Newswire
WEST CUMBO TOWER CLOSES: CSXT's historic former B&O interlocking tower at West Cumbo, West Virginia, has closed. Its final day of service was November 21. MORE.. [Bull Sheet, December 2000]
STREET-RUNNING IN CHAMBERSBURG, PA., ENDS: Street-running in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, has ended. CSXT local freight D773 was the last train to operate down the middle of Water Street, which took place as part of a 'spike-pulling' ceremony on November 2, attended by dignitaries..[Bull Sheet, December 2000]
CSXT AND UNION PACIFIC EXPAND 'EXPRESS LANE' SERVICE: CSXT and Union Pacific have announced expansion of 'Express Lane' service to include Pacific Northwest origins and Southeastern destinations. The expedited, guaranteed service for perishables provides for transit times of nine days to Atlanta, Georgia, and ten days to Lakeland, Florida, with reimbursement provisions for late delivery. [Bull Sheet, December 2000]
BNSF, MATSON INTERMODAL INTRODUCE 'PACIFIC COAST EXPRESS': Burlington Northern Santa Fe and Matson Intermodal System have begun operating a new intermodal train between Los Angeles and Seattle. Called the Pacific Coast Express, the train will initially operate twice a week. [Bull Sheet, December 2000]
CN, BNSF ANNOUNCE JOINT MARKETING AGREEMENT: Canadian National and Burlington Northern Santa Fe have announced a joint marketing agreement by which each railroad will be able to market and price new carload business on selected routes involving both railroads' lines. [Bull Sheet, December 2000]
AMTRAK TAKES DELIVERY OF FIRST OF 85 NEW P42 LOCOMOTIVES: Amtrak has taken delivery of the first of 85 new P42 locomotives to be delivered over the next 12 months. The units feature contemporary styling and advanced technology systems, including electronic fuel injection for greater fuel economy. [Bull Sheet, December 2000]
INDIAN HEAD CENTRAL SUSPENDS DINNER TRAIN OPERATION: The Indian Head Central has suspended its dinner train operation due to FRA track defects. The company had begun limited service over U.S. Navy trackage earlier this year between Indian Head and White Plains, Maryland. [Bull Sheet, December 2000]
AMTRAK ACELA EXPRESS TO BEGIN SERVICE: Amtrak has announced the introduction of revenue service of its long-awaited Acela Express for December 11. Tickets will go on sale November 29. There will be a ceremonial launching of the service on November 16 with day-long activities running from Washington north to New York and Boston. Amtrak will use the interval between the ceremonial launch of service and the start of regularly scheduled service to run special preview trains and to run charter service for professional sports teams. The first revenue service will involve a single round trip serving 11 intermediate stops between Washington and Boston. Additional service will be offered as equipment becomes available, and the second revenue offering will include a 'Super Express' running non-stop between Washington and New York. By the time all 20 trainsets are delivered next summer, Amtrak will be running 19 round trips daily between Washington and New York, and 10 round trips between New York and Boston. Each train will consist of a locomotive on each end with six passenger cars in between, including a first-class car, four business-class cars, and a cafe car. Seating capacity will be for 304 customers. [Bull Sheet, November 2000]
MANAGEMENT JOBS TO BE CUT, BONUSES ELIMINATED, CSX SAYS: CSX has instructed each department to assess the work its people do and "to identify work that is unnecessary or redundant," over the next several weeks. In a letter to employees on October 4 from Bill Ryan, senior vice president-human resources, it was explained that the company's cost structure continues to be too high and a significant barrier to generating the financial performance of which the company is capable. "As that process goes forward, some non-union jobs will be eliminated." The departmental reviews will be conducted at CSX Corporation, as well as its three business units - CSX Transportation, CSX Intermodal, and CSX Technology. "It is anticipated that these reductions will be involuntary," the letter added. It was also explained that bonuses will not be paid to non-union employees for this year, beyond a special payment made earlier in 2000. Most of the staffing adjustments will occur in headquarters functions, according to the letter, with minimal impact in field operations. Affected employees will be offered transition benefits. [CSX, 10-4-00]
MILLER TOWER CLOSES: CSXT's (x-B&O) Miller (R) Interlocking Tower at Cherry Run, West Virginia, has closed. Its door was locked shortly after 11PM on Sunday, September 24, 2000. Twenty-five people were in attendance at a closing ceremony which included the singing of the hymn "Bless this House" (modified to fit the occasion), a benediction by a clergyman, a reading of the final entry on the tower's train sheet, a recessional for operators from the past who were there in spirit, a final sounding of the tower's horn, and musical accompaniment by a guitarist and a drummer. MORE..
GE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS TO ACQUIRE HARMON INDUSTRIES: GE Transportation Systems has agreed to pay approximately $350-million in GE shares for Harmon Industries Inc., a supplier of railroad equipment and services. [Bull Sheet, September 2000]
BNSF TO ACQUIRE 700 HIGH-TECH REFRIGERATED BOXCARS: Burlington Northern Santa Fe will acquire 700 high-tech refrigerated boxcars over the next two years. The 72-foot cars have a capacity of 8000 cubic feet, almost double the capacity of the company's existing 50-foot cars. The new cars will be equipped with a global positioning system, and a separate two-way satellite communications system designed to detect temperature fluctuations and make necessary adjustments. [Bull Sheet, September 2000]
CSXT TRAIN CREW, DISPATCHER COMMENDED FOR QUICK ACTIONS: An alert freight train crew and dispatcher combined to help avert a potential conflict between an Amtrak passenger train and a Virginia Railway Express commuter train earlier this month. Al Crown, senior vice president-transportation, says Engineer John Stone and Conductor Carl Shrewsbury quickly notified the Operations Center in Jacksonville when they suspected a faulty signal may have put the Amtrak train on the same section of track with the VRE train, which was stopped at the Fredericksburg, Virginia, station. MORE.. [CSXT, 8-24-00]
AMTRAK ADOPTS NEW LOGO: Amtrak has replaced its inverted arrow logo which has represented the company for 29 years. The new brand identity features a 'Travel Mark whose shape, convergent lines, and suggestion of movement capture the excitement of the travel experience.' [Amtrak]
AMTRAK OPENS NEW AUTO TRAIN FACILITY: Amtrak has opened its new $25-million Auto Train facility in Lorton, Virginia. Improvements from the previous facility include a 450-seat waiting room, a cafeteria, six new vehicle unloading ramps, and a 1500-foot platform that can handle an entire train in one move.
AMTRAK REPORTS RECORD TICKET REVENUE IN JULY, 2000: Four weeks after unveiling its unconditional satisfaction guarantee for guests, Amtrak announced an all-time record ticket revenue of $107.2-million in July and a 10-year ridership high of more than two million passengers during the month. The revenue represents an increase of 11.8 percent over July 1999. "Amtrak is having its best summer ever, because we're putting the guest at the center of everything we do and backing it up with a one-of-a-kind guarantee," said Amtrak president George Warrington.
MICROSOFT TO INTRODUCE NEW TRAIN SIMULATOR PROGRAM: Microsoft Corporation will introduce a new Train Simulator software program for home computers, to become available next spring, covering the route through Marias Pass in Montana, Amtrak's Northeast Corridor, Britain's Flying Scotsman, Kyushu and Odakyu railways in Japan, and the Venice-Simplon Orient Express. Player activities range from keeping passenger time schedules while managing unforeseeable barriers, to negotiating freight trains through mountain passes in winter storms, to navigating some of the world's busiest commuter lines, according to a press report. [Bull Sheet, August 2000]
BNSF AND CN TERMINATE PLANS TO COMBINE: Burlington Northern Santa Fe and Canadian National have terminated combination agreement that would have created North American Railways, Inc. The companies had announced their proposed combination in December 1999, and the Surface Transportation Board imposed a 15-month moratorium on rail mergers in March 2000. [Bull Sheet, August 2000]
BNSF TO DONATE ABANDONED MINNESOTA LINE FOR TRAIL USE: Burlington Northern Santa Fe has announced plans to donate a four-mile portion of its rail line between St. Joseph and Collegeville, Minnesota, to the state to help extend a proposed recreational trail. The line involved has been approved for abandonment. It was built in 1872 by the St. Paul & Pacific Railroad, becoming a part of the Great Northern Railway in 1907. [Bull Sheet, August 2000]
PAUL FUNKHOUSER DIES, RETIRED CSX PRESIDENT: Retired CSX president Paul Funkhouser died on July 19 at the age of 77. He became the company's second president in 1982. Earlier he had been president of Seaboard Coast Line Industries.
AMTRAK INTRODUCES 'GUEST SATISFACTION GUARANTEE': Amtrak has introduced an "unconditional guarantee" of guest satisfaction, "a first among national travel and transportation industry providers." Under the guarantee, which began July 4, the company promises all of its guests a safe, comfortable and enjoyable travel experience. If their lack of satisfaction concerns cannot be addressed on the spot, customers may call Amtrak for a service guarantee certificate entitling them to equivalent travel in the future. [Amtrak]
CSXT MERGES CUMBERLAND DIVISION INTO BALTIMORE DIVISION: CSXT's Cumberland Division has been merged into the Baltimore Division. The expanded Baltimore Division, and the Albany Division, are part of the Northeast Region. [Bull Sheet, July 2000]
U.S. AWARDS CONTRACT FOR POSITIVE TRAIN CONTROL SYSTEM: The U.S. Dept. of Transportation has announced the award of a $34-million contract to a team led by Lockheed Martin Corporation for the development and deployment of a Positive Train Control system on a 120-mile segment of the Chicago/St. Louis high-speed passenger corridor. The contract award is being made through the North American Joint Positive Train Control Program, a partnership between the Federal Railroad Administration, Illinois Department of Transportation, and the Association of American Railroads. PTC systems utilize technologies including on board computers, digital radio links, global satellite positioning systems, computer route databases, and wayside computer control systems, and will allow Amtrak trains to operate in excess of 79 miles per hour. [Bull Sheet, July 2000]
FIRST TRACK IN SERVICE ON KANSAS CITY FLYOVER BRIDGE: The first track on the nation's longest rail "flyover" has been placed into service in Kansas City, Missouri. The "Sheffield Flyover" consists of three large bridges, including the 10,000-foot flyover bridge, which elevates east-west Burlington Northern Santa Fe and Kansas City Terminal Railway tracks from north-south Union Pacific and Kansas City Southern tracks. [Bull Sheet, July 2000]
WORK PROCEEDS TOWARD CSX CUMBERLAND SUB SIGNAL PROJECT: The month of June 2000 saw a great deal of activity in the vicinity of Cherry Run, W.Va., as track and signal crews worked six and seven days a week in their effort to install an electro-code signaling system through that area, and to construct a new control point,with the end result that the Miller Tower interlocking station will be closed. MORE..
