Capacity is @ a premium in Texas and many other places. UP and others can use this reopened line for lower priority and less time sensitive shipments, which in turn, will free up a bit of the congestion. I look for them (UP and others) to use the line for “Dead Freights” (a Milwaukee Road term).
I don’t expect UP to use the South Orient as they are controlling interest in most of the capacity issues – but I do expect BNSF and KCS to take advantage of the opportunities when the reliability of the operation is proven.
dd
Here’s another good article on the Texas Pacifico.
Check out page 6.
http://www.dot.state.tx.us/env/pdf/envisionpdf/26sum03.pdf
You’ll notice that there is in fact a reference to Union Pacific and their desire to use the Texas Pacifico’s border crossing at Presidio, Texas.
Enjoy!!!
Low priority freight, southbound empties and low value loads make up a good percentage of US traffic moving into Mexico. Conversely, high dollar and high value goods make up a large percentage of the traffic moving into the US (auto parts and vehicles for example) from Mexico. UP’s lines into Mexico are already above their current realistic capacity, even with so-called streamlined Customs Inspections.
With levels of current traffic, UP would be very short sighted not to seek relief from using this corridor. It wouldn’t really matter to the UP if a scrap load sat @ Presidio, as long as it freed up Laredo for Northbound autos or other high value shipments. All carloads are not equal in terms of revenue or importance, (see revenue). 10 boxcars of scrap paper sitting idle are less likely to incur wrath than a single container of auto parts which is delayed. Should we shutdown an assembly plant which employs 4,000, or should we make a recycler store bales in his yard?
This is a nature of the commodities themselves.
If it pays well, it should move well.
My 2 cents (certainly not adjusted for inflation!).
[:)]My only observation is that if the UPRR or BNSF or KSC thought that this route would give them a advantage they would just buy it! [:D]
[quote]
Originally posted by brazos87
[quote]
QUOTE: Originally posted by spbed
[:)]My only observation is that if the UPRR or BNSF or KSC thought that this route would give them a advantage they would just buy it! [:D]Think Montana Rail Link–BN looked to shed trackage in the late 1980’s. Although they sold/leased? the former NP lines to MRL, they had an agreement for overhead traffic to be run by MRL crews.
This saved the BN from having to maintain, crew, or dispatch trains, over this line. The BN still had an outlet for excess traffic or detours, without all the associated costs of track maintenance, dispatching, et al.
UP, BNSF, or KCS would pay Texas Pacifico to run their freight without having to pay to maintain the line themselves. Let Texas Pacifico worry about crew availability, and all the other issues of running the traffic.
The Class 1’s mentioned could use this line to relieve some stress on their systems without having to do too much other than hammer out an agreement with Texas Pacifico.[:D]
Here’s two more articles on Texas Pacifico’s cross-border test train.
Enjoy:
http://www.marfatx.com/uploadedfiles/PRESIDIO%20Train%20Arrival.html
http://www.dmtimes.net/blog/News/_archives/2005/3/24/468484.html
And still more news on the cross-border test train:
http://www.brownwoodbulletin.com/ar...news/news01.txt
Anyone get any shots of her as she passed to Ft. Worth???
There is a brand new website for the Texas Pacifico.
It can be found at http://www.txpf.com/
Some interesting information in it so far. Looks like in time they will add to it.
Regards!
Here’s the latest news on the activity of the Texas Pacifico:
I am just as excited as the OP. I had the opportunity to operate a motor car, ex Santa Fe MT-19, from Presidio north. Awesome run. I spent a lot of time in that area in 1993 and was able to see everything from Ft. Stockton to Presidio. It is amazing to go through some of the old structures. It is as if Santa Fe just left everything as it was. I haven’t been to the Ft Stockton depot since the Chanber of Commerce moved in. I hope they didn’t screwit up too bad. Paisano Pass is going to present some great photo opps.
It is indeed a line with a lot of potential.
I am especially pleased with the consistent carloads that are moving from the upper midwest and interchanging with Fort Worth & Western and then on to Texas Pacifico.
I can only begin to imagine the possibilitites once they bring the ROW up to a point to allow faster operating speeds.
A new outlet for grain from the upper midwest would be a blessing…The conjestion at Laredo, and El Paso, at times can be intolerable. Any new crossing would certainly be a blessing. KCS seems to have capacity on their line NOrth/South. From what I have read the East /West through Dallas and Ft Worth is a problem with transit times, but they might welcome a new routing down to Mexico for their NAFTA railroad concept. This will be an interesting operation to follow as it develops.
Can’t wait for those onion trains out of Presidio. And BTW, the motor car run was legal. The “station master” at the time said that I could run the motor car whenever I wanted as long as I provided a battery and gas. He didn’t even know how to operate the thing. I just had to check in with him to make sure there weren’t any trains that day. I definately wanted to be sure on that one! MT-19A vs GP-9, News at 6. I was also offered a hi-rail ride from Alpine to Presidio, but never took the offer. What the hell was I thinking. I wouldn’t imagine you are missing much between Paisano Pass and Presidio.
More Texas Pacifico News:
http://www.wacotrib.com/news/content/gen/ap/TX_South_Orient_Railroad.html
When I was through Ft Stockton, about 2 months ago, it was hard to tell the rails from the ROW due to weeds. They better plan on a lot of sand.
dd
Bryan, you mean to tell me that the South Orient line goes from Fort Worth to Brownwood? I thought that it was the BNSF line (formerly Santa Fe) that went through there but I guess that I was wrong, I think that the South Orient Railroad is an underrated railroad that deserves more recognition.
[
yes, its a former santa fe line the was sold to the south orient in 1993. its is now ft. worth and western rr. i live on this line and im seeing some bnsf trains run through here occasionally.
[quote]
QUOTE: Originally posted by brazos87
Yes, except MRL is soley subservient to BNSF, while it appears the South Orient will be able to interchange with a nice triopoly of BNSF, UP, and KCS. In fact, BNSF has shown it will go out of it’s way to keep MRL in a virtual chastity belt, spending millions of dollars to buy the otherwise non-descript Montana Western.
Gotta keep that Montana Monopoly to pay for the upkeep on the Chicago-LA speedway!
Actually it is the Forth Worth and Western from Ft. Worth to San Angelo Jct (Browood Tx), about 100 miles east of San Angelo, From San Angelo Jct to Presidio it is Texas Pacifico, the subsidiary company run by FerroMex. They have a 40 year lease form the state of Texas to operate this line.
Here is their website:
Hope this info helps!