GRAIN RECAPS
Switch a milestone for CSC
c
By Joe Kelley
ommodity Switching Company, Inc.
switched its first unit train out of the
Port of Victoria. This is a significant
milestone for both the port and for CSC.
First of all, it demonstrates to the port, the
port’s customers and the Union Pacific
Railroad that we have the capability and flexibility to accommodate these trains in proper
fashion. Second, it translates into more
value for all involved. The train in question
consisted of 80 railcars, each car carrying
approximately 100 short tons of frac sand
for one of the port’s customers. Basically, the
unit train is a train where all of the cars on
the train are originating from one point and
will travel together to its destination as one
complete train, as opposed to manifest trains,
which are made up of several cars of various
commodities between distribution hubs —
in this case, railcars are following a similar
pattern as passengers on a plane who have to
change planes at a hub airport to reach the
next destination. The Union Pacific railroad
has agreed to allow CSC and the Port of Victoria to work an additional four more sand
trains over the next 30 to 45 days on behalf of
the port’s customers. After this time period,
all parties will review the activity and process
and decide what the next step should be in
the process to enable a regular schedule for
the port’s customers.
The CSC team, stakeholders, the Port of
Victoria and its customers and the Union Pacific Railroad have all worked hard to make
this happen. This was a challenge put forth
to the group, and we were able to respond in
quick fashion.
Not only is this important for CSC and
the Port of Victoria, if this scenario develops
the way we hope it will, we could realize the
ability to originate 75-car unit grain trains
out of this location, which would have a
tremendous impact on the freights United
Ag could enjoy as a shipper and the overall
value it could present to its members.
Seed of the South
District Sales Manager: Cord Willms
PO Box 997 • El Campo, Texas 77437
361.960.4399
Terral Seed Soybean Varieties
The Science Behind the Seed
REV 49R22
• 4.9 RM - indeterminate
• Good plant height with bushy plant type
• Excellent wide row bean
• Handles most soil types & irrigation adaption
REV 51R53
• 5.1 RM - indeterminate
• Good plant height with bushy plant type
• Excellent wide row bean
• Best suited for mixed to lighter soils
REV 56R63
• 5.6 RM - determinate
• Good plant height with semi bushy plant type
& big wide leaves
• Very good disease package
• Adapts to most soil types & row spacing
• Flood irrigation adaption
REV 57R21
• 5.7 RM - determinate
• Very tall plant with wide leaf & bushy plant type