Railroads Struggle to Ship Coal in U.S.

Associated Press ^ | June 10, 2006 | BOB MOEN

[decimon]

IMHO, we need to move from coal-fired plants anyways.

Don't think there's another option but nu-kew-ler and those plants would take time to build.

[decimon]

Tinian,

Any idea of what is the railroad infrastructure away from Big Sky country? Is the situation further east hopeless?

[ClearCase_guy]

Ken Dannager and Dagney Taggert would have had this figured out by now.

Somebody had to say it! I can't believe that Atlas Shrugged was written 50 years ago. Most prescient book ever written.

[Thermalseeker]

I'd prefer to leave gov't out of this to let the market respond to demand.

Here here!

[Wonder Warthog]

"Here's another aspect where W and the gov't have failed us. As with the gasoline 'crisis', we are sorely lacking in keeping up and expanding the infrastructure required to fuel our nation."

Wrong. All "expanding the infrastructure" for RAILROADS is the responsibility of the RAILROADS, and has always been. Unless you want to nationalize them, which will only make things worse.

[Colorado Doug]

Don't think there's another option but nu-kew-ler and those plants would take time to build

Especially since we don't seem to be in the process of building any yet.

[meyer]

Maybe AMTRAK could make money if they started hauling coal instead of empty taxpayer-funded cars.

On a more serious note, this is but one aspect of our nation's infrastructure that is suffering due to demand outstripping supply. As we continue to (illegally) import excess people, we will continue to see the stresses on our energy supply, water, sewer, roads, schools, and other aspects of "common" infrastructure.

[decimon]

Especially since we don't seem to be in the process of building any yet.

And the time and technology is ripe. Gov't pushed those plants back when they weren't needed and the potential dangers unknown. Now that they are needed and the technology is proven, they get little more than lip service.

[DManA]

A railroad wants to ship Powder River coal right through the heart of Rochester Mn. The CEO of Mayo Clinic says get out of town. Feds want to give the railroad a couple of billion with one hand while bad mouthing them at the same time. Crazy stuff:

http://sev.prnewswire.com/transportation-trucking-railroad/20060508/CGM02408052006-1.html

[taxed2death]

"The US rail system is one of the most inefficient, labor union intensive, incompetent systems in the world."

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Strange...I was just out in the desert about 2 months ago near Barstow and was absolutely amazed at the length of the trains I saw running across the US. I looked across from my left to my right and saw 5 separate trains each about a mile long. The ones in the distance were specks...

I was thinking to myself..WOW... there's 5 MILES of goods being moved right before my very eyes...and being done with probably less than 20 guys on the five trains.


When you factor in the total amount of RR employees nationwide and figure out the tonnage they move... I'd be hard pressed to think of a more efficient mode of transporting goods....with the exception of container ships.


Just my opinion though....

[mmercier]

no one will give a spit until the lights go off for a week or so.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

BN and UP have become highway robbers with higher and higher rates per car. Plus 15-18 percent fuel surcharges. The problem is the many RR mergers have destroyed competition.

[decimon]

If the coal trains are such a solid business proposition, why couldn't DM&E get private financing?

Good question. Amazing that the Feds can think only in terms of billions of dollars.

[em2vn]

"...1,125 tons of coal an hour at full throttle."
Help me out on this. Maybe I am just a skeptic at heart but this seems like a tremendous amount of coal to provide energy to 1.6 million homes.
Are any of you familiar with the workings and of a coal fired generating plant and able to substantiate that the 1,125 tons figure is correct?

[NaughtiusMaximus]

I've lived in Flagstaff, AZ for 26 years. The rail traffic you watched in Barstow also moves through Flagstaff. Over the years I've convinced myself that I can make a good estimate of the state of the national economy by monitoring the amount of rail traffic plus the direction of empty and full cars. The general economy, by my method, is booming along nicely.

[decimon]

Help me out on this.

Wish I could but the numbers mean nothing to me.

[aumrl]

You got it Tinian. I believe the new RR mentioned has existing rt of way mostly in place also. Apparent problem on UP , BNSF caused by accumulated, spilled coal dust deteriorating the roadbed. Deregulation has alleviated or cured many RR inefficiencies of the past. The last thing we need is more govt intervention.

[dhuffman@awod.com]

A small constant fraction of coal residue is radioactive. Times a zillion tons burned gives us a ton and more per day in the environment, where it started but where you can get to it. Dilution is the solution to pollution.

[epow]

I would love to see the railroads make a comeback in the common carrier business. If it would get some of the heavy trucks off our highways I would be willing to wait a day or two longer to have my goods delivered.

The interstate highway system in this general area,(outer Atlanta metro)is becoming one long line of big trucks running well over the speed limit. If you're in their way you don't get any consideration, unless you're willing to run 10-15 mph over the limit all you will see in your rear view mirrors is the grill of a Peterbilt 10 feet behind your bumper. If a car is involved in an accident with a semi truck there is no doubt about which party is going to walk away without a scratch and which one will be hauled away by the meat wagon.

[BluH2o]

I also quibble about BNSF and UP being "the main shippers of coal" in the U.S. I imagine Norfolk Southern and CSX would object to that statement.

So would a several barge companies that transport PA, WV, and OH coal on the Ohio River.