Railworks America

CN is spending a ton of money on the old IC tracks near me. Going from conventional sections to welded rail and new ties. Looking to the future for sure.

Same out here, they are spending millions on adding new sidings to the mainline through the mountains. The massive track upgrades and the hundreds of locomotives purchased in the past few years is a part of what is forecasted to be a large boom in the rail industry within the next few years.

buzz456 wrote:CN is spending a ton of money on the old IC tracks near me. Going from conventional sections to welded rail and new ties. Looking to the future for sure.

That line is seeing more traffic every few years or so.....might as well upgrade the track if the signals and other stuff is already upgraded.

I'm along the CN mainline in Olympia Fields, Il. They got consists waiting to get onto the old EJ&E heading east and west. I'm hearing the double toot start up all day and night.
The CN just put a crossover switch close to my house. much more traffic lately.

At this moment I think most of it is coming down the J. It'll be interesting to see what happens when they get done with this track work.

Eh, down south of you here in Mt. Pulaski they have a ton stockpiled but not used. I might snatch a picture or two next chance I get. Also, the slower they go, the more time I have to get set up for my shots.

I'm reading that a lot of this has to do with "fracking" here in the States, and the "tar sands" oil in Canada. Railroads will be making mint, as folks don't want a pipeline in their backyard.

arizonachris wrote:I'm reading that a lot of this has to do with "fracking" here in the States, and the "tar sands" oil in Canada. Railroads will be making mint, as folks don't want a pipeline in their backyard.

You said that wrong. There Is by far more oil in the sands than tar, so therefore the term tar sands is incorrect, the correct term is Oil sands...sorry, its just something that bugs me.

I have gotten used to the ethanol trains but am seeing more and more oil trains headed into the city. Speaking of that I saw a whole train of brand new tankers on the UP the other day. In many years of train watching I have never seen a freight train that all had perfect wheels. Pretty amazing.

yeah down here by centrelia, IL they restored 2 tracks that now allow over 50 train per day by CN and NS. its really really noisy down here.

I'm within eyesight of the mainline in Olympia Fields, IL. and there getting ready to lay track where they pulled it up a few years ago. (ongoing project)
Here's an interesting article explaining the IC's folly.
http://alongtherails.wordpress.com/2010 ... s-central/