'SAFETY ENGINES' NOT YET, CSXT SAYS: CSXT is aware of the suggestion that it adopt locomotive paint schemes to promote safety, as originally advanced (and approved, with a cash payment to the employee who made the suggestion back in 1984). The idea was never adopted. However, the suggestion will be 're-evaluated' as part of next year's planning process, CSXT's director of safety has said. MORE..
CSX RETIRES FOUR E AND F LOCOMOTIVES, AND 'ALL AMERICAN' GP38 UNIT: CSX has deleted its four E and F units from its locomotive roster. It has also deleted GP38 unit 9699 (ex-B&O/3802), the Trains Magazine's 'All American Locomotive.' Unit 9699 is slated to go to the B&O Railroad Museum in Baltimore. [Bull Sheet, June 2000]
AMTRAK RELEASES DRAFT IMPROVEMENT PLAN FOR CALIFORNIA SERVICE: Amtrak has released a $3.9-billion, five-year draft improvement plan for additional round trips and increased reidership on passenger routes in California. Called the 'California Passenger Rail Plan,' it is being developed in partnership with Caltrans, local communities, commuter railroads, and the federal government. Examples of increased service include: Capitol Corridor by six round trips, Pacific Surfliner by three round trips, and San Joaquin Corridor by three round trips. In addition, the plan includes one round trip between downtown Los Angeles and downtown San Francisco, and four round trips from San Francisco to Monterey and Salinas. [Bull Sheet, June 2000]
CSX CHAIRMAN SEES THINGS STARTING TO TURN AROUND: "Now midway through the second quarter, I'm encouraged that we are starting to turn things around," said CSX chairman John Snow in a letter to employees May 17. He added that the company has a tough job ahead of it. "We're still a long way from bringing the railroad to the point where we are satisfied, our customers can count on reliable service and shareholders start seeing the kinds of returns our company is capable of producing." Also, "I see our company as starting to settle down after the management changes that were made a month ago. We're all starting to talk the same language and getting back to basics, jawboning less and doing more of what we know how to do." [CSX, 5-17-00]
COMMUNICATIONS OUTAGE DISRUPTS CSXT SERVICE: CSXT experienced a major service disruption the morning of April 28, 2000, caused by a communications outage resulting from an MCI WorldCom software problem during planned maintenance of their equipment. The outage affected train control and dispatching functions throughout most of the system, and resulted in delays to a number of Amtrak and commuter trains. The former Conrail territory acquired by CSXT was mostly unaffected.
CSX REPORTS LOWER 1-Q EARNINGS: CSX Corporation reported first quarter net earnings of $29-million compared to $75-million for the same quarter the previous year. "These results are unsatisfactory and reflect sharply higher fuel and labor costs, as well as lingering congestion problems at our railroad," said John Snow, CSX chairman and chief executive officer. He added, "We are taking steps to reduce the number of cars on our system and improve network fluidity. With demand expected to stay strong for the rest of the year, we can improve earnings substantially by running the railroad more efficiently."
CSXT RESPONDS TO MANAGEMENT CHANGES: CSX Corporation announced on April 11, 2000, that its president, Ron Conway, and some other officials had left the company. Letters have been sent to employees concerning the matter. MORE.. [Bull Sheet, May 2000]
SUPREME COURT BARS SITS INVOLVING FEDERALLY-FUNDED CROSSING DEVICES: The Supreme Court has ruled that railroads cannot be sued for the adequacy of warning devices at rail/highway grade crossings if federal funds were used to pay for all or part of the devices. The ruling came in a case involving Norfolk Southern, but it applies to affected grade crossings nationwide.
BNSF BEGINS INTERMODAL SERVICE TO MEXICO: Burlington Northern Santa Fe has begun intermodal service between U.S. cities and Monterrey, Queretaro, and Mexico City, Mexico. The service operates daily at Laredo, Texas, the primary intermodal route to Mexico where more than half of U.S./Mexican trade crosses the border. A feature of the offering includes competitive pricing that permits customs clearance at destination rather than at the border, according to BNSF.
AMTRAK ANNOUNCES RESTRUCTURING FOR INTERCITY BUSINESS UNIT: Amtrak has announced a new organizational structure for its Intercity Business Unit. Eastern and Western regions, each headed by a vice president, have been established within the business unit to provide support and leadership for all aspects of service delivery in their areas. Amtrak Intercity is one of three strategic business units in the nationwide system and is responsible for the operation of most long-distance trains as well as short-distance services in the Midwest and North Carolina. Al Edelston has been named to head the Eastern Region, and Don Saunders has been named to head the Western Region. [Bull Sheet, May 2000]
CSXT CUMBERLAND SUB TOWERS NEARING THEIR END: Four former B&O interlocking towers tucked away in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia are nearing their final days. By the middle of next year, if all goes according to plan, all four of the towers will have closed. MORE.. [Bull Sheet, May 2000]
COURTNEY WILSON INSTALLED AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF B&O MUSEUM: Courtney Brent Wilson, 46, newly-named executive director of the B&O Railroad Museum in Baltimore, was officially installed into his new position at a catered reception in the roundhouse on April 25, 2000. There were about 200 members and invited guests present. He had been serving as interim executive director since the departure of John Ott last October.
BNSF SELLS TRACK SEGMENTS IN NEBRASKA, NORTH DAKOTA: Burlington Northern Santa Fe has sold trackage between Central City and Palmer, Nebraska, to the Nebraska Central Railroad, and has sold trackage between Granville and Mohall, North Dakota, to the Mohall Railroad. [Bull Sheet, April 2000]
SYKESVILLE, MARYLAND, BREAKS GROUND FOR B&P INTERLOCKING TOWER: The town of Sykesville, Maryland, has broken ground at the site of reconstruction of the former B&P interlocking tower, which is to be used as a town center. The $185,000 project is expected to take about five months to complete. [Bull Sheet, April 2000]
AMTRAK TO ENHANCE ITS WEB-BASED RESERVATIONS SYSTEM: Amtrak has contracted with Datalex, a global information technology provider, to enhance its web-based reservations system. The new system will upgrade Amtrak's current internet capacity by making the reservations portion of its website faster and more reliable for its customers. [Bull Sheet, April 2000]
THREE CSXT LOCOMOTIVES GET 'DIVERSITY IN MOTION' LOGO: A "Diversity in Motion" logo has been applied to the sides of three of CSXT's new CW60AC locomotives. "Powerful locomotives will be promoting the message that diversity brings power to businesses and communities," according to the company. [Bull Sheet, April 2000]
CSXT NEARS COMPLETION OF CLEARANCE PROJECT IN GEORGIA: CSXT is nearing completion of a $3-million clearance project which includes undercutting the 100-year-old Tilford tunnels south of Atlanta, Georgia. The new clearance will allow trains with 20 foot 8 inch double-stack cars to have access to the new CSX Intermodal facility at Fairburn, Georgia. [Bull Sheet, April 2000]
STB IMPOSES MORATORIUM ON RAIL MERGERS: The Surface Transportation Board has imposed a 15-month moratorium on rail mergers. This is to give the STB time to define and adopt new rules that will govern future merger proceedings. The impact of this ruling directly affects the proposed merger of BNSF and CN, which have filed appeals in federal court over the matter. [Bull Sheet, April 2000]
AMTRAK UNVEILS 'MARKET DRIVEN' ROUTE STRATEGY: Amtrak has announced plans to expand passenger rail service in 21 states and strengthen its competitive edge in the mail and express business. MORE.. [Amtrak, 2-28-00]
AMTRAK TO RENAME SAN DIEGAN SERVICE WITH 'PACIFIC SURFLINER': Amtrak will replace its San Diegan train service next spring with its "Pacific Surfliner." Eight new 5-car, double-deck trainsets, each with seating for 425 people, will be placed into service beginning with the first set in April 2000, and the final set one year later. [Bull Sheet, December 1999]
CSX RENAMES ITS SEA-LAND SUBSIDIARY: CSX Corporation has announced it is renaming its Sea-Land Service subsidiary with the name 'CSX Lines.' Earlier this year, CSX announced the sale of its international Sea-Land unit to A.P. Moller-Maersk Line, but to retain its domestic unit, now being given the new name. CSX Lines, headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, will operate a fleet of 16 vessels and 27,000 containers. [CSX]
CSXT, GE NEGOTIATE MAINTENANCE PROPOSAL FOR LOCOMOTIVES: CSXT and GE Transportation Systems have negotiated a five-year management services proposal for the maintenance of CSXT's fleet of GE locomotives. Under the proposal, GETS will provide on-site managers for supervision and technical direction at the CSXT locomotive shops in Corbin, Selkirk and Waycross. CSXT employees will continue to perform the work on the locomotives. [CSXT]
CSXT EXPANDS CONDUCTOR-TRAINING PROGRAM: CSXT has added two additional community colleges for conductor-training programs. Owens Community College in Toledo, Ohio, and Mohawk Valley Community College in Utica, New York, will each offer a five-week conductor-training course to prepare students to work at CSXT. The company expects to add 1300 new train service employees in 2000. [CSXT]
CSX INTERMODAL SIGNS CONTRACT WITH APL/PACER: CSX Intermodal has signed a contract with APL/Pacer, Inc., to handle APL rail traffic east of the Mississippi River that had previously been handled by Norfolk Southern. The traffic is expected to add about a quarter of a million loads in the year 2000. The terminals in Buffalo and Charlotte are anticipated to see a doubling of intermodal volume, with other significant increases in Atlanta, Baltimore, Portsmouth and Philadelphia. Overall, intermodal traffic is expected to increase by over 20 percent in 2000, much of it due to the APL contract. [CSX Intermodal]
BNSF BREAKS GROUND ON STOCKTON, CALIFORNIA, INTERMODAL FACILITY: Burlington Northern Santa Fe has broken ground on a 470-acre intermodal facility near Stockton, California, designed to increase the railroad's intermodal lift capacity in the Stockton area from 120,000 to 300,000 units annually. It will replace the existing facility in Stockton, currently operating at maximum capacity. [Bull Sheet, December 1999]
AMTRAK TO ADD UP TO 350 REFRIGERATED RAIL CARS: Amtrak has signed a long-term agreement with ExpressTrak, LLC, for the addition of up to 350 refrigerated rail cars capable of operating at passenger train speeds, the first to be delivered in April 2000. [Bull Sheet, December 1999]
BNSF TO TEST VIDEO CAMERAS IN LOCOMOTIVES: Burlington Northern Santa Fe is installing video cameras in six of its locomotives, as a pilot project, to record the behavior of pedestrians and motorists along the line of road. The systems, which incorporate digital and global positioning technologies, will record a view similar to that seen by crews, plus sound. If an accident should occur, the stored information will be of help to determine if warning protection was working properly. If the project is successful, BNSF will consider additional installations. [Bull Sheet, November 1999]
UNION PACIFIC REPORTS 3-Q EARNINGS: Union Pacific has reported income from continuing operations of $218-million in the third-quarter of 1999 compared to $34-million for the same period last year. Particular strength was seen in intermodal, automobiles, agricultural products, and energy. [Bull Sheet, November 1999]
NORFOLK SOUTHERN TO SELL BUILDINGS, PROPERTY IN ATLANTA: Norfolk Southern has announced it intends to sell its general office buildings and about 33 acres of land in Atlanta. The sale will not include its right of way, and train operations will not be affected. [Bull Sheet, November 1999]
CSXT ADOPTS LIME-YELLOW FOR ROADWAY MAINTENANCE EQUIPMENT: CSXT's engineering department has begun repainting its roadway equipment with a color called 'lime-yellow,' which many fire departments use to improve safety. The equipment is being repainted as it is shopped for maintenance and repair. [CSXT]
CSX ANNOUNCES EARLY-RETIREMENT PROGRAM: CSX has announced a voluntary early-retirement and separation program for non-contract employees to be launched this month for CSX Transportation, CSX Technology, and CSX Intermodal. The program allows employees to add three years to their years of service and three years to their age for the purposes of calculating their CSX pension benefits, and the separation program allows employees to receive an early-retirement payment. The company expects 800 employees to apply. [Bull Sheet, October 1999]
CSXT'S BALTIMORE SERVICE LANE BEING SPLIT INTO BALTIMORE AND CUMBERLAND DIVISIONS: CSXT's Baltimore Service Lane will be split into two divisions - Baltimore and Cumberland respectively - as part of the operation reorganization combining service lanes into regions. In turn, the Baltimore Service Lane will be combined with the Albany Service Lane - itself with one division - to form the Northeast Region headquartered in Albany.
