BNSF, other Class Is bullish on longer trains

BNSF Railway Co. is trying to push the efficiency-gain envelope by operating longer distributed-power (DP) intermodal and grain trains.

In May 2007, the Class I began moving 10,000-foot intermodal trains and since has operated more than 800 of the trains between southern California and either Chicago or Clovis, N.M. Now, BNSF is testing intermodal train lengths up to 12,000 feet.

On July 10, a 12,000-foot DP intermodal train traveled from southern California on-dock facilities to Clovis. The train traveled 1,151 miles toting a total of 11,256 tons of cargo and carrying 458 rail cars — besting a previous record of 435 cars carried by a 10,000-foot train in January.

"We're looking at other ways to benefit from the longer train lengths, including changes in our power configuration, expansion to other origin locations, such as our Hobart facility in Los Angeles, and extension beyond Clovis through to Chicago," said Dave Williams, senior manager of intermodal service design, in an item posted on the “BNSF News” Web site.

Meanwhile, the railroad’s Twin Cities Division on July 30 operated a 13,000-foot, 112-car grain train. The DP train traveled 225 miles from Staples to Willmar, Minn.

"This has made us look at how we use DP in a different way," said David Helbling, superintendent of operations. "We knew it would give us more flexibility, but we hadn't really started to understand how much. We kind of feel like we're standing on the edge of a new frontier."

Longer DP trains are a frontier all the Class Is hope to explore. Last year, Canadian Pacific completed a trial run of a longer DP potash train, and the railroad plans to soon begin operating additional longer trains, including grain trains. When it comes to efficiency, Class Is can’t do much better than toting a lot more cars and tonnage on one train.

Source: Progressive Railroad Magazine