BM R&R

Metramonkey · Post by **Metramonkey** » Sat Mar 24, 2007 10:29 pm

Hi everybody,

Hey, does anybody know if anything ever came of the idea for laying a track into the playa? I was talking to some people a few years back and there was some discussion about trying to run a rail in and save on some of the traffic.

I was thinking that it's still a good idea, a lot of work but certainly feasible, raisese some interesting questions.

See ya at the burn,
Phineus Gage

Bob · Post by **Bob** » Sat Mar 24, 2007 10:36 pm

Define "feasible".

Post by **mdmf007** » Sat Mar 24, 2007 11:16 pm

Even a cheap siding would cost millions. BLM would probably never permit it either. More feasible would be to simply use the existing sidings in Gerlach, and use tractor trailers to haul the goods / people out to the playa. thats only 10-20 miles depending on where BRC is placed.

who knows.

Zulegoona · Post by **Zulegoona** » Sat Mar 24, 2007 11:26 pm

not that I even think itâ€™s a good idea but wasnâ€™t there a modular quick lay track big plantations used for banana harvests,... or was it sugar cane,... or was it tar from the tar pits? what ever

it still would be a logistical nightmare even for east coast burners to get there shit together in time to fill a container or two to ship out by rail, and have equipment to unload it on the playa.

Post by **AntiM** » Sun Mar 25, 2007 7:15 am

Keeping a freight train of any kind on schedule is a logistical nightmare. Add burners to the mix? Yikes.

The lakebed would never take the weight of rails and trains without some serious railbed laid down. Which would alter the playa quite a bit, and I'd think ruin it.

Yep, existing sidings and trucks. That's how it is done in real life.

motskyroonmatick · Post by **motskyroonmatick** » Sun Mar 25, 2007 11:16 am

A perfect use for intermodal containers. It would work if well planned out and used on a mass scale. Probably another way Gerlach residents would get pissed off(some of them). I like rail alot but trucks are great point to point.

Steven bradford · Post by **Steven bradford** » Sun Mar 25, 2007 8:12 pm

I don't see what precisely it would accomplish, or what the point of it would be.

Anyways, here's a banana monorail for your enjoyment>

http://www.geocities.com/ferrobanana/trains.htm

pmheart6 · Post by **pmheart6** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 8:31 am

I am thinking intermodal could be a great option. I have not done it, but you are seeing those pods appear so you don't have to load a moving truck to move into storage anymore.

For a burn you could acquire a container rented or bought depending on funding and prep levels you are looking for. I didn't see Gerlach having an intermodal station, but someone mentioned sidings. I am not familiar with all the terms, but I am guessing that is what is used to move the containers from rail to truck. There should be a small or portable enough one to have at Gerlach.

Pro's:

Energy efficient. The train is much more efficient than a truck. Then we would have to drive a car. But we would probably already be following the truck with a car.

For those that would not be bringing a truck/semi. It frees up space in the car.

It can build a team. Gets people together to put stuff on a container.

Cons:

Double trips as each container is brought in from Gerlach or Reno, then the truck leaves to get another.

Too commercial?

Unknowns:

Does it cost more or less than a truck.

Other notes:

DPW uses containers.
Do they intermodal it or just truck it.
It could cut down on rush traffic. People can ship the containers to there camp and have it waiting, then leave having it picked up after they leave.

Post by **AntiM** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 8:44 am

A siding is a spur off the railroad, usually dead-end, where the train can "pull over" so to speak or drop off individual cars. Do not mistake a siding for an intermodal site; I'm willing to put money on it that Gerlach does not have the specialized crane/forklifts needed to off-load an entire container. That siding is a leftover from working mines, perhaps? Or when cattle were hauled by rail?

Likely, the container would have to be unloaded manually, and the railcar would sit in the same spot for the week until it was repacked, again, manually.

Just guessing, but I'm fairly certain it would end up working that way. I could be wrong, but I'm not going to call the UP, I hate 'em.

Energy efficiency does not always correlate with overall energy expenditure.

Post by **mdmf007** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 9:39 am

The sidings in gerlach serve USG - United States Gypsum, our countries largest producer of drywall. Right in little Gerlach.

It would be difficult to coordinate drop off and pick up without interfering in USG's business so who knows.

I did extensive research on rail transport and think it would not be feasible for BM because all of the containers to go to BM are scattered around the country. They would have to be consolidated at a switch yard and then transported enmasse to the playa.

for a one week event. It would be cheaper to rent a tractor locally albeit not nearly as efficient and rent out space to your friends. With a qualified driver you can rent a tractor and b set for 2k for the week. a b set would give you two trailers and a hell of a lot of room to move stuff. We support 30 people with one 53 foot trailer.