CSXT REPORTS ON POST-SPLIT PROGRESS: "We're not in as good a shape as we'd like to be, but we're not in bad shape - the railroad is running much better than in June or July." This was the response by Clarence Gooden, CSXT's vice president-system transportation, to a reporter's question on the state of CSXT three months after the Conrail Split Date. "On the merchandise side, we continue to have problems in the Baltimore area and Michigan area, primarily crew problems. Crew shortages put us behind on switching those areas," he said. "Aside from UPS, intermodal customers are satisfied. We're meeting equipment and service demands."
FUNDING AWARDED FOR NON-ELECTRIC HIGH-SPEED PASSENGER LOCOMOTIVE: The Federal Railroad Administration has awarded $7-million in funding for development of a 5000-horsepower locomotive designed for high-speed passenger service without electrification. A prototype locomotive is due to be completed next year. [Bull Sheet, October 1999]
STREET RUNNING TO END IN UNION BRIDGE, MD.: The State of Maryland has approved funding for business access improvements in Union Bridge, Maryland, which includes the elimination of street-running on the Maryland Midland (formerly Western Maryland) spur to the Lehigh Portland Cement plant. [Bull Sheet, October 1999]
MEXICO GRANTS LICENSE TO ITS FIRST WOMAN LOCOMOTIVE ENGINEER: For the first time in Mexican history, a woman has been granted a license to operate a railroad locomotive. Krimhilda Edith Rodriguez received her license early last month upon completion of a training course at the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Technical Training Center in Kansas. [Bull Sheet, October 1999]
CSX TRANSPORTATIN REORGANIZES: President Ron Conway and the Leadership Team have announced a major commercial and operational reorganization to position the railroad as a much more customer-responsive company. MORE.. [Bull Sheet, September 1999]
UNION PACIFIC COMPLETES TRIPLE-TRACK PROJECT IN NEBRASKA: Union Pacific has completed its four-year, $327-million triple-track project in Nebraska. The 108-mile route between North Platte and Gibbon is designed to handle an average volume of 140 trains a day at speeds of up to 70 miles per hour. [Bull Sheet, September 1999]
AMTRAK INTRODUCES STOP AT WILLIAMS JUNCTION, ARIZONA: Amtrak's Southwest Chief now stops at Williams Junction, Arizona, the transfer point for the trains of the Grand Canyon Railway. Passengers from the West may now make same-day connections en route to the Grand Canyon, and same-day connections returning, with free shuttle service between stations. Passengers from the East may make connections en route to the Grand Canyon the following morning with similar connections returning. Overnight accommodations are available in Williams, with free shuttle service, at the Fray Marcos Hotel, a Grand Canyon Railway property. [Amtrak]
AMTRAK ADDING NEW CASCADES TRAIN: Amtrak will add another Cascades train on September 2, 1999. New trains 761 and 762 will operate daily between Bellingham and Seattle. A new Talgo trainset, named Mount Olympus, will join three other trainsets already in service, named Mount Baker, Mount Rainier and Mount Hood, to convey Cascades service. [Amtrak]
NORFOLK SOUTHERN SIGNS NORTH CAROLINA TRACKAGE-RIGHTS AGREEMENT: Norfolk Southern has signed a 15-year trackage-rights agreement with the North Carolina Railroad Company. Under the agreement, which has options for two additional 15-year extensions, NS will have the exclusive right to carry freight on the 317-mile NCRR line, but the state will have the opportunity to develop a plan for intercity and commuter rail service. NS and its predecessors have been operating the line for the past 125 years. [Bull Sheet, September 1999]
AMTRAK ENGINES REFURBISHED FOR CSXT BUSINESS CAR SERVICE: CSXT has leased two former Amtrak F40PH passenger engines to pull its railroad business cars. They were Amtrak units 390 and 395, renumbered by CSXT to 9992 and 9993 respectively. The F40PHs are capable of traveling 90 MPH on Amtrak's Northeast Corridor and up to 80 MPH on parts of the CSXT network. CSXT uses its business cars to entertain customers and for high-profile public relations events that promote public safety and create goodwill for the railroad. [CSXT]
UNDERSTANDING CSXT'S CONRAIL LOCOMOTIVE RENUMBERING: More than 800 Conrail locomotives assigned to CSXT are being renumbered to make them consistent with CSXT's overall numbering scheme. MORE..
RONALD CONWAY NAMED PRESIDENT OF CSXT: Ronald Conway has been named president of CSX Transportation. He joined CSXT from Conrail in 1998 as executive vice president and chief operating officer. He replaces Alvin (Pete) Carpenter who has been elected vice chairman of CSX Corporation. [CSXT]
CSX O SELL SEA-LAND INTERNATIONAL LINER BUSINESS: CSX Corporation has announced the sale of its Sea-Land Service subsidiary's international liner business to the A.P. Moller Group of Copenhagen (A.P. Moller-Maersk Line) for $800-million. Sea-Land operates approximately 70 container vessels and about 200,000 containers in its international trades. The combined services will be marketed under the name of Maersk-SeaLand. Domestic container shipping, including facilities in Hong Kong, are not part of the agreement, and will remain under CSX ownership. [CSX]
CSX REPORTS DROP IN EARNINGS: CSX Corporation has reported second-quarter 1999 net earnings of $114-million, or 53 cents per share. This compares to $151-million, or 70 cents per share, in the same quarter last year. Costs related to the Conrail integration, along with a weakening in coal traffic, impacted the results. [CSX]
CYNTHIA SANBORN NAMED TO HEAD CSXT'S FLORIDA BUSINESS UNIT: Cynthia Sanborn, formerly superintendent-transportation in Pittsburgh for CSXT's Baltimore Service Lane, has been named vice president and general manager of the railroad's Florida Business Unit. She replaces Paul Sandler, who was named vice president-corporate services. [CSXT]
BNSF, DANA TRANSPORT FORM TANK CAR CONTAINER PARTNERSHIP: Burlington Northern Santa Fe and Dana Transport, Inc., have created a transportation partnership for domestic intermodal tank container service. Under the arrangement, customers will now contact Dana's Rapid Rail System Division for all equipment and service needs, and Dana will coordinate shipment with BNSF. [BNSF]
UNION PACIFIC TESTING RAIL LUBRICATION SYSTEM TO CUT FUEL CONSUMPTION: Union Pacific is conducting a study to determine if a top-of-rail lubrication, a means of reducing wheel friction, will also cut locomotive fuel consumption. The top-of-rail lubrication is not oil, but a water-based friction modifier composed of a glycol-like substance. Unlike oil, which leaves a film on the rail, TOR is laid down as the train moves along, and then evaporates. [Bull Sheet, August 1999]
B&O RAILROAD MUSEUM AFFILIATES WITH SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION: The B&O Railroad Museum in Baltimore is now affiliated with the Smithsonian Institution. The affiliation, which is the first for any railroad museum in the country, will allow it to work in conjunction with the Smithsonian on exhibits and programs, and the borrowing of artifacts. [Bull Sheet, August 1999]
AMTRAK CONDUCTORS TO GET HAND-HELD COMPUTERS: Amtrak will introduce a handheld computer later this year that will enable conductors to more easily collect fares, issue seat checks, and to maintain an up-to-the-moment passenger count aboard trains. The device is being developed by Motorola's Worldwide Smartcard Solutions Division, and should be in use nationwide by late 2000. [Bull Sheet, July 1999]
CSXT TO OUTFIT LOCOMOTIVES WITH SATELLITE TRACKING SYSTEM: CSXT has awarded a contract to GE Harris Railway Electronics to outfit 2800 locomotives with a global positioning satellite tracking system. This follows a pilot program in which the system was tested in 25 CW40-8 locomotives between November 1998 and February 1999. [CSXT]
UNION PACIFIC SEES SURGE IN ROCK AND CEMENT BUSINESS: A surge in road and building construction has sharply increased Union Pacific's rock and cement hauling business in Texas and Louisiana, according to a UP report. For the first five months of 1999, UP handled 31,000 more carloads than in the same period last year, an increase of 26 percent. [Bull Sheet, July 1999]
CONTRACTS AWARDED TO CONSTRUCT 870-MILE RAILROAD IN AUSTRALIA: The South Australian state government has awarded contracts for construction of an 870-mile railroad linking Darwin and Adelaide, expected to be completed in 2004. [Bull Sheet, July 1999]
MUSEUM PLANNED FOR 'WRECK OF OLD 97' SITE: Developers in Danville, Virginia, have announced plans to create a museum at the site of the 1903 train accident known as the Wreck of Old 97, later immortalized in a ballad by David Graves George. [Bull Sheet, July 1999]
CSXT-CONRAIL INTEGRATION UPDATES: Timeline of activities since 'split date,' June 1, 1999. MORE..
