Oil Trains

[JoJames]

CSX has told transportation and M&W people to expect five trains a day in both directions on the Garrett and Willard subs by the end of March. Look for things to get congested as these will be ran as very important trains.

[TrainWatcher]

Are these BNSF or CP Crude trains? I had heard Janet mention to a maintainer last year about BNSF shipping new crude trains over the B&O.

[railohio]

I'd think they would be CSX trains.

[cbehr91]

Are these BNSF or CP Crude trains? I had heard Janet mention to a maintainer last year about BNSF shipping new crude trains over the B&O.

Running as CSX trains with CSX crews but likely with BNSF power. The set currently running is symboled K010/K011.

[JoJames]

Also run K001 and K002. Every oil train I have ever saw has had BNSF power other than one with CP. I would look for this to continue. I will also add NS power is also mixed with the BNSF power.

[MagnumForce]

Generally 3 big AC units leading. They are running those with DPU now on the Chicago line, any chance of this happening on the Garrett/Willard Sub?

[Typhoon]

The new coal......

[railohio]

But will it last 30 years?

[BnOEngr]

Generally 3 big AC units leading. They are running those with DPU now on the Chicago line, any chance of this happening on the Garrett/Willard Sub?

I haven't heard of anyone out of Willard being qualified to operate DPUs yet.

[MSchwiebert]

But will it last 30 years?

Probably long enough for this though...Coal may be down but not out.

http://www.osu.edu/features/2013/ohio-s ... ology.html

[Saturnalia]

But will it last 30 years?

Probably long enough for this though...Coal may be down but not out.

http://www.osu.edu/features/2013/ohio-s ... ology.html

If I had a dollar for everytime someone has linked to that news story, I'd have $3.

I think oil trains will continue, especially as we shift to more to North American oil, and oil pipelines become more controversial.

[Typhoon]

Generally 3 big AC units leading. They are running those with DPU now on the Chicago line, any chance of this happening on the Garrett/Willard Sub?

I haven't heard of anyone out of Willard being qualified to operate DPUs yet.

There is at least one Garret guy qualified.

[AARR]

I think oil trains will continue, especially as we shift to more to North American oil, and oil pipelines become more controversial.

Or until pipelines are allowed to be built

[MSchwiebert]

Point is, that coal (despite what the 'greens' say) is too important of an asset to turn away from, with there being a 200+ year supply available here in the US and all. In the big picture, what the OSU team has done in the time they have done it is rather amazing (compare this to nuclear fusion, hydrogen fuel cells for cars etc.).
Obviously the oil business is a huge win for the rails, and I hope they can keep it. As for the pipeline situation, I believe there are some differences between adding additional capacity in the east/midwest compared to the hurdles the Keystone XL has faced. For example, the product the trains are currently handling is predominantly crude oil - not bitumen, there is an existing network of pipelines in the region (not an entirely new routing) and there is none of the political posturing that we're seeing with the XL ("home grown" oil is less of an issue to those who oppose than tar sands).

But will it last 30 years?

Probably long enough for this though...Coal may be down but not out.

http://www.osu.edu/features/2013/ohio-s ... ology.html

If I had a dollar for everytime someone has linked to that news story, I'd have $3.

I think oil trains will continue, especially as we shift to more to North American oil, and oil pipelines become more controversial.

[Typhoon]

I think oil trains will continue, especially as we shift to more to North American oil, and oil pipelines become more controversial.

Or until pipelines are allowed to be built

Good luck with that.

[MaintainerGary]

Its because of OIL trains that you now see DPU's on NS Dearborn Division.

[JDavis21835]

I think oil trains will continue, especially as we shift to more to North American oil, and oil pipelines become more controversial.

Or until pipelines are allowed to be built

Good luck with that.

A lot of refineries have upgraded their equipment for this oil. Marathon in Detroit is about done with its first phase of the Heavy Oil Upgrade Program. BP Whiting In is in the middle of a huge upgrade, mostly for this oil. Trains are not going to be able to get them enough oil to satisfy their needs. It will eventually go into a pipeline, its only a matter of time.

[SD80MAC]

Saw K010 and heard K011 in Indiana yesterday. First time seeing a unit oil train for me!

[hoborich]

Its because of OIL trains that you now see DPU's on NS Dearborn Division.

Why do oil trains require DPUs, as opposed to other long heavy trains?

[MagnumForce]

It isn't just a long heavy train, it is a long, heavy train with liquid sloshing around back and forth that requires 3 big AC units to control. That is just a broken knuckle waiting to happen, 2 up front and one at the rear make that less of an issue. CSX won't allow more than 2 AC units on the point of a train on the Garrett and Willard subs except for the salad shooter and the oil trains which both received "special dispensation" It's right there in the timetable.