Re: (erielack) M&E/Rahway Valley News

["Tom Beckett" <tabeckett_@_stny.rr.com>]

Like 6-7 hours from Syracuse to Boston. 3 1/2-5 from Bingo to Jersey.

Tom B
- ----- Original Message -----
From: "Schuyler G Larrabee" <sgl2_@_ix.netcom.com>
To: "Bill K." <pontiac_@_dreamscape.com>; <erielack@railfan.net>
Sent: Tuesday, July 09, 2002 11:38 PM
Subject: Re: (erielack) M&E/Rahway Valley News


> Bill, it's not the expense of creating a "filet" yard, which as you note
> might be comparatively nominal.  It's the labor expense >forever< along
with
> the cost of delay.  Remember the truckers don't have to f*** around with
> this kind of operation, and they can drive that container directly to
where
> it needs to go, and faster than you can get there on rails.
>
> SGL
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Bill K." <pontiac_@_dreamscape.com>
> To: <erielack_@_railfan.net>
> Sent: Tuesday, July 09, 2002 8:40 PM
> Subject: Re: (erielack) M&E/Rahway Valley News
>
>
> > Actually the original Dewitt intermodal terminal was outside the yard,
on
> > the end of an industrial lead that fed into a remnant of the original
> > passenger mainline through the streets of Syracuse.   For a long time
jobs
> > would have a main track tied up with a fleet signal so they could work
the
> > terminal.  The loader was small, like a large rubber-tire payloader but
> with
> > a lift that could grab the container tops instead.  The space was once
an
> > engine terminal, part of the coal dock remains and some other structures
> > were built so loading room was fairly tight.
> >
> > They did eventually move it to a larger space in the yard's hump lead
and
> > inbound receiving tracks, with a large overhead crane... but they also
> were
> > doing a lot of local work and had trains that originated and terminated
> > here.
> >
> > To duplicate that operation I would think would be cheap if you had the
> > land, an empty yard like Bevier Street on the D&H would work - just
> dedicate
> > a track, pave around it, and get a loader in there.   The old Dewitt
> > facility wasn't and isn't even fenced in.  You could probably even work
it
> > into a space along the DL&W main somewhere, if it was wide enough for
say
> 6
> > tracks somewhere for a hundred yards or so.   Handle some local traffic
> with
> > it and probably could get funds to help pay for it to boot.  A train
> headed
> > through the filet could pick up enough empty cars somewhere to split it
> out,
> > and pull through getting the tops picked off, then loaded in the
empties.
> > Put a fresh crew on and send it on it's way -
> >
> >
> > Bill K.
> >
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: <Jedalberg_@_aol.com>
> > To: <gkazin_@_yahoo.com>; <Fish_76@webtv.net>; <erielack@railfan.net>
> > Sent: Tuesday, July 09, 2002 6:56 PM
> > Subject: Re: (erielack) M&E/Rahway Valley News
> >
> >
> > > Another aspect of "de-stacking" the double stacked containers is that
> you
> > > have effectively doubled the length of train. Notwithstanding the
> capital
> > > expense of building a "fillet" terminal reasonably close to the east
> coast
> > so
> > > that you continue to get the benefit of double stacking, plus the cost
> of
> > the
> > > lift equipment and additional railcars.And don't forget time. DS
doesn't
> > get
> > > you two for one cost-wise, but it is a lot better than the one for one
> of
> > > single stack or conventional 89' equipment. Conrail did the fillet for
> > (APL)
> > > Boston bound traffic at a special terminal in Syracuse.
> > > Remember also that double stack cars are considerably wider at the
> bottom,
> > as
> > > well, and if talking about domestic boxes, 20'6" ATR for clearance.
Most
> > > international boxes are still 8'6"(primarily because of clearances
> > overseas),
> > > so if you can afford the inconvenience of hi-lo loading, you can get
> away
> > > with less clearance height.(As a point of interest the Bergen tunnel
at
> > the
> > > east end is only good for hi-lo loading, as is the Waldo tunnel under
> > PATH.
> > > We hit the tunnel with a container there and turned it into a sort of
> > > parallelogram.The Weehawken line had a restriction at the DL&W
overpass,
> > > which is why the Northern line was cleared We hit it with a
> containerabout
> > > 17-18 years ago. Container was loaded with cloth bales and splayed out
> to
> > the
> > > sides. Pulled the train back into Croxton, where the BUOI eased by
> > whacking
> > > the sides of the container. Bet that was some expensive cloth!
> > > Jim
> > >
> >
>
>

------------------------------