NORFOLK SOUTHERN REPORTS BACKUPS AND ROUTING PROBLEMS: The company said it had experienced computer system problems that have contributed to train backups and routing problems, but it had resolved the most significant problems with its information systems that provide customers with shipment information. MORE.. [Norfolk Southern, 6-16-99]
AMTRAK TO BEGIN OKLAHOMA CITY-FORT WORTH SERVICE: Amtrak will begin service June 15 between Oklahoma City and Fort Worth. The new train, which is funded by the State of Oklahoma, returns Amtrak service to the state for the first time in 20 years. School children in Oklahoma have been invited to help name the train. [Bull Sheet, June 1999]
BNSF TO REDUCE ITS WORK FORCE, CUT CAPITAL EXPENDITURES: Burlington Northern Santa Fe has announced a seven percent reduction of its salaried work force to become effective by the end of the second quarter 1999. About 400 positions will be affected. In addition, about 1000 'scheduled' positions have been identified for elimination. The company also plans to reduce 1999 cash capital expenditures by $100-million, according to a BNSF report. [Bull Sheet, June 1999]
UNION PACIFIC TO RUN UNIT GRAIN SERVICE INTO MEXICO: Union Pacific will soon become the first railroad to run a unit shuttle grain train across the Mexican border and into the interior. Until now, unit trains could not be used in Mexico because customers did not have the track capacity to receive them. CBC Arancia has added trackage at its facility in San Juan Del Rio, near Mexico City, enabling UP to move a 75-car unit train through the Eagle Pass gateway and return. Plans are to run 12 trains by the end of June 1999. [Bull Sheet, June 1999]
NORFOLK SOUTHERN JOINING NORTH AMERICAN CONTAINER SYSTEM PROGRAM: Norfolk Southern has announced it will join as a participant in the North American Container System. Other participants include CSX Intermodal, Canadian National, Burlington Northern Santa Fe, and Kansas City Southern. The NACS program, established in 1996, is designed to facilitate the free interchange of 48-foot domestic containers between member railroads without restrictions. In the near future, 53-foot containers will be added to the fleet. [Bull Sheet, June 1999]
U.S. TO FUND BALTIMORE-WASHINGTON MAGLEV STUDY: The U.S. Department of Transportation has announced funding for a feasibility study for a magnetic levitation train between Baltimore and Washington. If constructed, it is estimated that trains could be operated between the two cities in as few as 16 minutes. [Bull Sheet, June 1999]
TRIPLE CROWN SIGNS MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING FOR NORTHEAST CORRIDOR FREIGHT SERVICE: Triple Crown Services Company (a joint venture of Norfolk Southern and Conrail) has signed a 'memorandum of understanding' with Amtrak for increased use of Amtrak-owned lines in the Northeast for high-speed freight service. The lines involved include New York-Washington and Philadelphia-Harrisburg. [Bull Sheet, May 1999]
CSX REPORTS 1-Q 1999 EARNINGS: CSX Corporation has reported first-quarter net earnings of $75-million, or 36 cents per diluted share, excluding a change in accounting. In the prior-year period, the company earned $91-million, or 42 cents per diluted share. Costs related to CSX's commitment to a successful June 1 Conrail integration were the cause of the lower first-quarter numbers compared with 1998. [CSX]
CSX, UNION PACIFIC TO SPEED EAST-WEST RAIL TRAFFIC: CSX Transportation and Union Pacific have announced an agreement to streamline east-west rail traffic through major gateways connecting the railroads. Involved will be a formal "structured plan" to direct flows through the most advantageous gateways to speed traffic and maximize the use of interchange points. The railroads' major interchange points are Chicago, St. Louis, Salem (Illinois), Memphis, and New Orleans. [Bull Sheet, May 1999]
BNSF TO INTRODUCE 'ICE COLD EXPRESS' ROADRAILER SERVICE: Ice Cold Express is a service being introduced by Burlington Northern Santa Fe in June for temperature-controlled products moving between Southern California, Chicago, and the Ohio Valley. The train will consist of Wabash RoadRailer trailers operating once a week in each direction beginning June 7, 1999, according to a BNSF report. [BNSF]
BNSF TESTING NEW INTERMODAL CONTAINER DESIGN: Burlington Northern Santa Fe has been testing a new intermodal wide-lift container design that improves "structural integrity and provides better and safer container handling." The design reduces stress generated by the top container upon the bottom container, when containers are stacked, by more than 50 pct. [Bull Sheet, May 1999]
UNION PACIFIC BEGINS SRVICE ON REPURCHASED LINE: Union Pacific began operating trains over the former Northeast Kansas & Missouri Railroad on April 15 following Surface Transportation Board approval of its repurchase. UP had sold the 107-mile-long line to RailTex in 1990, and repurchased it to add additional capacity to the eastern portion of UP's coal corridor. UP plans eventually to operate an average of 15 trains a day over the line, which operates from Upland, Kansas, to St. Joseph, Missouri. [Bull Sheet, May 1999]
UNION PACIFIC REPORTS 1-Q 1999 EARNINGS: Union Pacific Corporation reported first-quarter net income of $129-million, or 52 cents per diluted share. Results for the quarter also included $9-million in one-time after-tax expenses associated with the implementation of the Southern Pacific merger. [Union Pacific, May 1999]
COUNTDOWN TO 'SPLIT DATE': Timeline of activities as reported by CSXT in March and April 1999 toward Conrail integration. MORE..
PRR REPORTING MARKS REINSTATED TEMPORARILY: While Norfolk Southern begins renumbering its share of Conrail locomotives into the NS numbering scheme, the affected units are temporarily being assigned PRR reporting marks. [Bull Sheet, April 1999]
FEDS APPROVE CANADIAN NATIONAL'S ACQUISITION OF ILLINOIS CENTRAL: The Surface Transportation Board has voted its approval of Canadian National's acquisition of Illinois Central and integration of rail operations. [Bull Sheet, April 1999]
BNSF TO SPEND $450-M IN TRACK PROJECTS IN 1999: Burlington Northern Santa Fe plans to spend $450-million this year in new construction and expansion. Included is a 12-mile double-track project between Guernsey and Grattan, Wyoming; and an 18-mile jointly-funded triple-track project between Bill and Walker, Wyoming, on its line jointly-owned with Union Pacific. BNSF is also planning work in the Lincoln, Nebraska, area to reconfigure portions of the yard and extend siding capacity. [Bull Sheet, April 1999]
BNSF TO ACQUIRE 476 HIGH-HORSEPOWER LOCOMOTIVES: Burlington Northern Santa Fe plans to acquire 476 high-horsepower locomotives this year for $733-million, the largest single-year total in railroad history. As a result, at the end of 1999, one of every three BNSF road locomotives will be less than four years old, according to a BNSF report. [Bull Sheet, April 1999]
FRANCONIA-SPRINGFIELD, VA., TO BE INTERMODAL PASSENGR STOP: Franconia-Springfield, Virginia, is about to host an intermodal passenger station. It is already served by Metro (rail and bus) and Virginia Railway Express. Beginning sometime in May, 1999, Amtrak will stop two of its trains there, and Greyhound is making plans to relocate to the facility in June. [Bull Sheet, April 1999]
D TOWER IN GRAFTON, W.VA., TO CLOSE: CSXT's D Tower in Grafton, West Virginia, is slated to close April 2. Scattered reports that it had already closed were wrong, but duties at the facility have been rather minimal for the past several months. The former B&O tower, located just west of the old Willard Hotel, is somewhat unique in its style, and is noted for its hallmark interior metal spiral staircase. [Bull Sheet, April 1999]
HAGERSTOWN, MD., ROUNDHOUSE DEMOLISHED: The former Western Maryland Railway roundhouse in Hagrstown has been demolished after a lost lobbying effort. MORE.. [Bull Sheet, April 1999]
'ACELA' TO REPLACE NAMES FOR AMTRAK'S NORTHEAST SERVICE: "Acela" (pronounced "ah-cel-la") is the name Amtrak is planning for its Northeastern train service once new high-speed equipment is introduced later this year. The name Metroliner will be replaced with Acela Express; NortheastDirect, Empire and Keystone service will be replaced with Acela Regional; and Clocker service will be replaced with Acela Commuter. In a press release, Amtrak stated: "A combination of acceleration and excellence, Acela means high speed and high quality..." [Amtrak, 3-9-99]
VIRGINIA ENDORSES HIGH-SPED RICHMOND-WASHINGTON TRAIN SERVICE: Virginia's Transportation Board has gone on record favoring high-speed train service between Richmond and Washington. The plan, estimated to cost $370-million to implement, must now go through public review to find financing. Envisioned is hourly service at up to 110 MPH comprehending a 90-minute trip, according to a news report. [Bull Sheet, March 1999]
AMTRAK TO SPEND $25-M TO BEGIN MIDWST RAIL INITIATIVE: Amtrak will spend $25-million to begin work on a high-speed rail network linking nine Midwestern states. Plans call for the Midwest Rail Initiative to move passengers between the nine states on 3000 miles of track at up to 110 MPH. States to be linked by the service are Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio and Wisconsin. The Midwest Corridor is one of 10 high-speed corridors planned for development nationwide. [Bull Sheet, March 1999]
AMTRAK EXPANDS ITS SAN JOAQUIN ROUTE: Direct passenger rail service between Sacramento and Stockton, California, began February 21 as part of Amtrak's San Joaquin route. The service marks the first time since 1971 that Sacramento and the San Joaquin Valley have been connected directly by passenger rail. [Bull Sheet, March 1999]
