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Spartan Motors in Charlotte

Posted: Wed Sep 16, 2020 12:29 pm
by David Lang
Just looking at google maps here, there is a large industry in Charlotte called Spartan Motors located on the Southwest end of town right along the CN main. Looks like they make fire trucks and other vehicles.

I wonder if CN marketing has approached them. I read an article in October 2020 issue of Trains Magazine that CP is really going after new business. Maybe CN can follow their lead and go knocking on some doors, starting with Spartan right in their own back yard. Maybe they have already approached Spartan, or maybe its not worth it to them, but from the maps image, its an impressive place in my opinion.

C'mon CN, lets get after it! Get that new business and add to your revenue! :D Not as simple as that I know, but with the absence of coal these days, and lower carload volume elsewhere, I think the railroads need to consider getting after more business to make up for these recent losses in carloads and revenue. The article in trains about CP states that CP has gone after small things here and there, individually not much, but TOGETHER, they are adding up to something. This is how the mindset needs to be, or...I wish it was. Current thinking is less industry along the way and thru trains point to point, PSR, efficiency, and the like, but creativity and thinking outside the box wouldn't hurt either.

So far in my career, I have worked in the auto industry for 5 years, now back in Defense work. During that time I remember the term, "change or die". Now obviously railroads are not the auto industry, but I still think this generalization can be applied to any business, sooner or later.

David Lang

Re: Spartan Motors in Charlotte

Posted: Wed Sep 16, 2020 12:59 pm
by jrgerber
They did so well with Campbell Soups in Napoleon Ohio. :roll:

Re: Spartan Motors in Charlotte

Posted: Wed Sep 16, 2020 6:05 pm
by GTWChris
Spartan recently sold its fire truck manufacturing business called Spartan Emergency Response. Spartan Motors is now calling themselves The Shyft Group.

In Charlotte I believe they make chassis for delivery vehicles and RVs. That probably lends itself better to rail transport than fire trucks.

Re: Spartan Motors in Charlotte

Posted: Wed Sep 16, 2020 8:07 pm
by joeyuboats
Oh yes---Campbell Soup. I heard that DT&I used to get at least 20 cars a day from them, and now there are no rails to the plant. A bullseye in reverse.

Re: Spartan Motors in Charlotte

Posted: Wed Sep 16, 2020 10:12 pm
by GTW6401
The fire truck division has traditionally only manufactured the chassis in Charlotte. They are driven mostly to Brandon, South Dakota or Nebraska for final assembly.

Most fire departments prefer to have their new vehicles driven from the factory to an acceptance test at the dealer.

Re: Spartan Motors in Charlotte

Posted: Fri Sep 18, 2020 2:04 pm
by DLM
They assembly trucks for Isuzu at the Charlotte plant. Many of the parts come in on 40' containers over the BNSF and UP ramps near Chicago. All leave via OTR. They also make motor home chassis.

Re: Spartan Motors in Charlotte

Posted: Sat Sep 19, 2020 1:49 am
by penn central
Years ago i used to have a run from Eaton Axle in Henderson Ky to Spartan Motors in Charlotte empty racks down and racks loaded north with fire truck axles straight to the plant in Charlotte from 1991 to 1996 many moons ago.

Re: Spartan Motors in Charlotte

Posted: Sun Sep 27, 2020 11:15 am
by dmitzel
A million dollars to install a mainline switch with PTC. This doesn’t include the customer-owned siding track and dock.

This is why you’ll rarely see a new, Class 1 rail-served industry outside those that ship unit-trains.

Re: Spartan Motors in Charlotte

Posted: Sun Sep 27, 2020 11:45 am
by DaveO
Class 1 railroads have discouraged smaller shippers long before PTC was an issue.

Re: Spartan Motors in Charlotte

Posted: Sun Sep 27, 2020 3:13 pm
by Mike H
dmitzel wrote:
Sun Sep 27, 2020 11:15 am
A million dollars to install a mainline switch with PTC. This doesn’t include the customer-owned siding track and dock.

This is why you’ll rarely see a new, Class 1 rail-served industry outside those that ship unit-trains.
A million dollars lol?!?!?! You better double check your math because you multiplied by the wrong number lol.

