Quincy port takes over intermodal train yard

Local control to improve service

QUINCY — The Port of Quincy assumed control over its intermodal train yard, long in the works as a hub for import and export traffic.

Port of Quincy Consultant Pat Boss explained the district's newly created Quincy Intermodal Services division will have three people handling rail shipping, intermodal needs and interfacing with ship lines and the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad.

"The reason taking it over is to take more of an active role in establishing the intermodal yard and getting it up and running," Port Commissioner Curt Morris said.

Previously, the port was using Northwest Container Services as the operator. Boss explained the port was one of many clients for the company.

"We felt taking this in-house, we'd get a lot more attention and a lot more daily focus," he said. "With the uniqueness of Quincy now having Microsoft, Yahoo!, Columbia Colstor, Con Agra Foods, you've got such an interesting cluster of industries there, we really have to have a lot more attention given to Quincy because we've got so many new developments there going on."

Morris said the intermodal yard is able to receive products, but requires a railroad-signed service plan designating the port district as operator. The port is negotiating with the railroad, he added.

If intermodal business expands in the future, Boss said the port would consider bringing in a new operator to help, but the main focus is bringing in containers and moving them out.

Originally envisioned as a means for shipping agricultural products, Boss said there are serious discussions about bringing in large construction products for several of the large housing developments in town and unloading them at the yard, and general discussions with the Microsoft Network and Yahoo! Inc., which selected Quincy to house data storage facilities earlier this year.

"Kind of an interesting irony," Boss said. He notes the original intentions to use the yard were for agriculture. "What may end up happening now is, we've actually started getting inquiries from industrial customers, construction interests, and contractors about bringing stuff in and unloading it there … We're seeing some things here we didn't expect."

Such a plethora of potential cargo into Quincy is a good problem to have, Boss asserted, and the port is in position to help.

"We've got the infrastructure there, we've got the ability to do that," he said. "It might not be all agricultural stuff, but we obviously want to be loading and unloading industrial equipment and other things as well. There's no reason we can't be doing that."

With Columbia Colstor's recently opened new warehouse facility, the intermodal yard is looking to do a lot with fresh and frozen products, Boss added.

"We're going to see several different angles on this facility," he said of the intermodal yard. "It should really be a good thing for Quincy and a good thing for Grant County."