AMTRAK TO ADD HERITAGE SLEEPERS TO ITS THREE RIVERS TRAIN: Amtrak reportedly intends to add Heritage sleeping cars to its train the Three Rivers on a date to be announced. Heritage sleepers, configured with ten roomettes and six double bedrooms, have been used as crew cars in recent years, replaced (until now) in revenue service by the newer Viewliners. [Bull Sheet, March 1999]
AMTRAK OPENS NEW STATION IN SAN ANTONIO: Amtrak has opened its new passenger station at San Antonio, Texas. Funding for the $1-million project came from Amtrak and Via Metropolitan Transit. The new station is located adjacent to Amtrak's former station and is served by the Texas Eagle and the Sunset Limited. [Bull Sheet, March 1999]
HOTEL PROPOSED FOR BALTIMORE'S PENN STATION: Amtrak is working with a developer to study converting upper floors of Baltimore's Penn Station into a hotel. Approximately 75 to 80 rooms could be included, according to a news report, and an architect has been hired to determine how to fit the proposal into the station without disturbing the building's historic features. [Bull Sheet, March 1999]
UNION PACIFIC AND BNSF TO COORDINATE SOME DISPATCHING OPERATIONS: Union Pacific and Burlington Northern Santa Fe have agreed to coordinate dispatching operations covering Southern California, the Kansas City area, and the Powder River Basin of Wyoming. According to a news report, it is the largest coordinated railroad dispatching agreement in history. The agreement will establish coordinated dispatching centers in San Bernardino and Kansas City, and UP dispatchers supervising their line from North Platte into the Powder River Basin will join BNSF dispatchers in Fort Worth. [Bull Sheet, March 1999]
CSXT NOW ALLOWS UP TO 15 LOCOMOTIVES IN LITE ENGINE CONSISTS: CSXT now permits a maximum of 15 locomotives when operated in a lite locomotive consist. (The maximum number of locomotives permitted when hauling a train remains at 12.) The maximum number of locomotives will be reduced when restricted for specific locations. [Bull Sheet, March 1999]
WILIAM COLITON DIES, LAST WESTERN MARYLAND RWY PRESIDENT: William P. Coliton, the last president of the Western Maryland Railway, has died. He was 79. [Bull Sheet, March 1999]
STREET-RUNNING IN CHAMBERSBURG, PA., NEARS ITS END: In 1999 the citizens of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, may finally be granted their wish - removal of the CSX (former Western Maryland Railway) mainline through town. MORE.. [Bull Sheet, March 1999]
REFURBISHED CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA., DEPOT DEDICATED:Tuesday, February 9, 1999, was a festive day at the Charlottesville, Va., train station as its depot was dedicated following a renovatio effort. MORE.. [Bull Sheet, March 1999]
NS, CSX ANNOUNCE JUNE 1, 1999, CONRAIL SPLIT-DATE: Norfolk Southern and CSX have announced they will complete the Conrail transaction on June 1, 1999, and begin operating their respective portions of Conrail routes and assets on that date.
CSXT RECALLS TWO F-UNITS TO HUNTINGTON SHOP: CSXT has recalled its F-units 417 and 418 to the shop at Huntington, West Virginia, "for evaluation," reportedly with the intention that they be rebuilt and repainted for use in executive train service. [Bull Sheet, February 1999]
CSXT CONVERTING ITS RF&P CAB-SIGNAL OPERATION: CSXT is converting its cab-signal operation on the RF&P Subdivision from 60Hz to 100Hz in order to make the system compatible with that of Conrail. The project began on the south (Richmond) end on January 20, and is proceeding northward in increments. [Bull Sheet, February 1999]
AMTRAK SIGNS COMMISSARY CONTRACT WITH DOBBS INTERNATIONAL SERVICES: Amtrak has signed a contract with Dobbs International Services to take over the operations of Amtrak's 11 commissaries beginning in April. Displaced Amtrak commissary workers will receive new jobs or be offered compensation packages, according to a company report. [Bull Sheet, February 1999]
BNSF, TEX-MEX SIGN INTERLINE PACT FOR BORDER TRAFFIC: Burlington Northern Santa Fe and Texas-Mexican Railway have concluded a five-year interline divisional agreement for traffic moving between Corpus Christi and Mexico via the Laredo, Texas, gateway. Approximately 50 percent of all rail traffic between the U.S. and Mexico crosses the border at Laredo, according to a BNSF news report. [Bull Sheet, February 1999]
NORFOLK SOUTHERN OPENS BULK TRANSFER FACILITY IN MIAMI: Norfolk Southern opened its latest Thoroughbred Bulk Transfer facility on January 22 in Miami for shippers of food-grade commodities and chemicals. The full-time facility has a 106-car spot capacity. NS now has 12 such facilities on its system. [Bull Sheet, February 1999]
UNION PACIFIC HAS F7A LOCOMOTIVE FOR SALE: Union Pacific is seeking offers for former CNW F7A locomotive 400. Minimum acceptable bid is $55,000. The company is also seeking offers for surplus cabooses: UP-24566, UP-25877, MKT-105 and MP-13835. [Bull Sheet, February 1999]
MO TOWER IN CRESSON, PA., DEMOLISHED: The former Pennsylvania Railroad's MO Tower at Cresson, Pennsylvania, was demolished by contractors on December 14. It had closed in 1994. An earlier effort to move the tower to a location along Front Street in Cresson failed when the building buckled from the stress of hoisting. There is talk of replicating the structure with new construction for the Front Street site. [Bull Sheet, February 1999]
GEORGE WARRINGTON NAMED PRESIDENT OF AMTRAK: George Warrington has been named president of Amtrak following a year as its acting president. "We can no longer exist only with a 'survivor mentality,' focused on cost-cutting and being apologists for mediocrity," said he in a news conference late last month. "Instead, our future depends upon growth, identifying and attracting new customers." He added that Amtrak will not be satisfied with merely reaching self-sufficiency, as mandated by the federal government by the year 2003. "Our goal is to create a truly commercially-driven service that will be the envy of all transportation providers." [Bull Sheet, January 1999]
'EFFICIENCY-PRODUCING' CHANGES ORDERED FOR HOUSTON AREA: The Surface Transportation Board has ordered 'efficiency-producing' changes in the Houston, Texas, area, but denied requests by a coalition of Union Pacific shippers and railroads that UP divest assets in the area. Adopted was a "clear route" condition whereby a BNSF train may be permitted to operate over UP trackage, or vice-versa, and a Tex-Mex train may be permitted to operate over either UP or BNSF track. [Bull Sheet, January 1999]
PLATT RIVER RAILROAD PIERS BEING DEMOLISHED: Union Pacific and the Lower Platte North Natural Resources District are blowing up abandoned railroad piers in the Platte River in Nebraska to prevent ice jams. The piers are remnants from a rail line built in the late 1800's, according to a news report. [Bull Sheet, January 1999]
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, INVESTS IN RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE: The Port of Oakland, California, is investing nearly $75-million to upgrade its rail infrastructure, including new terminals for both UP and BNSF. Construction is slated to begin this coming summer and be completed in nine to 13 months. [Bull Sheet, January 1999]
CONSTRUCTION BEGINS ON ALAMEDA CORRIDOR INTERMODAL PROJECT: Ground was broken December 10, 1998, to mark the beginning of construction of the 10-mile $712-million Alameda Corridor Intermodal Project, the largest component of the $2.4-billion Alameda Corridor which, when completed, will consolidate four separate freight routes to the ports in San Pedro Bay, California, in southwest Los Angeles County. Included will be the elimination of nearly 200 grade crossings. [Bull Sheet, January 1999]
NEW RAIL LINE PLANNED FOR COAL FIELDS OF WYOMING: The Surface Transportation Board has given permission to the Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern Railroad to build a $1.4-billion rail line through to coal fields of Wyoming. Involved is construction of 279 miles of new line and upgrading 589 miles of old track from Gillette, Wyoming, to the Mississippi River, for the movement of low-sulfur coal. [Bull Sheet, January 1999]
UNION PACIFIC ADOPTS NATHAN AIR HORN: Union Pacific has changed its standard air horn from Leslie 3-chime horns to Nathan 3-chime horns. Both SP and CNW used Nathan horns. Pre-merger CNW used a 5-chime Nathan horn, the same used by Amtrak. According to a Union Pacific news report, the Nathan horn was developed in the late 1940's by Robert Swanson, who used the U.S. Navy Band from Annapolis, Maryland, to develop frequencies which would make the horn distinguishable from truck horns and still be heard inside an automobile. Early diesel locomotives used a single note truck-type horn sometimes referred to as a "cow" horn. Present UP locomotives will not be retrofitted, but will be replaced with Nathan horns as their Leslie horns wear out. [Bull Sheet, January 1999]
B&O, RF&P LOCOMOTIVES DELETED: The sole surviving CSXT locomotives sporting the paint schemes of the B&O and RF&P were deleted from the roster early last month. They were B&O blue unit 2107, a GP38; and RF&P unit 6855, a GP40. Reportedly, both units were still on the property awaiting disposition as of late last month. Also deleted was the uniquely-painted Yellow Nose-1 unit 7024, a C30-7, which had a Yellow Nose-2 wraparound on its nose; and former Western Maryland unit 3795, a GP40, renumbered by CSXT as 6570. [Bull Sheet, January 1999]
HYNDMAN TOWER CLOSES: The former B&O interlocking tower in Hyndman, Pa., closed November 24, 1998. MORE..
