News Briefs - November, 2001

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CSX Cleveland area derailment...

At 23:50 EST on Wednesday, November 28th, 2001, CSXT train Q-152-28 rear-ended CSXT train Q-362-28 at CP-8 on the Short Line in Cleveland, OH. The accident occurred at milepost QDS-8 in Mayfield, OH, about eight miles west of Cleveland, OH. Train Q-152-28 was powered by Union Pacific SD70M 4041, Union Pacific C40-8W 9646, and Union Pacific C40-8W 9536 and consisted of 24 loads and 0 empties that totaled 4,625 tons and stretched 5,371 feet in length. Train Q-362 was powered by two locomotives and consisted of 71 loads and 1 empty that totaled 6,482 tons and stretched 5,810 feet in length. The accident which occurred on track one fouled both main tracks. The derailment caused all three locomotives and the first head car on train Q-152-28 to derail, with the first two locomotives leaking fuel. Four cars on train Q-362-28 derailed, including the 58th, 59th, 71st, and 72nd head cars. Train Q-152-28 was enroute from Chicago, IL to Kearny, NJ and train Q-362-28 was enroute from Indianapolis-Avon, IN to Buffalo, NY. Hulcher and R.J. Corman were both summoned from Toledo, OH to assist in clearing the derailment. Luckily, there were no injuries reported and no hazardous materials were involved. Preliminary reports estimate equipment damage at $91,000 and track damage at $3,000. The cause of the accident is currently under investigation. CSXT had hoped to have track one back in service by 14:00 EST and track two back in service by 16:00 EST today.

Empire Mine update...

Bruce on the OreRail list reports that Marquette's Empire Mine pellet furnaces were shut down yesterday. Workers are currently winterizing the plant for an extended shutdown.  Mining stopped almost immediately on LTV's announcement and other operations stopped as the remaining crushed ore ran through the plant.  Stockpile shipments will continue until the stockpiles are empty.  So far, the shutdown is not being called permanent. Provisions are being made for eventually restarting the plant.  Mark Simonson reports that the LS&I may have lost about 20 positions several weeks ago.

Huckleberry Railroad daylight trains...

Ken Borg reports that the Hucleberry Railroad at Crossroads Village in Flint will again be running some daylight trains.  Trains will run at: 09:30, 10:20; 11:10; 12:00;12:50 and 13:40 on December 4th, 11th and 12th. On December 5th, there is no 09:30 train but the others will run. Power will be their ex-Alaska steam locomotive.
On all other days, train starts about 16:30.

NS update on network redesign and line sales...

Norfolk Southern’s network redesign is only two-thirds complete, but it has already produced measurable benefits, the railroad’s chief operating officer, Steve Tobias, said at an NS meeting with financial analysts in New York. 

“Our locomotive utilization today is running better than 72%,” said Tobias. “Our goal was 65% and if you will recall, we have historically in recent years been somewhere in the 61-62% area. Our train velocity is up 7.7% over third quarter last year. Terminal dwell time has decreased 4.1% to 23.3 [hours] for the quarter just passed. Our ontime train performance in general across our system has increased 30.5% quarter over quarter. Locomotive velocity is up 2.8%, and our gross ton-miles per gallon of fuel are up 4%.” Tobias said these gains are attributable to the network redesign as well as “the efforts of our people.”  Tobias made these comments at a Q&A session that followed NS’s formal presentation of its third-quarter financial and operating performance.

Responding to a question about line sales, NS Chairman, President, and CEO David R. Goode said there were few unprofitable lines left in the system, though “some are not as profitable as we would like.”  “We have to find ways of paring those lines off without losing the profitability that is inherent in them,” said Goode. “So we’re negotiating different and more complex transactions with third parties than we used to be doing, and we’re doing it in some creative ways.” While he said it was too early to provide details, he described the program as one of “constructive partnerships.”   From Railway Age.

Sugar Beet processing facilities in Michigan...

According to Russell Hallock on the MichiganRailroads list, there are currently 5 operating beet sugar factories in Michigan.  They are at the following locations:   Monitor Sugar Co. has one on the southwest side of Bay City, and Michigan Sugar Co. has four: at Carrolton, just north of Saginaw; and at Caro, at Sebewaing, and at Crosswell.