Mike H

Re: Spartan Motors in Charlotte

Posted: Sun Sep 27, 2020 5:13 pm
by AARR
This would be a better post if Mike H added something meaningful to the conversation rather than just ridicule dmitzel.

For example Mike H worked for a Class 1 railroad and still has contacts. Give us an idea what it costs to install a switch in a line with PTC. What factors are involved with a small shipper deciding to install a switch and spur. I've noticed a new spur or two installed at lumber companies who seem to only get a few cars or so a month. If it's so expensive to install a switch why did they do it? Can you provide an example of a recent case where this was done?

And Mike H you and your team at LSRC are hitting homerun after homerun adding new business and growing existing business. Maybe you could share an example from your own experience.

Look at Raildude's Dad posts. He responds to questions (even dumb and inappropriate ones) like a boss!

dmitzel is a long time poster and as far as I'm concerned welcome to post anytime.
Mike H wrote:
Sun Sep 27, 2020 3:13 pm
dmitzel wrote:
Sun Sep 27, 2020 11:15 am
A million dollars to install a mainline switch with PTC. This doesn’t include the customer-owned siding track and dock.

This is why you’ll rarely see a new, Class 1 rail-served industry outside those that ship unit-trains.
A million dollars lol?!?!?! You better double check your math because you multiplied by the wrong number lol.

Mike H

Re: Spartan Motors in Charlotte

Posted: Sun Sep 27, 2020 5:44 pm
by ns8401
AARR wrote:
Sun Sep 27, 2020 5:13 pm
This would be a better post if Mike H added something meaningful to the conversation rather than just ridicule dmitzel.

For example Mike H worked for a Class 1 railroad and still has contacts. Give us an idea what it costs to install a switch in a line with PTC. What factors are involved with a small shipper deciding to install a switch and spur. I've noticed a new spur or two installed at lumber companies who seem to only get a few cars or so a month. If it's so expensive to install a switch why did they do it? Can you provide an example of a recent case where this was done?

And Mike H you and your team at LSRC are hitting homerun after homerun adding new business and growing existing business. Maybe you could share an example from your own experience.

Look at Raildude's Dad posts. He responds to questions (even dumb and inappropriate ones) like a boss!

dmitzel is a long time poster and as far as I'm concerned welcome to post anytime.
Mike H wrote:
Sun Sep 27, 2020 3:13 pm
dmitzel wrote:
Sun Sep 27, 2020 11:15 am
A million dollars to install a mainline switch with PTC. This doesn’t include the customer-owned siding track and dock.

This is why you’ll rarely see a new, Class 1 rail-served industry outside those that ship unit-trains.
A million dollars lol?!?!?! You better double check your math because you multiplied by the wrong number lol.

Mike H
The real question is what exactly is involved in hooking in a switch equipped for PTC? I’m assuming it’s a standard switch modified somehow with sensors fed into wherever the nearest base antennas for the system are located or something like that. If you’ve already got all the parts I would think that’s gonna also reduce the cost.

Re: Spartan Motors in Charlotte

Posted: Sun Sep 27, 2020 6:01 pm
by Raildudes dad
Google is my friend - data from 2017
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/rail-spu ... rence-kahn

Re: Spartan Motors in Charlotte

Posted: Sun Sep 27, 2020 6:17 pm
by ns8401
Raildudes dad wrote:
Sun Sep 27, 2020 6:01 pm
Google is my friend - data from 2017
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/rail-spu ... rence-kahn
So about $841,000 For an “average” spur with PTC equipment. A cool half a mil just for the switch... wow.

Re: Spartan Motors in Charlotte

Posted: Mon Sep 28, 2020 1:36 pm
by kd_1014
ns8401 wrote:
Sun Sep 27, 2020 6:17 pm
Raildudes dad wrote:
Sun Sep 27, 2020 6:01 pm
Google is my friend - data from 2017
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/rail-spu ... rence-kahn
So about $841,000 For an “average” spur with PTC equipment. A cool half a mil just for the switch... wow.
I'll spend $20 tops take it or leave it