CSXT MARKS COMPLETION OF EXPANSION PROJECT IN INDIANA AND OHIO: CSXT conducted a golden spike ceremony on November 20 at Willow Creek, Indiana, marking the completion of its $220-million capacity-expansion project in Indiana and Ohio. More than 100 route miles were added and another 250 route miles of existing track were upgraded as part of the project. [Bull Sheet, December 1998]
CSXT DELETES MID-ATLANTIC SERVICE LANE: CSXT has announced it will only add three new service lanes as part of the Conrail integration, not four. Deleted was the Mid-Atlantic Service Lane. On split date, the Baltimore Service Lane will expand to include all Conrail Philadelphia operations, and the new Albany Service Lane will expand its scope to include Northern New Jersey. The other new service lanes are Great Lakes and Indianapolis. [Bull Sheet, December 1998]
UNION PACIFIC OPENS LOCOMOTIVE FACILITY IN OREGON: Union Pacific opened a new $32-million locomotive service and repair facility at Hinkle, Oregon, on November 23. The 100,000-square-foot facility has a 12-locomotive capacity inside its main building for maintenance and repair, and 10 locomotives at a time can be fueled on its outside service track. [Bull Sheet, December 1998]
BNSF BEGINS USE OF SIGNAL COMPARATOR ON ENGINES: Burlington Northern Santa Fe has begun a pilot program using a device called a Positive Signal Comparator. It is a 6-by-8-inch box, located on both the conductor's and engineer's desktop, and requires input from both individuals to record the wayside signals they observe. Any discrepancy will result in an alert which, if the discrepancy is not corrected within 25 seconds, will cause a penalty brake application. The device will also warn of upcoming speed restrictions. [Bull Sheet, December 1998]
HIGH-SPEED RAIL PROGRAM SLATED FOR NEW YORK STATE: Amtrak and the State of New York have agreed to a new high-speed rail program that will invest up to $185-million in the state's rail system over the next five years. Included is construction of a second set of tracks between Albany and Schenectady and refurbishing five Turboliners capable of speeds up to 125 miles per hour. [Bull Sheet, December 1998]
AMTRAK TO EXPAND ITS ALBANY STATION: Amtrak has announced plans to extensively expand its Albany/Rensselaer station, its ninth busiest on the system, in a $41-million project expected to take two years to complete. [Bull Sheet, December 1998]
AMTRAK PASSENGER REVENUE EXCEEDS $1-BILLION FOR FIRST TIME: Amtrak experienced its largest ridership increase in a decade, with passenger revenue exceeding $1-billion for the first time ever, in the fiscal year ending September 30. [Bull Sheet, December 1998]
TWO RAIL UNIONS AGREE TO MERGE: The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and the United Transportation Union have announced plans to merge, subject to a vote by their members. [Bull Sheet, December 1998]
AMTRAK CUTS TRAVEL AGENTS' COMMISSIONS, INCREASES TOUR INCENTIVE: Amtrak has announced that it will reduce its travel agents' commissions to five percent effective this month, and increase its tour incentive to as much as 15 percent, based upon sales performance. MORE.. [Bull Sheet, November 1998]
OAK POINT LINK OPENS IN THE BRONX: Oak Point Link, a 1.9-mile line constructed by the state of New York in The Bronx, opened October 12. The line permits intermodal traffic to reach the Harlem River Yard without disruption from commuter trains operating to and from Grand Central Station. [Bull Sheet, November 1998]
NORFOLK SOUTHERN OPENS BULK TRANSFER FACILITY IN NORTH CAROLINA: Norfolk Southern opened a bulk transfer facility in Charlotte, North Carolina, on October 22, for shippers of food-grade commodities and chemicals. The terminal has 102 car spots with two tracks for food-grade commodities and four tracks for chemicals. An earth berm separates the food-grade and chemical tracks. [Bull Sheet, November 1998]
SUNBURY-SCRANTON LINE REDEDICATED: As a result of a $12-million improvement project on the D&H freight line between Sunbury and Scranton, Pennsylvania, Norfolk Southern and Canadian Pacific 'rededicated' the line on October 20 as a 'vital part' of their joint route linking the Southeast and Central Pennsylvania to Upstate New York, New England, and Eastern Canada. [Bull Sheet, November 1998]
BNSF COMPLETES 71 MILES OF DOUBLE-TRACK PROJECT ON CLOVIS SUBDIVISION: Burlington Northern Santa Fe has completed 71 miles of a $140-million-plus second mainline construction project on the Clovis Subdivision in New Mexico. The project, which was completed October 20, adds capacity to better handle up to 100 trains a day that use the route, part of the railroad's main line from Chicago to Los Angeles. [Bull Sheet, November 1998]
CONSTRUCTION BEGINS ON 'FLYOVER BRIDGE' IN KANSAS CITY: The Kansas City Terminal Railway has begun construction of a 1.5 mile train overpass in Kansas City, Missouri. Called a 'flyover bridge,' the $75-million project will eliminate a 'persistent rail bottleneck' to accommodate east-west traffic where it intersects north-south traffic. KCT, which is owned by railroads that move freight through Kansas City, is constructing the overpass in partnership with the Missouri Department of Transportation. The project is expected to be completed in July 2000. [Bull Sheet, November 1998]
ALL-AMERICAN DIESEL BECOMES PUMPKIN: CSXT GP38 unit 2002 (formerly B&O-3802, the Trains Magazine's "All American Diesel") has been converted into a maintenance of way (Pumpkin) unit. Its new number is 9699. [Bull Sheet, October 1998]
CSXT MATES ROAD SLUGS WITH GP38-2'S: CSXT has begun mating road slugs with GP38-2's. RDSLUG 2347, added to the roster late last month, has been mated with unit 2500, and at least three other GP38-2's are currently being readied for similar operation. Previously, road slugs had been mated exclusively with GP40-2's in the 6400 and 6900 series. [Bull Sheet, October 1998]
CSXT CONVERTING TO UNIFORM FREIGHT BLOCKING CODE SYSTEM: CSXT is converting to a uniform system of freight blocking codes which will conform to the coding system in use on Conrail-acquired territories. The new codes, already in use on the southern portion of CSXT, will replace the numeric codes of the northern portion (the former Chessie System) with alpha codes. Examples include: symbol 70 (Cumberland) will become CBL, symbol 71 (Clifton Forge) will become CFG, and symbol 90 (Richmond/Fulton) will become RICF. The effective date for the conversion is October 4. [Bull Sheet, October 1998]
CSX INTERMODAL OPENS NEW TERMINAL IN CHICAGO: CSX Intermodal opened a $39-million, 132-acre terminal facility at 59th Street in Chicago on September 14. The terminal has a 10-lane gate, more than 2,000 parking spaces, and capacity to handle over 500,000 trailers and containers annually. Initially, six trains a day will use the facility. [Bull Sheet, October 1998]
CSXT EXTENDS ITS BUSINESS CASUAL DRESS CODE POLICY: CSXT has extended indefinitely its 'business casual' dress code policy for its business offices. "Jackets and ties are not required, but traditional business attire remains an appropriate option," according to the company. [Bull Sheet, October 1998]
IKE EVANS APPOINTED PRESIDENT & CEO OF UNION PACIFIC: Ike Evans, formerly senior vice president of Emerson Electric Company, has been appointed president and chief operating officer of Union Pacific Railroad. He replaces Jerry Davis, who has been elected vice chairman. [Bull Sheet, October 1998]
UN TOWER SAVED FOR PRESERVATION: The Beaver Valley Junction Chapter NRHS has purchased "UN" Tower at New Castle Junction, Pennsylvania, and intends to relocate the structure to the site on Cherry Street in Mahoningtown of a railcar exhibit being developed by the Penn-Ohio Railway Museum. Once refurbished, the tower will house rail artifacts and displays focusing on western Pennsylvania. The tower, which closed November 5, 1995, had controlled the junction of the former B&O's P&W Subdivision with the Pittsburgh & Lake Erie mainline at the east end of New Castle Yard. [Bull Sheet, October 1998]
CSX, NORFOLK SOUTHERN FORMALLY EXERCISE CONTROL OF CONRAIL: CSX and Norfolk Southern formally exercised control of Conrail on August 22 by removing their shares of Conrail stock from a voting trust that had held the shares during the regulatory review and approval process. Control date has no immediate effect on operations, and is separate from "split date" when the actual division of the Conrail network will take place. Split date -- also called "Day One" -- will not take place until at least January 1, 1999, and possibly later, according to company reports. Originally, split date was to have been September 1, but the delay was implemented to proceed "methodically with the integration to ensure the least-possible disruption."
NEW INTERMODAL TRAINS GIVE CSXT TIME ADVANTAGE, COMPANY SAYS: CSXT says its new intermodal trains Q130 and Q139, operating between Chicago and Portsmouth, give the company a 12 to 14 hour advantage over what is offered between the same two points by Norfolk Southern. [Bull Sheet, September 1998]
J TOWER IN WILLARD CLOSES, DEMOLISHED: CSXT's J Tower in Willard, Ohio, has closed. It was demolished on August 18 to make room for track expansion. [Bull Sheet, September 1998]
UNION PACIFIC TO REPURCHASE 107-MILE RAIL LINE: Union Pacific has reached an agreement with RailTex, Inc., to repurchase a 107-mile rail line between Upland, Kansas, and St. Joseph, Missouri, to add capacity to the eastern portion of UP's coal corridor. RailTex had purchased the line, operated as the Northeast Kansas and Missouri Railroad, in 1990. UP is planning to upgrade the line and operate about 15 trains a day, according to a company news report. [Bull Sheet, September 1998]
CSXT, UNIONS IMPLEMENT NEW EMPLOYEE ACCOUNTABILITY POLICY: CSXT and three of its unions have implemented a new employee accountability policy that replaces the company's former disciplinary procedure. MORE..
