Saw a number of trains railfanning the Tehachapi Mtns. on Saturday…has been much quieter the past year.
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=304292&nseq=30
Here is one of them at Tunnel 2.
Nice shot. Glad to hear traffic may be picking up. Anyone notice fewer stored cars around the country?
Traffic is picking up, as it traditonally does this time of year. The autos are still going, replacing stock purchased in the cash for clunkers deal. The grain is starting to be shipped in the midwest, coal seems like it might be starting to come back from the lows last summer, and it is almost time for UPS “peak” season. Trailers full of Amazon.com purchased Christmas gifts should start being shipped any day now.
That being said, I have been told by many that upper management is forcasting traffic to take a nose dive after the 1st of the year. Time will tell I guess.
I would second “the traffic is picking up” statement! Around here the COFC/TOFC traffic is picking up. And it seems to be in both directions, but the lion’s share is definitely Eastbond; in particular, in the early hours after midnight and before noon, headways seem to be about 15min to 30 min(unscientific perception).
[tup][tup]
AAR reports intermodal has indeed edged up slightly in recent weeks, but it’s still well below last year’s figures for this same period. (Last year’s pre-Christmas intermodal figures were bad enough.) Yes, unit grain shipments are entering their busy phase, but U.S. and even Canadian grain exports are facing some tougher competition overseas this year. Coal to the Northwest, for two local power plants and also for export, is running as strong as ever, though. But nearly everything else remains flat, due to the overall economic slump. Government figures for permits and starts on new residential housing during the peak 2009 construction season were down 28 percent from the same period in 2009, and completions of new housing during the peak 2009 season were down 39 percent from 2009. (Net result: of the few homes permitted or started in 2009, many were not even completed.) This translates to a continuation of very low demand for lumber shipments, appliances, and other construction-related materials shipped by rail or truck. Not only is new construction going to remain flat into 2010, a large number of existing commercial properties are set to go under due to vacancies, unpaid rents or leases, and unpaid building loans. We’re going to get hit with another hard one. So enjoy that minor blip in pre-Christmas intermodal while you can.
I was wondering if it was a Holiday bump. Is there a link for the weekly AAR reports?