How do utility pole yards work?

[craigolio1]

Hey all.

My prototype has several utility pole loading yards and I’d like to model one. I can’t seem to find any pictures of the operations though. Just the cars. I am aware of one specific location in a yard where they were transfered  from trucks to trains. On they trains they are banded in various combinations. Some fit on one stake car. Others are long enough that they pair two stake cars with an idler flat in the middle. But these loads would be too large for trucks so I think they would have been sorted at this spot and then reloaded.

Can anyone offer any insight into this industry? Would it be more common to be manufactured off site, trucked to the yard, and then bundled and loaded onto the flat cars? Or to load onto flat cars where they are manufactured?

If anyone has any pics of one of these operations I’d love to see them.

Thanks.

Craig

[dem34]

The large yards for utility poles are usually just distribution points, the smaller poles get distributed by truck to smaller yards inside towns, big ones usually stay in a major distribution point until needed. When they need to move a big one by truck it just gets loaded even if it sticks out 50ft behind the truck it just gets a red flag and an escort.

[NtheBasement]

If you know where the yards are I'd start by finding them on Google Earth and then seeing if they have useful street views.

[Philip H]

Here's the satellite view for Carpenter pole and piling in Wiggins, MS.  They have a stub siding for loading - I'm guessing two or three cars at a a time.

https://goo.gl/maps/MEDWZXdhy79ahsio9

[C855B]

Here's the satellite view for Carpenter pole and piling in Wiggins, MS.  They have a stub siding for loading - I'm guessing two or three cars at a a time.

https://goo.gl/maps/MEDWZXdhy79ahsio9

That stub is disconnected. I see the shadow of a second spur ~1500 ft. southeast of the extant remnant. Still a good reference for rail service that "once was".

[wcfn100]

I know the Minnesota Commercial has a yard in New Brighton.

https://goo.gl/maps/vWWTjDv7pbL3eDuA7

Maybe there's something useful there.

If you Youtube search "Minnesota Commercial New Brighton" there are some videos of the area.

Also, you could find some info searching "Bell Lumber and Pole" "New Brighton".  Here's a shot from the Minnesota archives.



If you were to reach out to any Twin Cities railfan groups, I'm sure someone would have some information.

Jason

[CR4100]

Here is a PECo facility near me.  https://goo.gl/maps/cKyMEU8JqHcPfwbJA You can clearly see the siding where cars are spotted as well as the pile of poles.

[jpf94]

Craig,

In Minnesota there is a state law that requires each utility with above ground poles to have a percentage of replacement poles available at all times.  This creates the need for yards across the state.  My previous employer had one of these yards in their transload complex.  The facility had 3 sizes of poles.  These came on railcars, sources were New York State and Alabama.  Cars ranged from 42' pulpwood cars converted to pole cars by the IC, LTTX cars, TTPX bulkheads and long sets with idlers.   The siding used was a runner track from the mainline to a customer spur.  The car is tied down, blue flags put up and the customer's pole truck comes and offloads the car and sorts the poles to their plan.   When the car is empty the driver calls customer service, reports it empty, our yard manager goes out confirms, and pulls the blue flag, car is ok to move.     

Joe

[jpf94]

here is how an 89' car is handled for offloading

[mu26aeh]

Now if we could get some loads, we'd be set.  There is a pole yard at the west end of the CSX yard in Hagerstown, MD that I need to include on my rebuild.  MT has a pole load but looks more like HO scale poles, and certainly not enough given the proto photos

[craigolio1]

Now if we could get some loads, we'd be set.  There is a pole yard at the west end of the CSX yard in Hagerstown, MD that I need to include on my rebuild.  MT has a pole load but looks more like HO scale poles, and certainly not enough given the proto photos

Yup. I’m thinking tapered dowels. But I will need ALOT.

[craigolio1]

Thanks everyone! There’s some great links and photos hear. Unfortunately my prototype no longer exists. So I can’t google earth the locations, but seeing what you all have posted has given me some really good ideals on how to fit it in the space I have. My spur will be on a curve and hold about three cars. Cool that that’s a realistic size.

Craig

[cfritschle]

Thanks everyone! There’s some great links and photos hear. Unfortunately my prototype no longer exists. So I can’t google earth the locations, but seeing what you all have posted has given me some really good ideals on how to fit it in the space I have. My spur will be on a curve and hold about three cars. Cool that that’s a realistic size.

Craig

Craig,

It doesn't sound like you need any additional info, but if a historical aerial photo would be helpful, you might be able to find one here:  https://www.usgs.gov/centers/eros/science/usgs-eros-archive-aerial-photography-aerial-photo-single-frames?qt-science_center_objects=0#qt-science_center_objects

You need to scroll down to the bottom of the page, and click the EarthExplorer link.  That link takes you to a map of the US, and using the map, click on the location you are wanting to find an aerial photo for.  Then click on the Data Sets tab, and select the Aerial Photo Single Frames option under Aerial Imagery.  Aerial Photo Single Frames should be the third option down the list of aerial imagery.  Next step is to click the Results tab.  Aerial photos from various years will be listed.  It may take a few tries to find the aerial photo that gives you the best view of your area of interest.   

If you create an account, you can download high resolution aerial photos and no cost.  However, most of the older imagery is not as high of resolution as what can be found on Google Earth.   

[Chris333]

I dunno some of those old photos are better than Google.

[sirenwerks]

Now if we could get some loads, we'd be set.  There is a pole yard at the west end of the CSX yard in Hagerstown, MD that I need to include on my rebuild.  MT has a pole load but looks more like HO scale poles, and certainly not enough given the proto photos

Hmmm, I wonder if someone could design different ,length poles and 3D print them. Ya think?