Dave Patch writes that Monitor Sugar is the only one of the five to receive beets by rail.  Their beets are transported from a load-out on the Huron & Eastern (possibly at Deckerville) and are interchanged to the Central Michigan outside Saginaw.  Old GM&O woodchip hoppers are used for this business.  The Michigan Sugar plants at Carrollton and Sebewaing are significant outbound shippers, but of exactly what he's not sure.  The Carrollton plant had a long string of covered grain hoppers on its siding recently,. and he caught the Huron & Eastern switching the Sebewaing plant a year ago and they were handling covered hoppers and non-placarded tank cars. He assumes the latter contained a liquid form of sugar.

Walt from Essexville writes:  "I am somewhat familiar with Monitor Sugar. I pass by their plant frequently. I believe they receive most of the beets by truck. They do, however, receive some beets by rail. The plant is served by the Central Michigan Railway. Beets arrive on rail cars belonging to the Saginaw Valley Railroad.  Since the Saginaw Valley serves the thumb of Michigan, I assume these beets are from Tuscola and Sanilac Counties.  Monitor Sugar has their own locomotive, if you can call it that. It is yellow and resembles a truck tractor. It is not very large nor very powerful. I have never observed it moving more than two cars at once. Last year and the year before, Monitor borrowed a retired GTW locomotive (#4433, I believe) from a Saginaw railroad
museum.  I have also observed tank cars at the plant. I am not sure if these tank cars bring commodities to the plant or take by-products away from the plant.  I cannot give you much information about Michigan Sugar. I do know that their parent company, Imperial Sugar, is experiencing financial difficulties. The four Michigan Sugar plants are in the process of being sold to the growers because of this. I have also heard or read speculation that the Croswell plant may be closed."

Possible NS Michigan Line changes...

Some news about the Norfolk Southern Michigan Line from Mark on the RRMichigan@yahoogoups.com list. The 41M(ex-ML441) will be moved off of the Michigan Line onto the Detroit Line with a pickup in Toledo from Jeep. The 49E(ex-STEL - Sterling Heights to Elkhart) and 48E(ex-ELST - Elkhart to Sterling Heights) will be moved over to the Michigan Line soon, and run with Jackson area employees. The best part about this is plan is there should be some time that this train will run during the daylight.  As soon as the track is connected at Ecorse Jct. (which allows NS trains to run down the Detroit Line) this change should take place. The NS is talking about adding 6 trains a day to the Detroit Line.

Owosso Santa Train December 1st...

On Saturday, December 1st, Santa will be arriving in Owosso, MI by way of the Tuscola & Saginaw Bay Railway (TSBY).  The train will be prepped in the shop area with a few coaches.  It will back north out of town on the St. Charles line at about 11:00 a.m.  It is scheduled to arrive in western Owosso at the crossing near the Pere Marquette caboose at noon (with Santa on the pilot) to board radio station contest winners for the final pull to the South Washington Street.  The train will stop and board children until about 5:00 p.m.  After the kids do their Santa thing, it will time for the adults to enjoy themselves with a small party for staff.  From Trainorders.com.

Train crash still baffles investigators...

Investigators hope an event recorder from one of two Canadian National freight trains that collided November 15th will offer clues about the cause of the deadly accident.  The crash November 15th left two men dead and two others seriously injured and spilled 3,000 gallons of diesel fuel in a nearby swamp.  Investigators hope to return to the accident scene this week to recreate events leading to the crash.  From the Detroit News, Oakland County metro section.  11/25/01

Photo of Last Year's Wisconsin Central Santa Train in Manistique...

Dave Fulkerth sends in an interesting shot from last week, when the Wisconsin Central ran its Santa Train in the Upper Peninsula.  Not only does Manistique and the U.P. rarely see a passenger train any more, but the Illinois Central power pulling it is a site to see.   I believe that this is the same IC power used to pull then-candidate George Bush's train through Durand in last fall's Presidential campaign.  My thanks to Dave for sending the photograph.  It is too wide to use on the home page and the winter light in the UP made getting a good shot difficult, but we wanted to share it with you.  Hopefully, CN will run it again this year, now that they are full-fledged owners of the Wisconsin Central.

Artrain 2001 Schedule Complete, moves West next year...

Artrain, which is based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, has completed its 2001 mid-west tour.  In 2002, the train will move to sites on the west coast and Pacific northwest, according to their website.  We assume that the train will return to Ann Arbor until next year's tour begins.  We have removed the "Where's Artrain?" link from the home page, as it will be leaving Michigan and the region in the future.  A link the the Artrain site, as well as Artrain's schedule is located on the Other Michigan Sites page on MichiganRailroads.com. 

Details on CMGN Santa Train...

