12-26-2009, 10:28 AM
Interestingly there is a BN boxcar that has been sitting a few miles from here for close to 3 years, it's last load was to a Giant Food warehouse in 2007 (about 500 feet from where it still sits). Hate to see the per diem on that car. I can also recall "re-appropriating" a 3 unit set of NS road power that came into our yard and using it for over a week on CSX coal pool trains before NS sent a Road Forman of Engines to our yard looking for them. We were really power short, and were barely getting enough coal to the plant to keep the dumper crew from getting furloughed. I suspect how fast you return a car or locomotive has more to do with your local conditions, the economy, and car/loco availability then any AAR guideline...
-Dave