I was expecting a package Thursday from UPS, our usual courier, but when I checked the internet Wednesday to see where it was, the site said:
That’s the first time we’ve ever seen that. We had always thought of UPS moving things by air or truck. I Googled “train derailments”, and it was an eye-opener. Apparently derailments are just one of the costs of moving freight by train. The BNSF Service Advisory Site said our delay was caused by a train going off the tracks in Gallup, NM, and that we could expect a 24- to 36-hour delay.
When I checked again yesterday it said the package had gone out for delivery at 6:30 am. That would usually mean we would get it in mid-afternoon, but instead the poor fellow didn’t get here until 9 pm. He said he had four more deliveries to make and then an hour drive back. “By end of day” means the drivers keep going until they’ve finished. Our guess is he had an unusually heavy load because of the backup caused by the derailment. I’m impressed by both the company and the drivers. And Andy and I are both impressed at how often trains go off the tracks. Who would have guessed?
Looks like they load the FedEx and UPS trailers on a hot shot train. Found an example on YouTube. About a minute and twenty seconds into it, you start seeing the UPS trailers: http://youtu.be/N0gvSgzyip4
Thanks! It makes a lot of sense.
If you want to update yourself on some conspiracy theories you can do no better than go to http://beforeitsnews.com/alternative/2013/08/list-of-all-train-derailments-since-april-2013-still-think-its-a-coincidence-2729398.html
I’d be willing to bet most of the problems here are aging infrastructure and the enormous amount of freight that goes by rail. And there’s always human error, plus the need for better safety regulations in the light of the new oil boom.
And not to be left out of the hit list, here is some news from my side of the world.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-24952135
Only 1200 people killed in five years compared to the billions of passengers in that time? That sounds like a good safety record to me.
The freight business is an invisible one to most people. But more things go on in freight than anyone could ever imagine.
My first proper office job was in a freight company.
I would love to know more. I hadn’t even thought about it until my package was delayed. We do a lot of online shopping and this was the first problem of this sort. Clearly the system usually works.
I’ve often heard that if we knew what was being transported by train we would cringe at the thought of a derailment and possible escape of toxins.
they race through our city hundreds of times a day!
thanks rummy for the links.
Hopefully the railcars are well designed — apparently the ones carrying hazardous liquids here need to be improved. It sounds as if you’re not aware of any actual accidents where you are?
It turns out I’m happy about the delay, I learned a lot!
Interesting. My community just spent three-four weeks with traffic detours, due to the Railroad replacing all rail ties and track. It was quite fascinating to watch.
Gee I see all of the containers and realize why so many truckers are out of work. It’s definitely a fuel savings, but I feel for those unemployed.
I hadn’t heard that truckers are out of work. I’ve read that trucking companies are having a hard time filling positions because it’s such a hard and dangerous job and other jobs pay better. If you have read something different I would love to see it.
Here’s another article, about the new rules for truck drivers. The idea was to reduce accidents, but because of the way the industry operates, it’s a nightmare for the drivers.
interesting subject – so had to look at home (NZ) found someone is maintaining a wikipedia website on said matters
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_rail_accidents_in_New_Zealand
according to them, the most recent one caused a load of frozen cakes to go off!
Thanks for the link. That is interesting — it sounds as if your accident rate is low. Again, I’m glad my package was delayed because I’ve learned so much.
Truck driving paid a great deal more than laboratory jobs some years ago! http://rummuser.com/?p=11023
Here is a classic case of over regulating a career and seeing it go down the drain or the cost going up.
Indian Railways gets about 70% of its revenue from freight, most of it from bulk movements like ore, coal, petroleum products and food grain. Passenger fares are cross subsidised to some extent and Second Class rail travel in India is a very economic option. One can also travel in style in various classes of air conditioned comfort but at much higher fares.
It turns out truck driving is hard job to set rigid rules for without making things worse.