News Briefs - June, 2003

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TSBY track work...

Brent Iler reports that work is being done on the Tuscola & Saginaw Bay Railway in Grand Traverse County.  New ties are currently being put in, and old ties removed. Also, sidings repaired and crossing signals upgraded.

CSX and MMR file for abandonment in Gratiot County...

CSX Transportation, Inc. (CSXT) and Mid-Michigan Railroad, Inc. (MMR) have filed a notice of exemption for CSXT to abandon and MMR to discontinue service over approximately 5.5 miles of railroad from milepost CBE-40.00 at Alma, to milepost CBE-45.5 at Elwell, in Gratiot County, MI.   CSXT and MMR have certified that: (1) no local traffic has moved over the line for at least 2 years; (2) there is no overhead traffic on the line; (3) no formal complaint filed by a user of rail service on the line (or by a state or local government entity acting on behalf of such user) regarding cessation of service over the line either is pending with the Surface Transportation Board (Board) or with any U.S. District Court within the 2-year period; and (4) the requirements on federal law (environmental reports, historic reports, transmittal letter, newspaper publication and notice to governmental agencies have been met.

Remote "Drone" at Rougemere...

Today at Rougemere yard, RCPHG4 or drone unit #9162 was spotted alone on the Eagle Street viaduct.  It appears that the unit will be based at Dearborn's Rougemere yard.  The 9162 is believed to be former B30-7 #5556 of Chessie System heritage.  At the yard's administration building, was another RCPHG6, #9301, a former C30-7.  This unit is likely headed elsewhere, but we have been told that Rougemere expects to see four more of these units coming soon on order.  It is unclear after the dust settles how many will be here.  The 9301, a former C30-7, was paired to a NS geep and a CSX GP38-2.  These versatile "drones" will can be coupled to any regular unit that they want to operate by remote control.  There are no traction motors, and all that is needed is the MU hookup.   The official class designation for four axle power is RCPHG4, for six-axle power it is RCPHG6.   From Michael at the Chessie Chapter.

Norfolk Southern July 4th Operating Plan...

Norfolk Southern will continue to operate over Independence Day, Friday July 4, 2003 in order to protect service commitments, local customer requirements and specific customer production needs during this holiday period. Delays may occur due to lighter traffic volumes, which may necessitate train consolidations or reduction of local and yard operations. Additional delays may take place on interline traffic where connecting carriers have reduced operations for the holiday. If you have any questions regarding service at your local facility, please contact Customer Service-Central Yard Operations at (800) 898-4296, or your Norfolk Southern Account Manager.

CN cleans up Rock derailment...

Canadian National Railroad officials expect to be running trains by 9 p.m. tonight on the track where another derailed Monday evening.  Some of the track was damaged and will likely be replaced today, according to a CN official.  Sixteen cars of the 54-car train derailed shortly after 8 p.m. Monday, spilling hundreds of tons of iron ore pellets, about five miles north of Rock on M-35. Each car was carrying approximately 70 tons of pellets.  The train was traveling south to the ore docks in Escanaba.  The railroad’s work crews are using backhoes and tractors to clean the mess, a railroad official said. Crews have cleaned off the highway area and no lengthy traffic delays are expected, according to Delta County Sheriff’s Department Lt. Gary Ballweg.  Brief delays may occur when the railroad’s clean-up crew needs to move equipment, he said.  The sheriff’s department is not investigating the incident because no one was injured, only railroad property was damaged and no chemicals were spilled.  CN is investigating the derailment, however, and could not comment on the cause of the accident this morning.  The derailment is not CN’s first; the company experienced another a few years ago on a Chicago North Western Railroad track, the CN official said.

CSX GE rebuild shows up at Rougemere...

One of CSXT's rebuilt General Electric units for remote control service arrived at Rougemere today.  Now number 9162, this is a former B30-7 locomotive that had had it's vents welded over and it's stack removed.  This is one of what will become 75 old GE units fitted in this fashion, all retired and brought back on the roster.  It is currently unclear if this locomotive will be based here, or is merely passing through.  It is still painted in CSX scheme 6.  From Nathan Nietering at the Chessie Chapter.

New video previewed by NYC Society in Detroit...

Everyone is invited to the Saturday, July 12 at 10 a.m. meeting of the Michigan Central District, New York Central System Historical Society at the Detroit Historical Museum. The program will feature the premier of the hour-long video "The Michigan Line" by Gary Medford of Bent Rail Productions.  This brand new video features trackside scenes along the former Michigan Central/PennCentral/Conrail line from Detroit west with present-day Amtrak passenger and Norfolk Southern freight trains along with the bridges, stations and some historic images. The U.S. Postal Service's special display train operated by Amtrak is also featured.  The Detroit Historical Museum is located at 5401 Woodward Avenue on the northwest corner of Kirby two blocks north of Warren. It is just north of the Main Branch of the Detroit Public Library and on the opposite corner to the Detroit Institute of Arts.  Parking is available in the museum lot off Kirby between Woodward and Cass. Just push the white button on the call box once and tell the attendant you're there for the Michigan Central District meeting.  Normal museum admission and parking fees will be waived for those attending the Michigan Central District meeting.  Questions? Call Bob Cosgrove at 313-499-3466.