CSXT EQUIPPING LOCOMOTIVES FOR CONRAIL CAB SIGNAL OPERATION: CSXT locomotive 6242 has been equipped with a feature to permit cab-signal operation over Conrail territory. It involves the installation of equipment to function on both the RF&P and Conrail cab signal frequencies. Other cab signal-equipped units will be fitted with the same feature over the summer, with intended completion on or about Labor Day. CSXT currently has 73 units designated for train control operation on the RF&P Subdivision. [Bull Sheet, August 1998]
NORFOLK SOUTHERN TO HAVE THREE REGIONS FOLLOWING CONRAIL ACQUISITION: Following the closing date for the acquisition of Conrail, Norfolk Southern will have three operating regions (Eastern, Western and Northern), encompassing 12 divisions. The Eastern and Western regions will remain unchanged from the current system, while the Northern Region will include three divisions from the Conrail territory: Harrisburg, Pittsburgh and Dearborn. The Harrisburg Division will include lines through Maryland, New York, New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania; the Pittsburgh Division will include Altoona and Youngstown toward Cleveland, and trackage rights from Crestline to Fort Wayne; and the Dearborn Division will include Cleveland and Detroit to Chicago, and lines to Indianapolis. [Bull Sheet, August 1998]
BNSF ANNOUNCES STOCK SPLIT: Burlington Northern Santa Fe has announced a three-for-one stock split in the form of a stock dividend and a 20 percent increase in the common stock dividend on a post-split basis. The record date for the split is August 17 with new shares being issued effective September 1. BNSF currently has approximately 158-million shares outstanding. [Bull Sheet, August 1998]
BNSF TO REFURBISH OLD LINE IN KANSAS: In the next couple of months, Burlington Northern Santa Fe crews will begin refurbishing an old line through Olathe, Kansas, that once connected the former BN to the north with the former ATSF to the south, according to a BNSF news report. The line was once an interchange point, but it was never intended as a main thoroughfare. The improvement will allow trains leaving Argentine Yard in Kansas en route to Springfield, Missouri, to avoid going directly into Kansas City, thus saving one or two hours of travel. Once the project is completed, up to 10 trains a day will use the line. [Bull Sheet, August 1998]
CSXT'S HARDMAN TOWER CLOSES: Hardman Tower on CSXT's Mountain Subdivision in West Virginia has closed. Its final day was June 18., 1998. Built circa-1907, Hardman, located at the base of Newburg Grade where helper engines were added or cut in, was an electro-mechanical interlocking tower with armstrong levers. There are now fewer than ten electro-mechanical towers remaining in the United States. [Bull Sheet, July 1998]
CSXT, NORFOLK SOUTHERN AGREE ON DIVIDING CONRAIL EQUIPMENT: CSXT and Norfolk Southern have reached agreement on how Conrail equipment will be divided on 'Day One,' the actual day of the now-approved acquisition, and are entering the "trading" phase of the planning process. The agreements cover the division of 1,910 locomotives, 55,000 freight cars, and 4,100 units of roadway work equipment. [Bull Sheet, July 1998]
CONRAIL FREIGHT CARS FOR CSXT GET RESTENCILED: Conrail freight cars that will come to CSXT are being temporarily restenciled with the 'NYC' reporting mark. [Bull Sheet, July 1998]
CSXT ADOPTS 'BUSINESS CASUAL' DRESS CODE: CSXT has implemented a pilot "business casual" dress code policy which will be in effect until October 1. It is intended to promote a "more comfortable, less autocratic working environment, encouraging teamwork and thus enriching the quality of work life." [Bull Sheet, July 1998]
CSXT COMBINING OPERATIONS OF BAYSIDE AND CURTIS BAY PIERS: CSXT is combining the operations of the Bayside Coal Piers with its Curtis Bay Coal and Ore Piers in Baltimore. The combined operation will be named Chesapeake Bay Piers. [Bull Sheet, July 1998]
NEW TRACK SAFETY REGULATIONS ANNOUNCED: The Federal Railroad Administration has announced updated track safety regulations. Included are stricter standards for "excepted track," new standards for the installation and maintenance of welded rail, and a requirement for more frequent searches for internal rail defects. [Bull Sheet, July 1998]
BNSF SELLS 39 MILES OF TRACK: Burlington Northern Santa Fe has sold 39 miles of track between Kirbyville, Texas, and DeRidder, Louisiana, to Timber Rock Railroad, Inc. [Bull Sheet, July 1998]
POUGHKEEPSIE BRIDGE SOLD TO WALKWAY GROUP: The Walkway Over the Hudson now owns the entire Poughkeepsie Railroad Bridge. Six years ago, on June 30, 1992, at the first meeting of the Walkway Over the Hudson Board of Directors, the Board passed a resolution by a unanimous vote making the vision of owning the Poughkeepsie Railroad Bridge part of its mission statement. That vision has become a reality. Chairperson Bill Sepe and Poughkeepsie Railroad Bridge owner Vito Moreno met in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, and transferred ownership of the balance of the Poughkeepsie Railroad Bridge to Walkway Over the Hudson. This transfer was the result of several years of phone discussions. The deed was filed in Ulster and Dutchess counties on June 5, 1998. [Walkway Over the Hudson, 6-8-98]
UNION PACIFIC DIRECTED TO PERMIT AMTRAK EXPRESS TRAFFIC: The Surface Transportation Board has issued a decision directing Union Pacific to permit Amtrak to transport express traffic over UP lines. MORE.. [Bull Sheet, June 1998]
AMTRAK ESTABLISHES AGREEMENT WITH CSXT, NORFOLK SOUTHERN FOR FUTURE OPERATIONS: As part of the proposed Conrail breakup, Amtrak has established an agreement with CSXT and Norfolk Southern for future operations on their lines, up to five years after the Conrail transaction. Also in the agreement is usage of the Northeast Corridor for freight traffic, with differential day and night rates established. With these concerns addressed, Amtrak has endorsed the proposed CSXT/NS acquisition of Conrail. [Bull Sheet, June 1998]
EMORY HILL NAMED GENERAL MANAGER, CSXT'S GREAT LAKES SERVICE LANE: Emory Hill, formerly general manager of CSXT's Baltimore Service Lane, has been named general manager of the Great Lakes Service Lane to be headquartered in Northern Ohio. He was replaced on the Baltimore Service Lane by William Meriwether, who came to CSXT from the Union Pacific. The Great Lakes Service Lane is one of four such territories being formed as part of the proposed acquisition of Conrail. The others will be known as the Mid-Atlantic, Albany, and Indianapolis service lanes. [Bull Sheet, June 1998]
NEW CROSSOVERS IN SERVICE AT FEATHERSTONE, CSXT'S RF&P SUBDIVISION: New crossovers at Featherstone, Virginia, on CSXT's RF&P Subdivision have been completed and were cut in during the Memorial Day weekend. [Bull Sheet, June 1998]
JUNE 1997 RAIL COLLISION IN TEXAS BLAMED ON DISPATCHER MISTAKE, WORKLOAD: The National Transportation Safety Board has ruled that a dispatcher's mistake and a lack of company workload-management policies are to blame for a collision on the Union Pacific last June in Devine, Texas, which killed four people. [Bull Sheet, June 1998]
C&O-PAINTED LOCOMOTIVE RETURNED TO SERVICE: CSXT's last C&O blue locomotive 4617, which was 'retired' on March 24 of this year, has returned to service. MORE.. [Bull Sheet, May 1998]
CSXT'S DETROIT DIVISION BECOMES A SERVICE LANE: CSXT has established the Detroit Service Lane replacing the name of the Detroit Division. It has also been expanded to include the territory from Lima to just south of Walbridge, Ohio, formerly a part of the Louisville Service Lane. The Detroit Division was the railroad's last operating unit to be called a division. CSXT now has 12 operating units, including eight service lanes (Appalachian, Atlanta, Baltimore, Detroit, Florence, Jacksonville, Louisville, and Nashville), one service unit (Chicago), and three business units (C&O, Cumberland Coal, and Florida). [Bull Sheet, May 1998]
CSX REPORTS LOWER 1-Q EARNINGS: CSX Corporation has reported first-quarter 1998 earnings of $91-million, or 41 cents per share on a diluted basis, compared to $151-million, or 69 cents per share in the same quarter last year.
