The Locals HINTS AND HAULS THREAD

@Mipper can wait good sir, counting the days down!

 

Wow, when it rains, it pours! I don't even know how many boxes I've got coming. Take your time grandpa, I can wait a ll year if need be! I'm excited, I don't think I have ever recieved a box from you.
Cheers

 

Killshot from last night. Awesome time drinking with some fine locals. And thanks to Keith for the hospitality!

 

As @Syracuse12 noted so well, trains do indeed go on the ground. And while slow (though not as slow as you might think), the cost per mile per ton for shipping via train is 10 times cheaper than via truck (which itself is 10 times cheaper than air). When I worked at USPS in Logistics we did not do very much rail shipping, though we did have it as an option for AMOT (alternative mode of transportation) situations. And considering the volume of mail moved, I'm sure 'not very much' could actually be a decent amount in some parts of the country We mostly used trains to move damaged mail equipment to the repair facility from mail processing centers (funny story... the first time I heard about this process the person called it 'going to jail'. I thought they were just being funny until they said it a couple times and I asked about it. Apparently the easy to fix equipment is actually sent to a nearby prison as part of their work-program...).

However, USPS has a mail processing center in pretty much every metropolitan area and back when I was there it was a very point-to-point system using trucks. I know they've done a lot of work to turn their system into more of a hub-and-spoke system to cut down on costs, but I also know its nowhere near as concentrated as FedEx's is. Plus, it looks like most/alot of the train was intermodal (basically trucks put on train cars, either container wells or flatcars), and there are a couple pictures in that link you posted of FedEx containers.

One other thing, regarding the speed of trains vs trucks. In general, yes trucks are probably going to be faster, mainly because they can start where they want and end where they want, and don't have to be driven to the railyard, unloaded, loaded onto a train, driven to the destination, unloaded, loaded onto a truck, and then driven to the destination. BUT, intermodal takes a lot of that out since instead of all that loading you just take the trailer from the truck in the origin, stick the whole container on the train, pull the whole container off the truck, and send it to its destination. And then when you factor in FedEx probably building its facilities to be close to the railyards in areas that they utilize rail shipping (just as I know USPS does for air shipping), and I'd say rail shipping isn't any slower than truck shipping and might be faster when you factor in the fact that rail doesn't stop for traffic or stop lights and the conductors don't require rest (since they either have multiple on the train or they switch out at stops as opposed to trucks which can only drive 14 hours a day).

I'm sure this is what you were looking for, right? Not a quick, concise answer?

Treznor : king of the long-winded posts about topics only I care about!

 

That's it damnit! While catching up, I said to myself 'if Steve makes one more comment I'm gonna rally some troops together to destroy that beautiful porch I was at a couple weeks ago!' Well here's that comment, time to send some messages!

 

What..........you are out of beer? Why oh why didn't anyone say anything?

Lurks back out.......

 

Ok, since we haven't had a LIF yet today, I have decided to give away some free beer since we don't do this enough.

I've had a whirlwind couple of weeks - a family vacation followed by a business trip that ran into a personal vacation. I was able to hit a bucket list item this past weekend by eating at Franklin BBQ, widely recognized as the best BBQ on earth. It was quite possibly one of the best meals I have ever had. My BIL and I got in line at 8:00-ish a.m. and we ordered everything we could, with him purchasing half of lunch.

So, to win a box of delicious beer, guess the total amount I spent at Franklin BBQ at lunch. This includes food, merchandise I bought while waiting in line, brisket to go and tax and tip. Tie breaker will be to guess the time on my receipt.

PIR rules apply (whatever the fuck that is). Open to all Locals in good standing, Official Lurker(s), SWTFYWers who are wannabe Locals, and anyone else I decide is eligible. Good luck!

 

Damnit man, I hope it works out for you bud and I wish I could help. I'm sure I could get you a job building power lines.

 

I'm jealous, was there once but didn't get in line early enough, will brisket be sent to the winner?

71$ 9:45

 

Do you have that last part permanently copied then just CTRL+V when you end a post?

Not sure if I qualify for this since I just started in here. But I will go with $93 and receipt time of 11:27.

 

$100 ! Thanks and I will forward to someone (probably Matt) if I win.

 

You are the FUKIN man Dennis!

 

Exactly the Treznoresque response I was hoping for! Thanks Mike

 

I'll go with $64 and 11:34 AM, thanks!

 

@Clarkson

$121
12:03 pm

Thanks for the chance

 

Glad to hear you're happy with the box.

Had to reach out to Nick to make sure he didn't bust your Bourbon County bottle cherry after you mentioned only having one pour to your credit. You're learning folks around here will just break your porch for one innocent comment

Enjoy the rest of those as well!

Cheers!

~Jason

 

PORCH FIGHT!!!!! Dooooooo ittttttt!!!! YOU WONT!!!!!

 

This, and pensions... People wonder why the USPS is going under.

$146.50 - thanks for the chance! Oh, and 11:55am for the tiebreaker.

 

$132.55 and thanks for the chance!! Mmm BBQ!!

 

No brisket, but beers from my travels will be included.