Cover story:
CN’s ounce of preparation for many pounds of grain and Mother Nature
Each summer, CN formulates plans for handling what’s to come in late fall and winter: the next western Canadian grain crop and next series of snowstorms and bone-chilling temperatures.
In August, the Class I published its 2022-23 grain plan, which describes the preparations, investments and operational changes the railroad is making to transport a coming crop that’s expected to rebound from a previous drought-impacted harvest. Those maneuvers include recruiting 500 more workers, adding 57 new high-horsepower locomotives and 1,000 new covered-hopper cars, better balancing traffic in all corridors and improving usage of the eastern network.
Soon, CN also will issue its 2022-23 winter plan, which details the actions and innovations aimed at maintaining safe and efficient operations even in the worst of weather conditions. In the past, the railroad has deployed stand-by engineering crews to address infrastructure issues; staged emergency track panels, ballast, and snow-clearing and melting equipment; used more distributed braking cars and better air-hose connector gaskets to maintain a consistent air flow through brake lines; and formed a fleet of winter-prepped locomotives.
So, what still needs to be accomplished with grain crop and winter planning? What has CN learned from past grain harvests and difficult winters? Which aspects of planning are most challenging? And how much preparation is enough preparation? For answers, Managing Editor Jeff Stagl converses with Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Rob Reilly, Chief Marketing Officer Doug MacDonald and other senior CN executives.
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