by KSmitty
Before the July, 2013 they were running daily each way, or close to it anyway.
Things are slower now, both Autos and oil, which were a huge chunk of the business E/W are both on CN now. Pan Am is to slow for both moves, and also limited clearance wise for autos. Lots of other stuff is running PAR, like finished lumber from all over MNR, and the feed cars and the hazzards CMQ can't handle because of Megantic.
County traffic is largely whats sustaining Irving right now. Probably half the traffic is Irving traffic. Chips, logs, feed/seed, lumber all Irving sourced or Irving destined. With the addition of the MNR, Irving's railways became as much a part of the production line as a common carrier. Its good for business though, and a real savior over the last 14 months. Wood loads aren't exaggerated. Easily 1/2 of the traffic out of the county is chips or logs. 50-60 cars of wood on the trains I've seen recently.
They just aren't afraid to move big trains, which with the drop in interchange traffic has allowed them to work an every other day schedule. With an occasional extra to fill in. Its not uncommon to see 100 on any east/west job. Compared to other Maine railroads these things are huge.
Things will change as CMQ gets established. If they can get the autos back that will help. And of course the anticipated 2016 return of cbr. Crude was a huge part of the manifests, and was moving in dedicated trains too. That was an impressive show, when MM&A and Pan Am were delivering oil trains with some regularity. I was at Keag one day back in the fall of 2012. They came in with a big train, 70 something cars from Brownville. Pan Am had dropped close to 50 mixed Saint John's the night before. They just tacked 'em on and hauled all 130 or so east. PAR and MM&A limited their E/W to 70ish cars. NBSR will haul some damn big trains as long as they have the hp/ton ratio they need. Its a good railroad, efficient, well maintained, fun to watch. Just in a bit of a lull right now.
Things are slower now, both Autos and oil, which were a huge chunk of the business E/W are both on CN now. Pan Am is to slow for both moves, and also limited clearance wise for autos. Lots of other stuff is running PAR, like finished lumber from all over MNR, and the feed cars and the hazzards CMQ can't handle because of Megantic.
County traffic is largely whats sustaining Irving right now. Probably half the traffic is Irving traffic. Chips, logs, feed/seed, lumber all Irving sourced or Irving destined. With the addition of the MNR, Irving's railways became as much a part of the production line as a common carrier. Its good for business though, and a real savior over the last 14 months. Wood loads aren't exaggerated. Easily 1/2 of the traffic out of the county is chips or logs. 50-60 cars of wood on the trains I've seen recently.
They just aren't afraid to move big trains, which with the drop in interchange traffic has allowed them to work an every other day schedule. With an occasional extra to fill in. Its not uncommon to see 100 on any east/west job. Compared to other Maine railroads these things are huge.
Things will change as CMQ gets established. If they can get the autos back that will help. And of course the anticipated 2016 return of cbr. Crude was a huge part of the manifests, and was moving in dedicated trains too. That was an impressive show, when MM&A and Pan Am were delivering oil trains with some regularity. I was at Keag one day back in the fall of 2012. They came in with a big train, 70 something cars from Brownville. Pan Am had dropped close to 50 mixed Saint John's the night before. They just tacked 'em on and hauled all 130 or so east. PAR and MM&A limited their E/W to 70ish cars. NBSR will haul some damn big trains as long as they have the hp/ton ratio they need. Its a good railroad, efficient, well maintained, fun to watch. Just in a bit of a lull right now.