It is our understanding that the Central Michigan Railroad Santa Train, which will feature a newly repainted CMGN (former GTW yard) caboose (photo-right), will operate on December 1st.  Operation of the train will coincide with the opening of the Santa House, which is located in Veterans Memorial Park in Bay City.  The train is called for 5:00 p.m. and the Santa House plans to open at 6:00 p.m.  The train will travel from Wenona Yard on the north side of Bay City, to the park and back.  As contributor Paul Cameron points out, that's a tough time to get pictures!

NS selling old DT&I Tecumseh Branch...

Brian Westgate posted the following information on the RR History discussion group:  The Surface Transportation Board reports today that NS is selling the remains of the Tecumseh Branch to the Tecumseh Branch Connecting Railroad, which Brian suspects is a subsidiary of the ADBF, and will probably be merged into that entity.  Here is the main body of the notice:  Tecumseh Branch Connecting Railroad Company-Acquisition and Operation Exemption-Norfolk Southern Railway Company Tecumseh Branch Connecting Railroad Company (TBCR), a noncarrier, has filed a notice of exemption under 49 CFR 1150.31 to acquire from Norfolk Southern Railway Company and to operate approximately 2.1 miles of rail line (known as the Tecumseh Branch). The rail line is a portion of the former Detroit, Toledo & Ironton Railroad located in the City of Adrian and Township of Madison, Lenawee County, MI, and extends between milepost 44.2 in Madison Township and milepost 46.3 in Adrian.  TBCR certifies that its projected revenues as a result of this transaction will not result in the creation of a Class II or Class I rail carrier, and that its projected annual revenues will not exceed $5 million.  The transaction was scheduled to be consummated on or after November 1, 2001.
 

NS Thanksgiving Holiday Shutdown plan...

Due to reduced volumes associated with the Thanksgiving holiday, Norfolk Southern will reduce local, yard, and road operations on Thursday, Nov. 22, and Friday, Nov. 23. However, operations will continue to the extent necessary to meet service commitments, local customer requirements, and specific customer production requirements.  Questions regarding service at local facilities can be addressed to Customer Service-Central Yard Operations at (800) 898-4296 or local NS account managers.

Conrail may disappear sooner than thought...

We received a note from Anthony Rzucidlo, who was talking with a CSX railroad police officer recently.  He said that during the first quarter of 2002 Conrail will disappear from the railroad scene.   According to the officer, Conrail Shared Assets in Detroit, New Jersey and Philadelphia will be absorbed by CSX and NS which already owns Conrail.  This is consistent with other information we have received about a potential 5 year transition plan where Conrail would be absorbed, but the date referred to by the railroad police officer might be an acceleration of the original plan.

Possible Central Michigan Santa Train?

Word has it that Central Michigan might run a Santa Train in December.  They have repainted a caboose, possibly for this purpose.  Details will be posted as we get them.

CSX 2001 Thanksgiving Holiday Shutdown plan...

All merchandise and bulk (coal, grain, steel, rock, etc.) trains originating after 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 21st will be discontinued unless the crew is going to their home terminal.  Deadheading of train crews will resume at 6:00 p.m. Friday, November 23rd to position train crews for start up.  Bulk train operations will resume at 6:00 p.m. Friday, November 23rd consistent with crew availability.  Merchandise train operations will resume at 1:00 a.m. Saturday, November 24th.  Merchandise trains will bet priority to be operated after start up.

All major terminals will be closed from 7:00 a.m. Thursday, November 22nd until 7:00 a.m. Saturday, November 24th, except for terminals at major interchange points such as New Orleans, Memphis, St. Louis, and Chicago, which will operate to maintain fluidity and ensure a smooth return to normal operations.

UTU membership approves merger with BLE...

By an almost 6 to 1 margin, members of the United Transportation Union have approved a merger with the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers. The vote was certified Monday, Oct. 29, by the American Arbitration Association, which counted the ballots.  Although the final date for receipt of ballots was Sept. 17, the final count of UTU ballots was delayed by a court action brought by three BLE officers challenging the process by which the BLE polled its own members. The lawsuit was subsequently withdrawn and the BLE is in the process of sending new ballots to its members, which will be counted by the AAA on Dec. 10. There was no legal challenge to the UTU voting procedures.   The UTU ballot count was 23,368 in favor and 4,146 opposed. A UTU-BLE merger, with a target date of Jan. 1, 2002, would create a 185,000-member United Transportation Union-Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, which would be the bargaining agent for all unionized rail operating employees in the U.S. and Canada, U.S. yardmasters, Canadian rail traffic controllers, and thousands of other railroad, bus, air, and mass transit workers in both countries.  From Railway Age, October 30, 2001.

 

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