HASSO HERING

Railroad cars as far as the eye can see.

Almost every ride through the mid-valley countryside makes me ask this question: What the heck is that? Take Thursday, for example.

On this brilliant late-summer afternoon I’m pedaling my two-year old Giant Rincon mountain bike along Midway Road. The road parallels the track of the Albany & Eastern Railroad. And on a siding next to the track, I count 62 railroad cars, white and very tall, with metal sides and what look like refrigeration units on one end. I’m wondering what they are doing there, and by the time I think to ask the A&E, it’s after hours and too late to call.

Judging by the markings, the cars are associated with Greenbrier, the Lake Oswego-based builder of rail cars and supplier of railroad industry services. On its website, Greenbrier says it “builds new railroad freight cars in its four manufacturing facilities in the U.S. and Mexico and marine barges at its U.S. facility. It also repairs and refurbishes freight cars and provides wheels and railcar parts at 36 locations across North America.  …  Greenbrier owns approximately 9,400 rail cars, and performs management services for approximately 228,000 rail cars.”

My guess is that this big fleet of new-looking cars — only one or two were marred by graffiti — was on the A&E siding for storage until they are delivered or needed somewhere. I’ll try to find out for sure, but if anyone knows what they’re doing there, let me know. (hh)