PASSING TRAINS PT1: SDN40

Train SDN40, the Dayton, Oh. to New York City special intermodal train for Schneider National, rolls into town.

Today's power is SD70MAC 8663 and AC4400 8900, running "elephant style".

Behind them are the familiar orange containers of Schneider National.

Chris and Paul prepare to inspect the  train as it rolls by, watching for any issues.

A pair of M.O.W. flatcars and a well-weathered boxcar sit in Hillsdale Yard as SDN40 rolls through.

The tail end is made up of spine cars, mostly loaded with trailers, though a lone container is among them. The sight of Schneider trailers is becoming an increasingly rare sight as the company moves to containers for shipping, liking the versatility of intermodal operation -and seeing lower costs as well.

SDN40 rolls around the bend and out of Hillsdale. While CSX is Schneider's preferred eastern partner, the AP&W has made inroads with faster service between Chicago and the Northeast. In fact, this train was proposed by the AP&W in response to Schneider's Buckeye Connection train between Marion, Oh and Kansas City as an eastern version. Schneider already liked the speed and service of the ND/DN39 intermoodal train between Dayton and NYC; having its own dedicated train was even better.
Schneider National is not the only trucking company the AP&W gives preferential service to. Stay tuned next week to see another one.