I just came back from Great Falls, and for a 30 mile stretch between Cascade and Wolf Creek Montana there are hundreds (possibly thousands) of TTX double stack cars (empty). I believe the line is unused (but not abandoned) between Helena and Great Falls, and for that 30 mile stretch every siding and also the entire mainline is packed with TTX 40 foot cars, virtually non-stop. There are breaks every so often (I assume for wildlife to cross) of 2 or three car lengths, but they're sitting on the bridges, in tunnels.....EVERYPLACE! I saw every possible type of car I know of, starting with original Maxi-Stacks, and the cars varied from rustbuckets to virtually new......but all 40 footers. Does anyone know what's up with all those cars? Are they just being stored, or are they headed for scrap? I'm used to seeing hundreds of centerbeam cars sitting here in Montana on the sidings waiting for the lumber industry to pick up, but I wasn't aware that container traffic was down that much.
most likely being stored. and to answer your question, YES business is that bad! Declines in double digit percentages across the traffic spectrum. Lotsa "young" railroaders on furlough! Charlie
The thousand part of the number guess is closer to correct. Alot of short lines are making money right now storing cars. From Well cars to gondolas to hoppers, it is slow out there.
Tells you that international shipping is down, I guess. Possibly longer wells (53') are not being stored in such numbers because they can be used for all lengths of container, thus for both domestic and international shipping. The 40s get stored first because they are less versatile. BTW, I drove across New Mexico and Arizona on I-10 alongside the UP Sunset route a month ago, and every siding out there is full of autoracks.
I saw a few mile long string of 40' BNSF double stacks being stored on a seldom used branch line between Albertville and Monticello MN. Last week I heard a train go by through Rogers at 9:00 pm and that must be when they put them there because the ''local'' only goes from Minneapolis to Albertville during the daytime hours.
I've seen that string as well. On the south side of the twin cities Progressive has strings of steel coil cars sitting and in Maplewood MN Commercial is storing a nice string of BNSF gondolas. With steel being as down as it is it may be a while before they move...
While I was headed up to Colorado this year I saw the same thing up near Raton, NM. I was wondering the same thing and am glad I now have and answer.
There were autoracks down between Boston and Lebanon Junction,KY earlier this year,now there's a bunch of hoppers. Sure hope the economy picks up soon,I wanna see more trains!
