I’ve heard in last few days that UP wants to run Powder River Basin coal trains over the lightly used CSX main from St. Louis to Cincinnati.
Also heard that there might be some haulage agreement in the works to run UP and BNSF trains on this route to bypass congested Chicago and Memphis Gateways. Can anybody confirm any of this?
Would of posted this on the other thread on coal traffic but thought that thread got beat to death with other topics.
I would certainly hope that line stays in service…it appears now that it is probably going to make it. The line has never had a lot of traffic, but things seem stable for now. The L&N line was cut years ago, east of E. St. Louis, so their routings into and out of St. Louis are limited. I would guess that the old Conrail line thru Indy is starting to get busier.
The B&O line looks better and better.
Last summer there was considerable tie work done on the line in Illinois. There are several coal trains off the UP running now.
What is the line like near Cincinnati?
ed
In Cincinnati they have been removing unused pole lines west to CW Cabin (6 miles). They have been removing old ties fromm the last major tie program in the early 90’s. Been alot of work crews in the area. Rumors are running wild. There was a ballast train that ran from Cincy to Mitchell and back to Cincy. Seen some survey crews. Hearing about some “big” inspection train that is to be coming through.
The real strange thing is seeing CSX picking up old ties that have been around a long time, and the cutting of pole lines. Why now? There is just to many things going on?
I wish I could get some time to check things out but I’ve been just to busy with wife and kids.
Wow!! 2 stars now!! Woo hoo!!
You know Ed;
You take the topic NS: Southern Illinois Line , thread and the sum of the comments on it, one of which is:
Posted by MP173 Posted: 15 Jun 2006, 06:39:21
Can someone give me a profile of the NS St. Louis - Louisville line that runs across Southern Illinois?
Single track? CTC? Track warrents? etc.
Number of trains per day, including turning south at Centralia on the CN (if any).
Types of trains (manifest, intermodal, auto, grain, coal).
thanks,
ed
Put these two threads together and you might have a reason for the activity across Southern Illinois towards Louisville, Ky. Might very well be a way around the rail mess in the Chicago, or Memphis gateways. All it would take is plenty of $$$$$ and anything is possible.
Just my thoughts.
Sam
Similarly, this could also account for some of the possibilities in our previous discussion of the St. Louis/ Carbondale connection; we talked about of a couple of months ago, not to mention the line from the NW through Jacksonville to Carbondale. A new routing for PRB unit coal trains to by pass present congested gateways.
Sam
It would need some track and bridge work , but the grades would favor eastload coal loads - the big grade on the line is the drop into the Ohio River Valley from Milan to Aurora. It would serve well in a role of moving a moderate number of trains on predictable, non-expedited schedules. There are a limited number of places where two modern freights can meet , but it could be managed.
My question is where this coal would be going. It takes about half again as much PRB coal to produce the same BTU’s as most Appalachian coal - moving it 1500 miles east would suck up most any savings on scrubbers. I’m also a little surprised by the fact can stay out of barges east of St. Louis - I believe that a good number of coal barges move empty eastbound.
Would this traffic be turning south at Mitchell or Cincinnati to head into the Deep South? I know there are a few PRBC-burning plants in Alabama and Georgia that aren’t water-served.
As to the question of empty coal barges returning to the eastern coal fields from the missouri/MIssissippi River systems, I think the biggest issue there is with the ability to transload from unit train to barges, to backhaul the PRB coal. The DM&E was going to put in a transload facility around Winona, MN as part of its development and reconstruction efforts, but that is probably a long time away. THe PRB coal that is currently moving into the Southeast { Macon, Ga. area for one, now moves on UP/NS through Memphis, as does some BNSF moves also utilize NS from Memphis}.
On an West to East Move[ through the Southern Illinois or Southern Indiana, the axis would cut across CSX and NS routes in any number of places, and the traffic could go South at many places.
Sam