http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lChvAd7kIV8 Not my video, but I thought this was to fast for CSX.
Looks like it is doing around 60 mph, which is the top speed for intermodal.
North of milepost WA 59.2 a Kingston maximum speed is 60 MPH, South of that milepost it is 40 MPH.
Systemwide, the top speed limit for CSX intermodals is 70mph, 65mph for autoracks and 60mph for manifests. Track conditions and landscape topography dictate whether these speeds can be reached. The double-tracked “funnel” between Folkston and Callahan, FL supports this as can be seen in the video link below that I grabbed a few years ago. It’s unbelievable at the windstorm one of these things can generate at 70mph!
If only all intermodal trains were this fast, through most of their journeys, then they may have bigger market share. The cost of drayage is an issue but speed & good service may out way that to quite a few shippers.
According to BNSF this is what their shippers want most.
http://www.bnsf.com/media/news/articles/2010/01/2010-01-26a.html
Although people disagree with me, the routes need to be upgraded for more trains at faster speeds.
The hot intermodal trains here are q 110 and q 109 (ups trains).How the new yard in North Baltimore will affect these isn’t known yet.There are some more improvement issues for CSX to make.
stay safe
joe
I see this all the time when I’m at Utica Union Station. It’s possible (but not wise) to get pretty close to them when you’re standing on the platform. A bit overwhelming, too.
Having a 70mph top speed will never get you a 60 mph average with crew changes included. 45mph to 50mph maybe, however trackage in cities would have to be completely redone for that to work.
Would intermodal benefit on tracks that’s upgraded for 110mph passenger train speeds, such as what is proposed in IL on the UP/former GM&O between St Louis and Joliet? UP is also planning to use that trackage for intermodal too once the Global IV facility at Joliet opens.