys come from....CHINA...in containers.

  by rb
 
That's what I figured--bulk paper/sanitary products. What toy factories are left in the US or even Mexico? Nobody ships finished consumer products by rail. I heard RCA was shipping boxcars of TVs from Mexico to the midwest, but I'm not sure if that goes on anymore.

If anyone has more specific info on the Toys R Us moves, I'd appreciate it.

  by gravelyfan
 
rb wrote:That's what I figured--bulk paper/sanitary products. What toy factories are left in the US or even Mexico? Nobody ships finished consumer products by rail. I heard RCA was shipping boxcars of TVs from Mexico to the midwest, but I'm not sure if that goes on anymore.

If anyone has more specific info on the Toys R Us moves, I'd appreciate it.
My info is a little old (say 5+ years) but at one time Toys R Us was receiving all of those big "Little Tikes" things (like playhouses, etc.) in box cars from the factory in Ohio. Don't know if that business still exists.
  by blockline4180
 
Took a hike today on the old High Bridge Branch(Columbia Trail) from Long Valley to Flanders. I checked out the end of the current M&E line and the tracks were pretty rusted over...Anyone know the last time they served Toys>?? From the looks of it, it seemed to be many months. I was surprised the ties seem to be in good shape up the end of the line.
  by ns3010
 
The last few times I've been down Route 10, the crossing has been filled with dirt and the rails have been snow covered, which means that they haven't been up there in a while. What's up with that?
  by blockline4180
 
ns3010 wrote:The last few times I've been down Route 10, the crossing has been filled with dirt and the rails have been snow covered, which means that they haven't been up there in a while. What's up with that?

Probably trucking is cheaper...That is my guess... They seem to have been very sporadic over the past few years.
  by SemperFidelis
 
Also have to remember that Toys R Us hasn't really been doing all that well. It was only a year or two ago when they shut down a lot of their stores.
  by R36 Combine Coach
 
Any High Bridge Branch traffic south of NJ Route 10 recently? The tracks around downtown Flanders has also been recently overgrown as well.
  by ns3010
 
It seems like the last thing down there was the Toys For Tots train. And even that was over 3 months ago.
  by blockline4180
 
ns3010 wrote:It seems like the last thing down there was the Toys For Tots train. And even that was over 3 months ago.

Not good...Usually Target gets a car a week, but if they haven't received anything then maybe Cvitz knows.
  by cjvrr
 
I believe Target is temporarily shut down, possibly the economic downturn?

I don't think Toys R Us has gotten a car in 6 months or more....

Over on the Chester Branch

Holland Manufacturing continues to ship / receive as needed.

Kuiken should come on line when the economy recoops.