Galt's Gulch

This Critical Railroad Will Shutdown

Posted by Flootus5 9 years, 2 months ago to Government
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As the author states up front, Straight out of Atlas Shrugged. No longer fiction.
SOURCE URL: http://www.investorinsider.net/heres-why-the-railroads-are-about-to-shut-down-and-drag-the-economy-with-it/

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  • Posted by ObjectiveAnalyst 9 years, 2 months ago
    Hello Flootus5,
    As long as regulators are not held responsible for the losses, the overzealous bureaucrats will continue to hinder economic growth. Our government is so over-bloated one hand does not know what the other is doing.
    As long as congress won't shut down the government and slow their paychecks they couldn't care less.
    Respectfully,
    O.A.
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    • Posted by Flootus5 9 years, 2 months ago
      I remember when Warren Buffet bought BNSF getting on ten years ago. Would he ever contemplate just shutting it down as in shutting down the motor of the world? Somehow I doubt he is of that mindset, but I wonder if there is a component here of demonstrating how absurd all these regulations are getting?

      Back in 2007 I was monitoring a coal pit highwall in Wyoming that was moving with one of his main lines on top of it. The instrumentation was indicating it was heading towards progressive failure of the wall that would have catastrophically interrupted about 12% of the nations energy supply at that time. Serious business. Shutting down the whole thing could invoke a national emergency and voila! They nationalize the railroad. For the greater good, of course.
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    • Posted by wiggys 9 years, 2 months ago
      when the government is shut down do you really think paychecks stop, doubtful.
      The man is right in doing what he is doing just shut down the rail lines not equipped and when people companies don't have service they can ponit the finger at the government.
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      • Posted by ObjectiveAnalyst 9 years, 2 months ago
        Hello wiggys,
        I expect that any shutdown will end up as those of the past; those few laid off will get back pay, so it really turns out to be extra paid vacation at the taxpayers' expense...
        Respectfully,
        O.A.
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  • Posted by $ Susanne 9 years, 2 months ago
    BNSF is one of the main legs bringing Bakken Crude out here... even tho the rush has slowed, this can not be good for the nations energy supplies. Plus I am a long time fan and supporter of BNSF (ever since it was ATSF) so seeing it shuttered is kind of like watching TT get shuttered.

    So will UP be shipping the soured contaminated soybeans from California? Better ask Ma Obalmers...
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  • Posted by $ TomB666 9 years, 2 months ago
    What is PTC? I searched and found nothing to do with railroads.
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    • Posted by WaltInBoston 9 years, 2 months ago
      PTC is shorthand for "Positive Train Control" - communication-based train control technology designed (over-designed?) with the intent of reliably providing a means to avoid train-to-train collisions, improper entry of a train into a zone, etc.
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      • Posted by Flootus5 9 years, 2 months ago
        That is fantastic. I was wondering what that unexplained acronym was in the article - hate it when they do that.

        When I was working in the coal fields of Wyoming, I had the opportunity to visit the train load out facilities at one of the big mines. They fill these huge silos with nominal sized crushed coal. Just like grain silos in the mid-west.

        This particular mine was large, so it filled and shipped about 80 separate trains per day, with about 118-120 coal cars each. The computer controlled loading system is amazing. The trains come off the main line and make a huge loop underneath the silos. The train speed is deliberately set at about 3 mph. When the first hopper car comes underneath the first chute, it is filled about halfway. It moves underneath the second chute, scales under the tracks quickly weigh the partially loaded hopper car and calculates exactly how much coal to top off the car with. Meanwhile the car behind it is at the first chute getting the initial filling. This proceeds in tandem until the entire train is filled. Each filled hopper car looks identical. Amazing industrial technology and technique. It would make TT proud.

        The operator confided with me though, that at times they have to stop the whole process. Rarely, but sometimes with the monitoring cameras they spot - a hobo - in one of the hopper cars. He could get in there to try and stay warm and could not climb out. They fish him out.

        But the operator speculated on how many hobos were never spotted and their last sight on earth was looking up at a chute opening up. How many BTU's in a hobo? Ohhh, gross.
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  • Posted by ChuckyBob 9 years, 2 months ago
    The bureaucrats will revel in the fact that they have so much power. They are not deep enough thinkers to see the larger picture. Now, if Warren wants to make a statement, I think he can afford to give everybody at BNSF a week vacation. In the long run, there will be a very small migration to UP, CN, etc., but the freight will still have to move once a waiver is hammered out and all the blue collars will get some OT.
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