It has come to myu attention that Sound transit is taking some delays (60 days in their latest quarterly progress report) in final testing of track circuits for lack of switch machines being delivered for their light rail expansion. A call to 2 different RR sources got a terse “no comment” on the subject if they were short of new/replacement machines.
There have been a large number of delays around WASH on VRE, MARC, & Amtrak lately listed as switch problems. One of the ARRA Amtrak projects is replacement of air powered switch machines with electrically powered ones. This work is way behind schedule as listed on Amtrak’s June monthly status report.
Does anyone know if this is a real problem? iIf so is it a nationwide problem and is it lack of just one or two components? Maybe RWM, Mudchicken, or Carl? Last Friday’s WSJ had an article saying that some US manufacturers (not RR) are having a problem getting components.
I know that repairs on our retarders were delayed many times because of a lack of components. Since the Signal Department handled switches and retarders at our yard, it might be possible that switch machines are in demand.
You mentioned “light rail”. There probably isn’t much demand for those, if they’re specialized in any way. But one would think that a supply would be accessible before an expansion began, wouldn’t one?
Maybe UP could sell them some used switch machines from Proviso, where some have been replaced. The yard machines are faster in operation than mainline rail, and these are pure electric.
Although I cannot speak for Sound Transit light rail other light rail installations I have observed use the same outside cases that class 1s use (innards not known). It has also come to my attention that the BNSF CTC cross overs work for the Cascades line is delayed for the same reason. Other manufacturers are taking delays for electrical and electronic components as well.
Supply should have been sufficient because this light rail segment has been under construction for ove 2 years!
My concern is: Could a possible shortage of a part slow the present work that is going on. KP Harrier do you see switch machines already placed in your pictures??. It only takes one missing part to slow up any project.
Usually light rail and pass rail station tracks have higher speed switches. The replacements at NYP, WASH, CHI Amtrak yard are some of the demands + light rail over the country.
The upgrading of the UP line with second track for the 110MPH MSR sections may require a different machine and maybe a second for the point rails and a third for the frog?
We have been through a severe recession. All companies cut their employment and production to the bone of what they knew they could sell. Inventories, of all varieties were allowed to drop to near zero. Now industrial products are coming back into demand and there is a limited supply chain to produce them…and the supply chain will remain limited as the suppliers try to get by with their current work force…not trusting the current demand level to continue…just a part of the business cycle.
BaltACD: Normally I would agree with this statement but a WSJ article a few days ago (threw the exact date out) stated that many business suppliers are having a very difficult time finding additional employees due to the proper skill workers not able (unable to sell upside down homes for 1) to move to the jobs or there not being workers with the necessary skills or workers not wanting to do that kind of work. Maybe someone can reference the WSJ article.
Wack back your workforce because of the recession and play he!! trying to regain it when orders begin to come in…it is a part of the business cycle…made worse by the relative mobility of todays workforce.
My carrier, when they recalled all the furloghed people only got 20% to return. Your mileage and personnel return figures may vary.
Notably, in the article is a 42-year old former open-road truck driver - Troy Arnett - who had been making $60,000 a year, but was in training to be a machinist at the company that is the main subject of the article - Mechanical Devices - for $13 an hour. But he didn’t finish that training - instead, “He has since found a job installing railroad crossings that he expects will pay about $50,000 a year.” [(-D]
The other article that blue streak 1 referenced above is this one
I love these sob stories from companies that “can’t find people”. I couldn’t find any easter eggs today. Of course I wasn’t looking, either.
When I was on a local, many of the guys I talked to complained that their workplaces were severely short on people. But yet they won’t hire anyone. Or if they are, it must be some really big secret.
Yes - but don’t overlook the math, either. That $13 an hour from the machinist company is only about $27,040 for 40 hrs. a week x 52 weeks a year - less than half of what that guy was making as an OTR truck driver, and just over half from what he’ll be making installing the railroad crossings.
It’s the same complaint from businesses - that ‘‘They can’t find anyone’’ - that hire immigrants - legal or not - for menial or hard labor jobs, and many other better positions, too, such as public school teachers, nurses, etc. No, not for a wage like that. But try offering $25 to 30 or even $50 an hour = $50,000 to 60,000 or even $100,000 a year, and then see how many decent applicants you g