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California city sues shipper to prevent rail traffic
The article suggests a huge loophole may exist. One could reduce the number of trains by adding more distributed power and lengthening the consist, thus transporting just about as much rock while tying up traffic for longer periods.
Reduce the trains from 20 moves to 10.
Double the size of the trains, or is that too…uh…duh.
(Riverbank and environs, the whole San Joaquin, is virtually flat;
no drawbar strength or DPU commo’ problems)
one more ride way out there pioneers.
In California, this was inevitable. That state is one of the most-anti-business states in the country. The railroad should give notice that it will shut down operations at a point just short of the city and mining trucks will be used on city streets to move the rock from the quarry to a loading facility. And by the way, the city gets nothing as “trucks don’t pay taxes.” That is, if you believe the average railfan whine. Trucks do pay highway fuel and use taxes, just not to local governments run by eco-terrorists. Plus, just to make it more fun, use 168,000 lb gross 11 axle (count them) articulated Michigan Specials driven by Michigan steel haulers with an attitude.
I think the railroad should start letting a bunch of trucks rampage the city. Then the narrow-minded people would see how much the railroad is their friend.
The city’s use of an environmental study as leverage is once again an example of enivornmentalism equaling anti-capitalism.
This sort of thing has a name: Blackmail.
Luddites and loons abound, especially in California.
“Luddites and loons abound” here in “the land of fruits and nuts” ( I’heard that on the Houston SP after I asked for a route from Hardy St. to Englewood; I’m a Lon’ Guyland N’ Yawka) and it was “inevitable” that “governments run by eco-terrorists” would submit to “Blackmail” and allow “a bunch of trucks to rampage the city” using “168,000 lb gross… Michigan Specials” will be advised by me to apply for political party jobs as spin-meisters.
Rampage the City…a city in the US of A, and accept the charge of “Blackmail” against the government?
Solutions or critical comments: 1 to 4 at 1735 hrs Pacific.
Just plain old extortion
Its 164,0000 lbs GVWR., you need a permit. Anything over 80,000 lbs. GVWR, requires a permit.
I think a combination of a) longer trains and b) round-the-clock truck operations should keep the quarry producing at a profitable level. And truckers, feel free to use the Jake brake anywhere in town!
Why is Jeffery Guse on this site? If he complains about the “average railfan whine”, no kidding - this is a site for for railfans. We like trains. He doesn’t. Why is he allowed to ruin what we - the majority - enjoy?
I suppose those bozos in Riverbank would rather put up with a myrid amount of trucks rumbling through their precoius city. Riverbank is a dump, really. Truckers, hit your jake brakes!
I do not understand the $.07/car tax? What other city can impose a tax like this? Could they all do this? Yikes, think of what the Chicago political machine would do. We live in strange times.
I wonder if the NIMBYs pitching a gripe are the ones affected by loss of work when the railroad runs fewer trains? If the railroad is going to now run just 10 instead of 20 trips per week, here’s hoping they run them reaaaallll slow to minimize any dust that might affect the NIMBY’s sensitive nostrils. I’m sure the same folks that griped will be delighted to wait as the trains crawl along, secure in the knowledge that the dust won’t bother them. (-;
Even compared to the rest of California, unemployment in the Central Valley is horrible, so the NIMBYs (They’ve spread to Riverbank?!) still beat up on somebody who’s trying to get new business going.
The green weenies in Novato, CA were whining like spoiled ninnies when it was announced that the Northwestern Pacific would once again run freight trains. The railroad knuckled under to much of their whining. I’m hoping for 60 car trains four or five times a day.
The NIMBYs are at it again. These are the same people who live in Portland, Oregon, who do not want export coal trains coming through the city. Never mind that this will produce many full time jobs.
The NIMBYs are at it again. These are the same people who live in Portland, Oregon, who do not want export coal trains coming through the city. Never mind that this will produce many full time jobs.