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 10:01 am

Something else to think about--nightmare of unpacking gear and making sure it goes to the right people. IDs? Shipping manifests? With BURNERS? Tote that Barge, Lift that Bail, Herd that Cat...

Post by **AntiM** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 10:18 am

mylarry fantasizes about his company letting him use one of the refrigerated trucks for a week. One of the rail trailers would run all week on the single deisel 100 gal. tank. Entire theme camp in a reefer box.

We don't think it will happen. They don't lease out for private use.

See? A CDL is indeed handy, you could have your driver be a burner ....

Lassen Forge · Post by **Lassen Forge** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 2:15 pm

If we put those big ol' flotation tires (with extras on the axle lines for more weight distribution) on a c-130 (Or a Galaxy?)you could do it and have all kinds of fun. There is a rumor the llc looked into an option like this but realized the liability of having that big ol' plane get stuck was too much. You could air drop the stuff in, but then how do you get it off playa?

Lassen Forge · Post by **Lassen Forge** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 2:18 pm

He oughta ask. Never know what they might say... the worst would be no... but what if they happened to say yes? Arctica Jr...

(And yes, we *will* find space for you in our village...)

My dream? Welllll... If we put those big ol' flotation tires (with extras on the axle lines for more weight distribution) on a c-130 (Or a Galaxy?)you could do it and have all kinds of fun. There is a rumor the llc looked into an option like this but realized the liability of having that big ol' plane get stuck was too much. You could air drop the stuff in, but then how do you get it off playa?

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 3:00 pm

Reefers are available for rent.
Cheaper to buy though.
The efficient way to do it is persuade the driver to stay for the event.
I'm using reefers without the units to move.
Containers are higher than trailers.
I do have a line on a few with reefer units but passed due to shipping costs and chassis cost.

MDM, just what do you do?

Post by **mdmf007** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 3:20 pm

We use a reefer with a bulkhead built out of conventional lumber half way in the unit Half is cold storage, and chill space set at 65 degrees (the HIGHEST setting a reefer will go) with some couches, and racks for food, sleeping if you need it. The food is right next to the reefer in an old fridge with the back cut out. Since the reefer is binary (on or off cycling as needed) it keeps the food frozen solid, as the temp sensor is ouside the fridge.

Be careful though, Reefer trailers are extremely powerful freezers. Someone set the controller to the lowest position and at about 6 AM, it was 12 degrees inside. Wouldnt it be funny to have a dozen or so burners frozen solid out on the playa? - explain that one!!!!

the other half is open to the elements with a vent from the cold half to air condition as necessary. it has a 75 gallon diesel tank on the trailer, and we usually come back with a quarter tank.

32 of us went last year in the tractors trailer, and 2 suburbans. This works out to a very efficient per person way to travel.

later all

Post by **AntiM** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 3:23 pm

Oooh, I get it, MDM is a coyote!

Post by **mdmf007** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 5:06 pm

"dont worry, I know the roadrunners are to fast and smart to catch....But the Coyotes are stupid"

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 5:12 pm

Entheon was using reefers to flash freeze participants at night.
It is supposed to extend life or something.

Finnegan · Post by **Finnegan** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 7:43 pm

I stumbled upon the dance club/reefer truck one year. (Name? anyway) My god! What a nice respite!

12 degrees is a bit much tho.

robotland · Post by **robotland** » Thu Mar 29, 2007 6:52 am

Steven bradford wrote:I don't see what precisely it would accomplish, or what the point of it would be.

Anyways, here's a banana monorail for your enjoyment>

http://www.geocities.com/ferrobanana/trains.htm

NOTE TO SELF: Title of Hit Single from next album..."Banana Monorail".

I'm still sort of lobbying for a Man-o-Rail, running alongside the main processional from Center Camp to The Man. I plan a short, terrifying prototype rail transport device for within Apokilitika this year, spanning a length of upwards of twenty feet. Yeah, you heard me. That's "twenty" with a "T".

robotland · Post by **robotland** » Thu Mar 29, 2007 6:55 am

...And isn't the BM RR featured in the game "MANopoly"?

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Thu Mar 29, 2007 5:22 pm

robotland wrote:...And isn't the BM RR featured in the game "MANopoly"?

Along with the JotS "Sh*t Line"