Apparently this is all rail gets nowadays to tell you where it's from. Won't last too long I suspect. I gather the sticker means it's from Steel Dynamics and it weighs 115lbs per yard. The rail train recently dropped this length off at Pan Am Railways District 1, MP 187 in Cumberland, ME when it was photographed on October 9, 2010. As I write this, it has probably been installed. The location is about 2 miles short of Royal Jct. (CPF185) where the Brunswick line splits from the current main. That means this rail will see the bulk of District 1's freight trains as well as expanded Downeaster Service.Steel Dynamics has a rail plant in Columbia City, IN, part of their Structural and Rail Division. From what I've read in various places, this is a relatively new operation, which coincides with the "welded rail age". Rail lengths are more efficiently installed and maintained in longer sections. The days of the 39 foot rail length went out ages ago, though the stuff still exists. At first plants like Colorado Fuel and Iron in Pueblo, CO made rails in 72 foot lengths to make them more efficient. Apparently that was what the technology allowed and what modern rail cars could haul.
A newer leap in technology appeared in the 1970's. Plants were erected to weld short lengths into quarter mile length. Special trains were constructed to deliver these rails. Those trains had plenty of nicknames like "rail snakes", "ribbon trains" and "spaghetti trains". And now, we see that this rail was delivered from the plant in 1650 foot lengths. Maybe little welding actually happens these days. According to the plant website they make 320 foot lengths, which would be just over 5 pieces to reach the length photographed.
I still lament the loss of a stamping on the rail telling you where it's made. I guess that's part of the efficiency; loss of "identity".
BC
