Scrap influx on the NS?

[DavidH66]

Here in East Tennessee i’ve been noticing trains have been getting a lot of scrap gondola’s coming westbound from John Seveir Yard, anyone know what the origin of this scrap is? it’s mostly NS and Omnisource gondolas. And when i say a lot, I mean at least 25% of this one train was scrap filled gondolas.

Also speaking of Omnisource. Did they get new gondola’s? Cause I saw a few fresh looking ones recently. Were they new acquisitions or repaints?

[chutton01]

Two possible contributing factors?

China puts up a green wall to US trash

That hard look, involving stepped-up inspections of containers filled with scrap metal, paper, and plastic at Chinese ports and a merciless application of the rules, has intercepted more than 800,000 tons of illegal waste since the campaign began in February, according to the customs agency

East Asian importers buy Japanese steel scrap as US offer prices rise

US suppliers’ offers are limited because they are holding out to sell at $342-343/mt CFR Taiwan, a Taiwanese trader said. Bookings of containerized 80/20 last week took place at $335-338/mt CFR Taiwan.

[Rader_Sidetrack]

My understanding is that a lot of the scrap may come from the Omnisource plant in Johnson City TN served by NS. Also, there is another NS served Omnisource plant between Bulls Gap and Rogersville TN.

A recent related article:

http://www.timesnews.net/article/9066758/bean-station-will-seek-referendum-to-annex-hawkins-plant