Working rail roads and their tracks.

ArlyA · Mar 21, 2023

With the Cenovus (Husky) refinery reopening to full capacity soon in Superior's WI, it looks like BNSF is clearing out their yard in Superior's WI East End (Old Town). Given the drifts and snow depth, I would have thought this was a perfect job for a snow dozer but it appears a ballast regulator and wheel loader are doing the work. March 19, 2023

ArlyA · Mar 21, 2023

Hay Dude said:
So when coal is outlawed, I wonder what will happen to all the great railroads that transported it?

I see a lot of jobs lost and a lot of abandoned rails….

Then rail fans will cry, “oh no….where did all the railroads go!!!“

You might not know that mines do have a life expectancy. When these are closed, they are reclaimed.

bcp · Mar 21, 2023

Hay Dude said:
So when coal is outlawed, I wonder what will happen to all the great railroads that transported it?

The coal trains will be rebuilt to carry electricity, since the electrical distribution grid can't support all of the electric cars they want us to buy.

Bruce

Hay Dude · Mar 21, 2023

ArlyA said:
You might not know that mines do have a life expectancy. When these are closed, they are reclaimed.

Yes, I do know that, but that wasn’t my question, ArlyA.

My question was, when coal is no longer allowed to be used as a primary energy source, as is currently happening, what will happen to the railroads that haul it?

This is a thread about railroads, and one of the railroads biggest customer is coal companies, so it’s a pretty relevant question…

BravoXray · Mar 21, 2023

ArlyA said:
With the Cenovus (Husky) refinery reopening to full capacity soon in Superior's WI, it looks like BNSF is clearing out their yard in Superior's WI East End (Old Town). Given the drifts and snow depth, I would have thought this was a perfect job for a snow dozer but it appears a ballast regulator and wheel loader are doing the work. March 19, 2023View attachment 789863

That's like digging graves with a teaspoon.

MossRoad · Mar 21, 2023

You folks might find this interesting. It's an interactive map of abandoned rail lines in the US.

It takes a bit of time to load, but you can zoom in and click on the lines and it'll tell you who owned it, and some other info if available.

Check it out!

Abandoned & Out of Service Railroad Lines Map

An interactive, continuously updated map of abandoned and out-of-service historical railroad lines and corridors across the entire world.

www.frrandp.com

BoylermanCT · Mar 21, 2023

Hay Dude said:
My question was, when coal is no longer allowed to be used as a primary energy source, as is currently happening, what will happen to the railroads that haul it?

This is a thread about railroads, and one of the railroads biggest customer is coal companies, so it’s a pretty relevant question…

We still have a ways to go before coal is no longer used for generating electricity. I found gov stats showing in 2021, coal generated 899 billion kilowatt hours of electricity. Natural gas was 1,575 billion, nuclear was 778 billion and renewables like solar and wind were 826 billion. So coal is #2. To replace coals output we will have to build a lot of new solar and wind farms and power plans. No new nuclear plants are being built. We currently have 2000+ gas power plants, and less than 200 are under construction or being planned. Solar and wind farms are being built, but not fast enough to replace coal in 5 years. 80% of solar panels are made in China, and our relationship with China is quickly deteriorating, with military officials talking about war in 1-2 years. I would not count out domestic coal anytime soon.

ArlyA · Mar 22, 2023

Another video of power basin coal trains meet near Douglas WY. One rotatory dump and other gravity and both tracks are ribbon rail. My nephew works for BNSF.

LouNY · Mar 22, 2023

BoylermanCT said:
We still have a ways to go before coal is no longer used for generating electricity. I found gov stats showing in 2021, coal generated 899 billion kilowatt hours of electricity. Natural gas was 1,575 billion, nuclear was 778 billion and renewables like solar and wind were 826 billion. So coal is #2. To replace coals output we will have to build a lot of new solar and wind farms and power plans. No new nuclear plants are being built. We currently have 2000+ gas power plants, and less than 200 are under construction or being planned. Solar and wind farms are being built, but not fast enough to replace coal in 5 years. 80% of solar panels are made in China, and our relationship with China is quickly deteriorating, with military officials talking about war in 1-2 years. I would not count out domestic coal anytime soon.

Solar and wind can not provide the consistent quality energy that the other sources on this list can and do. This country needs new nuclear plants. This over reliance on natural gas plants for peak power is utter stupidity.
Coal is a viable and reasonably cost effective method of power production and much of it is still used for home heating.