JStryker722 wrote:True but I would think that well worn out rail not replaced in whole since the Wabash/early N&W days would need to be completely upgraded on the stretch of track passenger movements are to take place before any tourist/dinner train could run on the ND&W. Besides it would good to do so anyway for freight movement so that customers along the line could take advantage of the 286k standard,which then makes the ND&W more money.
Whomever said a dinner train operation was a 'good idea' is probably off their rocker.
They're getting mostly 50' box cars in right now. When I worked Y101 that's the bulk of the traffic I remember them getting. Those only load to 263K for the most part. They'll cube them out before they weigh them out. Its the tanks and hoppers that load to the 286K for the most part, and NDW doesn't get too many of those.
The problem with the NDW is they need EVERYTHING. They need ties, but they also need to get their tracks up on some decent ballast. I bet their bridges and culverts are in rough shape if anyone were to take a good look at them. Looking at photos, I'm going to guess their thru truss bridge at Defiance would not handle 286K cars, and it would cost a relative fortune to beef up (or replace) the bridge.
Until you address the roadbed problems, beefing up the rail isn't going to do squat. Problem with that is when they start moving the stuff around to do that, they're going to be snapping the rails they have. It takes a long time to wear out rail laid on tangent track. It may be the head of the rail itself is fine, its just sitting on rotted ties, on no ballast, etc. Just because its 'old' doesn't mean its 'worn out'.
Unless they get some big time customer, keeping their tracks at 263K probably won't hurt them. Also, attracting a 'big customer' is going to be difficult with CSX and NS in such close proximity with high density mainlines. No one is going to want to deal with a short line for a 5, 10, or 15 mile haul when they can locate right on the mainline the cars are going to get onto anyway. Pioneer probably realizes the 'growth' potential for the property isn't the greatest, but it has a steady base of traffic now. As someone else said (or multiple people) in this thread, just get the railroad to a point where you can provide consistent and derailment free service, and that would go a long way to helping their bottom line. No need to spend the millions for a 286K super railroad when the traffic levels probably don't warrant that.
Practice Safe CSX
lol
