ZPDSKP

Trains Magazine General Discussion
1

I saw the UP train symbol ZPDSKP. Presumably this is a train hauling perishables from Portland, OR to Selkirk, NY. I have never heard of it before (including a search of the forum for this symbol). Is there some distribution center (in reverse) in Portland that they truck Willamette Valley produce to and ship it back east?

I did an internet search, but that was not very helpful.
http://www.google.com/search?q=ZPDSKP&client=netscape-pp&rls=com.netscape:en-US

2

Eric, I’m wondering whether this is the second weekly trip of the ZWASKP. I can’t find a ZWASKP under any date except the weekly trip we know about, but understand that this is actually the second week for the new run. I don’t know why the Portland origin–I would think that Hinkle would be all right if they wanted something different.

3

I’m wondering if the ZPDSKP you saw

  1. might not be something like a new “Portland-to-Hinkle” section of the longer established ZWASKP wherein the ZPDSKP traffic is a fill at Hinkle for the ZWASKP or
  2. might it be a new train that is accumulating 70-mph tonnage at Portland and forwarding it directly to the CSXT Selkirk Yard?

Delaying outbound traffic a day or two in Portland in order to have enough cars to justify an Oregon-to-upstate-New York run-through eliminates

  • 22+ hour car delays at the Hinkle hump,
  • 24+ hour car delays at North Platte, and
  • another round of 24+ hour car delays at Barr Yard in Chicago.

And cars that don’t hump at these three locations lessens congestion and frees up switch engine time to handle other traffic. Improved transit times and lessening congestion at major classification yards has to be a real win-win situation for both the customers and the two railroads.

4

I’ll be able to check a little more about this train tomorrow. Right now, ZPDSKP 16 is just getting into North Platte, with four units and 77 loads (ZWASKP had its normal 55 loads this week). Couldn’t find a projected time into our neck of the woods, but it ought to be early tomorrow, I’d think.

5

That probably puts it through here just a little after dark, yes?

6

Carl, I didn’t see a time either, but it auto do OK time wise after a little pause West of Chicago. Might be a bit shorter though after the pause. (wink, wink, nudge, nudge)

Jeff

7

No, Jeff–we’ve got good appetites around here, but I don’t think we’ll significantly shorten the train.

Based on tonnage, it should be a good runner–less than 100 TPOB.

ZWASKP doesn’t even pause at Proviso, so there should be no reason for this one to stop, either. I think our crews take it right to Barr Yard.

8

Carl, you AUTO re-read my post. This one’s not all edible. That’s probably why the PD origin. TPOB probably won’t be as good the last few miles to CSX.

Jeff

9

Geez, Jeff, pound it into me, why don’t you? I get it now! They did that once with ZWASKP. I wonder if this will be a regular thing.

And you’re right–it’ll have 25 cars into Proviso, with TPOB well over 100. Also, it won’t get here until after dark, most likely.

10

Quote by Jeff Hergert:

Are you sure that it’s a stop at Proviso? Portland, “Auto” plus “West of Chicago” equals West Chicago Toyota facility. Do I win a prize?

CC

11

You’re correct!

Your prize is a lovely photograph of the shorter train–if you get out trackside quickly enough!