Shortline Videos

[AL1]

Using my unfair advantage of living next to a shortline, I made these videos when I heard them coming... Granted, the neighbors were having some tree stumps removed, so you can definately here that in the background. I do not have a tripod, so as you can image I got creative.. Duct tape and a solid tree will work wonders if used properly

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuXTTdc3JHM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thtDj2NdXp8


Sounds like these brand new CSX hoppers could use some oil, but then again what fully loaded grain hopper doesn't make noise?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DwrtvTo3HE


I liked the way this train looked, so I went into town to shot them over the main crossing:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXM0aA-Zxdk

More of these soon to come (hopefully). Their trains won't be this long for much longer with their biggest customer relocating. Best get these shots while I can!

 

[UP2CSX]

AL, at least the Wiregrass Central looks to be in better shape than the Three Notch, with its 10 mph speed limit over the whole line. A lot bigger power than the TN's motley collection of GP-38's too. Who is the customer that's closing down? From what I read, the Wiregrass was the only profitable shortline the G&O has in Alabama.

 

[AL1]

AL, at least the Wiregrass Central looks to be in better shape than the Three Notch, with its 10 mph speed limit over the whole line. A lot bigger power than the TN's motley collection of GP-38's too. Who is the customer that's closing down? From what I read, the Wiregrass was the only profitable shortline the G&O has in Alabama.

Very true, don't be fooled though, this particular curve especially has caused a number of derailments over the years (at least two that I photographed).

Pilgrim's Pride is the customer that is moving. The mill generates about 110 carloads bi-weekly, roughly 90 cars of unit grain (in those shiny CSX hoppers) and some additional cars of soy. As you can imagine a loss of 110 carloads is quite significant. By the looks of it, CSX gave the company a "generous donation" so they would move to the Dothan Sub. mainline. Trains will probably be reduced to once or twice a week trips to serve the remaining customers.

 

[trainman1980]

Using my unfair advantage of living next to a shortline, I made these videos when I heard them coming... Granted, the neighbors were having some tree stumps removed, so you can definately here that in the background. I do not have a tripod, so as you can image I got creative.. Duct tape and a solid tree will work wonders if used properly

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuXTTdc3JHM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thtDj2NdXp8


Sounds like these brand new CSX hoppers could use some oil, but then again what fully loaded grain hopper doesn't make noise?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DwrtvTo3HE


I liked the way this train looked, so I went into town to shot them over the main crossing:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXM0aA-Zxdk

More of these soon to come (hopefully). Their trains won't be this long for much longer with their biggest customer relocating. Best get these shots while I can!

I subbed to you and added you as a friend.Nice videos.

 

[IronBeltKen]

Excellent videos! I especially like the hi-hood GP38's. Too bad that one company is relocating though...

 

[UP2CSX]

AL, I hadn't heard that Pilgrim's Pride is moving. Any idea why? Alabama has alaways been a cheap place to produce chicken. Believe me, though, that curve still looked better than any track on the Three Notch. I'm glad you're getting the videos because it seems like the shortline era in Alabama is beginning a slow fade to nothing.

 

[AL1]

Instead of trying to explain, here is a link to the original article about the groundbreaking for the new mill. http://www.dothanalabamamall.com/pinckard

I personally think the reason is to allow easier competition with the Equity Group's massive feed mill near Troy..

The mill at Enterprise will remain open, but will instead receive shipments by truck. Unit grain will be delivered directly to this new mill instead of the Wiregrass Central (maybe a deal can be worked out with the Wiregrass Central switching the new mill for CSX? It's either that or a takeover by the big orange blob).

I have a shot of the Pilgrim's Pride mill taken back in March. This mill expands every day it seems, it doesn't look like this any more..

Here is a couple shots from a derailment on the aforementioned curve; This was right behind my house:

This should look familiar, a sister unit to the Three Notch #2886:

Cause of derailment was a heat kink. A similar derailment at the same spot in 1995 was caused by a hurricane (lots of rain..soft ground). Back then, flaming red GP9's were still in use.

 

[UP2CSX]

Boy, I guess that track isn't in such good shape if a heat kink can cause that kind of flopover derailment.

The newspaper article certainly makes it clear that Pilgim's Pride wanted to rid itself of Wiregrass's troubles. It's way cheaper to have mainline off loading than set out on an interchange track, have the Wiregrass haul it to Enterprise (assuming it gets there in one piece), unload it, and then haul it back to the interchange. Was the Wiregrass doing the switching at the mill in Enterprise? That might still be an opportunity for them but I suspect Pilgim's Pride will pick up a couple of Trackmobiles and handle it themselves. I wonder how long it will be before the G&O puts the whole mess in bankrupty and files for abandonment?

 

[AL1]

Boy, I guess that track isn't in such good shape if a heat kink can cause that kind of flopover derailment.

The newspaper article certainly makes it clear that Pilgim's Pride wanted to rid itself of Wiregrass's troubles. It's way cheaper to have mainline off loading than set out on an interchange track, have the Wiregrass haul it to Enterprise (assuming it gets there in one piece), unload it, and then haul it back to the interchange. Was the Wiregrass doing the switching at the mill in Enterprise? That might still be an opportunity for them but I suspect Pilgim's Pride will pick up a couple of Trackmobiles and handle it themselves. I wonder how long it will be before the G&O puts the whole mess in bankrupty and files for abandonment?

It doesn't get there in one peice, there isn't enough space. Usually it takes 3-5 days to unload the entire unit train.

Loosing these guys makes me nervous because there is a rather large trestle on the property. It could easily wash away and they'd be stuck with no traffic to justify reconstruction.

The Army could take the 7 miles of line that connects Fort Rucker to the interchange. I doubt they'd be interested in the rest of the line. Which of course brings us to the big orange blob (Genesse & Wyoming), who have a particular habit of buying up rather useless lines.