Train derails near Rock...

No injuries were reported after a train loaded with 16 cars of iron ore derailed shortly after 8:00 p.m. Monday (6/23), five miles north of Rock on Highway M-35, according to Delta County Sheriff's deputies.  The accident is still under investigation, said Delta County Sheriff's Lt. Gary Ballweb.  Ballweb said Highway M-35 will have traffic delays throughout the day as crews work to clean up the derailment.  Motorists should watch for signs and traffic directions from deputies.  From the Escanaba Daily Press.

E&LS Update...

ELS ran a Pembine turn today (6/23) to bring the 700 out of the shop over to Pembine and pick up the 1221. The coupling between the prime mover and the air compressor on the 21 is coming apart. The 4211 is still at the shop awaiting a new traction motor. The 402 is next to be repaired; it requires at least one new wheel set.

GE has given us a contract to repair 261 cars that are currently in storage. Most of them are covered hoppers. The Channing switch engine started digging them out of the Champion line last week and we will probably pull the Wells line as we get time.

Damaged Overpass in Chicago...

A fire seriously damaged a key rail overpass in Chicago is impacting Norfolk Southern operations in the area.  In coordination with other carriers, NS is working to determine best alternate routes for traffic which normally moves through this area.  However, customers with affected traffic should expect delays.  Updates will be posted as more information is available.  For customers with committed service agreements, Force majeure is invoked effective 8:00 a.m. Monday, June 23, 2003 on all traffic originating or moving through the above noted area.  For further information, call NS at 800-635-5768.  From Norfolk Southern.

Tilden and Empire mines to combine...

ISHPEMING - The Empire and Tilden mines have combined their operations to improve productivity and remain competitive, Cleveland-Cliffs, Inc., announced today.  The combined operations of the two mines, known as Cliffs Michigan Mining Company, began June 1. However, a number of details must be finalized to fully implement the plan, CCI officials said.  The two mines employ about 1,400 people, which will be reduced mainly through retirements to achieve productivity goals, CCI spokesman Don Ryan said.

Mining will continue in the Empire and Tilden mine pits and both plants will continue to be used for processing, according to a CCI press release. The benefits will result from using and coordinating the mines' resources more effectively.  From the Marquette Mining Journal.

Think tank urges not to privatize Amtrak...

The Economic Policy Institute is calling on Congress to renew the federal commitment to Amtrak and urging lawmakers to avoid the temptation of privatizing the rail system, a proposal that has gained traction among some budget hawks and conservatives.  The report comes as the Senate Commerce Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Subcommittee is scheduled Thursday to hold a hearing on options for funding Amtrak, including privatization.

In a report sent to committee members Wednesday, the Economic Policy Institute laid out a number of key economic, security and environmental arguments against privatizing Amtrak. For instance, the institute noted that passenger trains are 125 percent more energy efficient than airplanes, 278 percent more efficient than cars and 94 percent more than buses. EPI also argued that claims that Amtrak is a drain on the federal budget are exaggerated, pointing out that, since 1971, Amtrak has received $21 billion in federal money, while in 1999 alone the Transportation Department spent $23.6 billion on highway projects.
 

CSX, NS to establish direct ownership of NYC, PRR...

WASHINGTON, D.C.  June 4, 2003 - CSX Corporation (CSX), Norfolk Southern Corporation (NSC), and Consolidated Rail Corporation (Conrail) today announced the joint filing of a petition with the Surface Transportation Board (STB) to establish direct ownership and control by CSX Transportation, Inc. (CSXT) and Norfolk Southern Railway Company (NSR), the railroad subsidiaries of CSX and NS, respectively, of two Conrail subsidiaries - New York Central Lines LLC (NYC) and Pennsylvania Lines LLC (PRR).  CSXT and NSR are currently managing and operating NYC and PRR, respectively, under operating agreements approved by the STB in 1998.  CSX and NS jointly acquired Conrail in 1997.

The proposed transaction would replace the existing operating agreements and allow CSXT and NSR to operate NYC and PRR, respectively, via direct ownership.  After the consummation of the proposed transaction, CSXT and NSR, as direct owners of NYC and PRR, respectively, would no longer be dependent upon the consent of the other for many decisions relating to their management of the underlying assets of NYC and PRR.

The proposed transaction would not affect rail operations, service or competition, and would have no adverse effect on customers or the employees of CSXT and NSR. Furthermore, the proposed transaction does not involve those assets of Conrail referred to in the petition as the Shared Assets Areas (separately designated as North Jersey, South Jersey/Philadelphia, and Detroit), and would have no effect on the competitive rail service provided in those Shared Assets Areas. Conrail would continue to own, manage and operate the Shared Assets Areas as previously approved by the STB.

NMRA Train Show cancelled...

The NMRA National Train Show, scheduled for Toronto, Ontario, has been cancelled over the concern about SARS, according to Mike Frezell.

CSX 1139 spotted at Rougemere...

For all of you railfans following the 1139, Anthony Rzcudilo reports that the switcher has been observed in the CSX Rougemere Yard in East Dearborn for the past few days.

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