These facilities, while still is use are becoming somewhat rare. They're called “team tracks,” so named because back in the day (1800s) the recipient of freight shipped by rail would take his wagon and team of horses to a team track to unload the shipment. Large firms of course had spurs built right to their doors. Every station, no matter how remote, had a team track or freight house, and frequently both. The freight house, usually a structural part of the depot, would be the place for holding LCL freight (less than carload) until the owner came to retrieve it. It’s my understanding that because of logistic and liability issues railroads are not eager to handle team track traffic any longer.
Your certainly welcome Chuck. I’ll second your motion for a shout out for Jesse! At the tender age of 80 I’ve just discovered that the older I get my understanding of how little I know increases geometrically. “Just a Car Guy” is in significant measure a remedy to that shortcoming. A real source of joy for me is to fire up my pipe with a bowl full of good tobacco in the early morning hours, pour myself a Guinness XXX, turn on some good music and go looking for something of interest compliments of Jesse (I think I came up short once about two years ago). At any rate it’s always very satisfying to come across some tidbit of car stuff that’s of interest and new to me.
These facilities, while still is use are becoming somewhat rare. They're called “team tracks,” so named because back in the day (1800s) the recipient of freight shipped by rail would take his wagon and team of horses to a team track to unload the shipment. Large firms of course had spurs built right to their doors. Every station, no matter how remote, had a team track or freight house, and frequently both. The freight house, usually a structural part of the depot, would be the place for holding LCL freight (less than carload) until the owner came to retrieve it. It’s my understanding that because of logistic and liability issues railroads are not eager to handle team track traffic any longer.
ReplyDeleteThank you rlk. I like these little human interest sidebars. Shout out to Jesse for providing the forum. Thank you, too!
ReplyDeleteYour certainly welcome Chuck. I’ll second your motion for a shout out for Jesse! At the tender age of 80 I’ve just discovered that the older I get my understanding of how little I know increases geometrically. “Just a Car Guy” is in significant measure a remedy to that shortcoming. A real source of joy for me is to fire up my pipe with a bowl full of good tobacco in the early morning hours, pour myself a Guinness XXX, turn on some good music and go looking for something of interest compliments of Jesse (I think I came up short once about two years ago). At any rate it’s always very satisfying to come across some tidbit of car stuff that’s of interest and new to me.
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