I’ve come across these terms and would like to get a good definition on these terms. From what I’ve found I get the idea sluff freight is oddball cars, unbilled cars, empty cars. It seems that a sluff track is a temporary storage place for these types of cars. I’d like to hear from a railroader that is familiar with these terms. Thanks
I think you have a handle on the term sluff track. As far as sluff freight, it’s usually cars that are overtonnage for the day’s schedule and low priority. Collect enough of them, and it becomes an extra run to empty the yard, but it might just go as far as some siding in the middle of nowhere and set them out, because the next yard doesn’t want them either.
It’s a broad term that I’ve used and heard used for just about everything that has no home and no place to go.
RWM
Some years ago I read that in one yard, they called it or a similar track - appropriately enough - the:
“Time Being” Track !
- Paul North.
I have heard the term “for now” track for “sluff” track on BN/BNSF lines
So its basically a holding track untill you find a way to make them into SEP cars : Sombondy Elses Problm!