KANSAS CITY SOUTHERN, NORFOLK SOUTHERN OPEN INTERMODAL FACILITY IN TEXAS: Kansas City Southern and Norfolk Southern have opened a joint intermodal facility in Port Arthur, Texas, to serve the Texas Gulf Coast region. KCS began operating in the facility on March 31, followed by NS on April 20. [Bull Sheet, May 1998]
CAMAS PRAIRIE RAILROAD SOLD: Union Pacific and Burlington Northern Santa Fe have sold their jointly-owned Camas Prairie Railroad in Idaho and Washington to Camas Prairie RailNet, Inc. [Bull Sheet, May 1998]
BNSF ELIMINATES TORPEDOES FOR ENGINEERING FORCES: Burlington Northern Santa Fe has eliminated the use of torpedoes as flagging equipment by its engineering forces. Trainmen will still carry torpedoes when going out to flag, but this use is now minimal. [Bull Sheet, May 1998]
CSXT RENAMES ITS CHICAGO SERVICE LANE: CSXT has renamed its Chicago Service Lane. It is now the Nashville Service Lane. A new Chicago Service "Unit" has been established to represent the Chicago Terminal area and the line extending south to Woodland Junction, Illinois. [Bull Sheet, April 1998]
CSXT'S DAMAGED FREIGHT RATIO LOWEST EVER RECORDED: CSXT has announced that its damaged freight ratio for 1997 was the lowest ever recorded by the railroad, surpassing all other major U.S. freight railroads. Freight claims by customers amounted to 19 cents per hundred dollars of freight value handled. [Bull Sheet, April 1998]
AMTRAK SHOWS RIDERSHIP INCREASES IN ILLINOIS: Ridership on Amtrak's state-supported Illinois trains through the first two months of the year showed increases ranging from 12 to 18 percent. The trains involved operate from Chicago to St. Louis, Quincy and Carbondale, respectively, with February's on time performance for the three routes being nearly 96 percent. [Bull Sheet, April 1998]
UNION PACIFIC, BNSF OPEN JOINT DISPATCHING CENTER IN TEXAS: Union Pacific and Burlington Northern Santa Fe opened a joint regional dispatching center in Spring, Texas, March 15 to control operations between Houston and New Orleans over about 340 miles of jointly owned track. [Bull Sheet, April 1998]
BNSF COMPLETES DOUBLE TRACK PROJECT IN NEW MEXICO: Burlington Northern Santa Fe recently completed 14 miles of additional double track on the Clovis Subdivision between Cantara and Tolar, New Mexico, with an additional 23-mile segment slated to be completed this month between Melrose and Taiban, New Mexico. The segments involved see an average of 75 trains a day, according to a BNSF news release. [Bull Sheet, April 1998]
AMTRAK PERFORMANCE IMPROVES ON CONRAIL: Conrail reports its Amtrak on time performance in 1997 improved 11.2 percent, the biggest improvement of any host carrier on the Amtrak network. [Bull Sheet, April 1998]
STB SETS DEADLINE FOR CONRAIL ACQUISITION ORAL ARGUMENT INTENTIONS: The Surface Transportation Board has issued a notice stating that interested parties to the proposed Conrail acquisition must inform the board by April 10, 1998, of their intentions to participate in oral arguments, now slated to begin June 4 in Washington. [Bull Sheet, April 1998]
DEPOT AT NEW FREEDOM, PA., TO BE REBUILT: After several failed attempts to restore the historic Pennsylvania Railroad train depot at New Freedom, Pennsylvania, a decision was finally made to tear the thing down and start over. Some of the original lumber, about 10 percent, can be used in the new structure; it will be rebuilt in stages with a pavilion-type structure appearing at first. Later increments to replicate its original design will proceed as funding permits. [Bull Sheet, April 1998]
SOUTHERN RAILWAY ROUNDHOUSE IN ALEXANDRIA, VA., DEMOLISHED: The circa 1916-1917 Southern Railway roundhouse, located off of Holland Lane in Alexandria, Virginia, met its fate during the first two weeks of March 1998. The building, which in recent years had been home to a lumber company, was demolished to make room for further progress on the Carlyle Project, a joint effort of Norfolk Southern with the Carlyle Development Company to develop the former Southern yard property in Alexandria. [Bull Sheet, April 1998]
VRE CONVERTING BUDD COACHES INTO CAFE CARS: Virginia Railway Express is converting four of its former Massachusetts Bay Budd car coaches into self-service cafe cars at a cost of $97,000 each. The cafe cars, which will accommodate up to 80 people, are scheduled for operation later this month. [Bull Sheet, March 1998]
AMTRAK TO PURCHASE NEW TRAINS FOR SAN DIEGAN: Amtrak has announced a $100-million investment to purchase new passenger trains for the San Diegan corridor, which serves more than 1.6 million passengers annually. The acquisition represents the single largest investment Amtrak has ever made in California. [Bull Sheet, March 1998]
CSXT BEGINS EXTENSION OF TRACK AT JACKSONVILLE ZOO: CSXT has begun a seven-tenths of a mile long track segment to link with the existing six-tenths of a mile segment it built in 1995 to complete a transportation system for the Jacksonville, Florida, Zoo. The new addition moves the zoo's railroad "from simply a ride to a true people-mover within the zoo grounds," according to a CSXT report. [Bull Sheet, March 1998]
CSXT REPORTS CROSSING CLOSINGS IN EXCESS OF GOAL: CSXT reports it closed 651 grade crossings in 1997, exceeding its goal for the year by about nine percent. Ninety-five of the closed crossings were on the Florence Service Lane. The goal for crossings to be closed in 1998 is 700. [Bull Sheet, March 1998]
CSXT UPGRADING SIGNALS ON COAL RIVER SUBDIVISION: Upgrading of signals is occurring on CSXT's Coal River Subdivision on the C&O Business Unit where Electro-code is being installed along with new signals. [Bull Sheet, March 1998]
NEW TRACK ALIGNMENT IN CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA., COMPLETED: Cutover of a new track alignment in Charlottesville, Virginia, occurred on February 12. It is part of a project to build an underpass for hospital access and to close a crossing near the Norfolk Southern/CSXT diamond. [Bull Sheet, March 1998]
JACK STITH DIES, RAIL PROPONENT: Jack Stith, of Richmond, Va., an avid rail proponent and one of the forefront leaders in the Old Dominion Chapter NRHS, has died. A school principal by profession, his experience in organizing and coordinating rail excursions can be traced back to the 1960's. He was 59. [Bull Sheet, March 1998]
ECKHART BRANCH BRIDGE IN CUMBERLAND, MD., DEMOLISHED: [Reported for the Bull Sheet by Mike Welsh]... One of Cumberland, Maryland's, oldest railroad structures has been demolished. The Cumberland and Pennsylvania Railroad's Eckhart Branch bridge over Will's Creek at the west end of the Cumberland Narrows was removed by contractors during a three-day period beginning January 19, 1998. It was nearly 153 years old. MORE..
CSXT EXPLAINS LOCOMOTIVE CONSIST ARRANGEMENT: CSXT explained in a recent issue of its Midweek Report that locomotive consists of two or more units are often arranged so that older models are in the lead position, in front of more modern alternating current units, due to the potential for damage by crews who may unintentionally apply too much power at too low speeds. MORE..
CSXT BEGINS USE OF SECOND TRACK IN INDIANA: CSXT has begun utilizing a newly-constructed second track between Garrett and Albion, Indiana. The upgrade is part of a $220-million project to create a double-track route linking the Midwest and the Northeast and Atlantic Coast. [Bull Sheet, February 1998]
CSXT'S EMERALD EXPRESS A SUCCESS: CSXT's Emerald Express, which moves trash between Sealston, Va., and Annapolis Junction, Md., accounted for more than 1,600 carloads between its inception this past summer and the end of 1997. [Bull Sheet, February 1998]
CSX ANNOUNCES DIRECT STOCK PURCHASE AND DIVIDEND INVESTMENT PLAN: CSX Corporation has announced a new direct stock purchase and dividend reinvestment plan to enable investors to buy the company's stock directly from the company without going through a broker. Minimum initial investment is $500, plus a $10 enrollment fee. [Bull Sheet, February 1998]
CSXT BEGINS WORK ON NEW CROSSOVERS AT FEATHERSTONE, VA.: CSXT has begun work on new crossovers at Featherstone, Va., just south of Woodbridge on the RF&P subdivision, in a project funded by Virginia Railway Express. [Bull Sheet, February 1998]
NORFOLK SOUTHERN INCREASES FUNDING FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS: Norfolk Southern plans to spend $903-million for capital improvements in 1998, up from $781-million originally planned for 1997. Included will be the purchase of 116 new six-axle locomotives. [Bull Sheet, February 1998]
NORFOLK SOUTHERN TO SELL NORTH AMERICAN VAN LINES: Norfolk Southern has announced the sale of its North American Van Lines subsidiary to a fund managed by the investment firm of Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, Inc., to be consummated before the end of May. [Bull Sheet, February 1998]
OUT OF FUEL LOCOMOTIVE OF FREIGHT TRAIN DELAYS AMTRAK'S CARDINAL: Amtrak's westbound Cardinal on Jan. 9, 1998, was delayed 53 minutes at North Gordonsville, Virginia, when its locomotive was needed to cut off and clear a local freight into a siding because the freight train's engine had run out of fuel. [Bull Sheet, February 1998]
AMTRAK'S RIDERSHIP SHOWS INCREASE OF QUARTER: Amtrak ridership jumped nearly seven pct October through December 1997, the largest quarterly increase in 14 years. The leap represents 5.3 million passengers for the first quarter FY-1998, versus 4.96 million during the same period the previous year. Passenger revenue for the quarter increased 3.4 percent. The Southwest Chief showed a 19.4 percent increase in ridership, the Coast Starlight showed a 23.7 percent increase, and the Cardinal showed an 11.2 percent increase. [Bull Sheet, February 1998]
CSXT INSTALLING EMERGENCY INFORMATION CROSSING SIGNS: CSXT is installing emergency information signs at its grade crossings. Developed in cooperation with the Federal Railroad Administration, the program is intended to improve the ability of local emergency responders and the motoring public to quickly and accurately report to the railroad when a vehicle is stalled on a crossing, or other emergencies impacted by the railroad. The installation of signs at about 28,000 crossings across the system was about one-quarter completed by the end of 1997. Included on the sign is CSXT's toll-free emergency number along with the crossing number and station milepost designation. [Bull Sheet, February 1998]
GEORGE WARRINGTON NAMED ACTING PRESIDENT OF AMTRAK: George Warrington has been named acting president of Amtrak. He replaces Thomas Downs, who has resigned. [Bull Sheet, January 1998]
MARC EXTENSION TO FREDERICK, MD., TO BE DELAYED: The extension of MARC commuter rail service to Frederick, Md., will be delayed by at least a year, according to a Frederick County planner. Completion of the 13.5-mile route and two rail stations is now expected in February 2001. [Bull Sheet, January 1998]
BNSF SELLS 57 MILES OF TRACK IN ILLINOIS: Burlington Northern Santa Fe has sold 57 miles of track between Montgomery and Streator, Illinois, to Illinois Railnet, a subsidiary of North American Railnet, Inc., headquartered in Bedford, Texas. [Bull Sheet, January 1998]
CONRAIL ANTICIPATES HIRING OVER 500 TRAIN, ENGINE EMPLOYEES: Conrail anticipates hiring over 500 train and engine service employees at various points around the system in 1998. Preference will be given to active and furloughed employees. [Bull Sheet, January 1998]
CSXT RETIRES IT LAST TWO BQ23-7 LOCOMOTIVES: CSXT has retired its last two BQ23-7 class locomotives. Units 3001 and 3004 were deleted from the roster on Dec. 23, 1997. There were originally ten of these units, a modification of the B23-7 class unit with an enlarged cab with room for five crew members. In later years, the remaining BQ23-7's were converted into B units with the windows painted over. [Bull Sheet, January 1998]
CSXT MAKING PROGRESS INSTALLING RADIO CODE, ELECTRONIC TRACK CIRCUITS: CSXT reports that it has been making significant progress in its program to install radio code and electronic track circuits to reduce the need for wayside line wires. As of the end of 1997, dispatchers controlled signals and switches via radio transmissions instead of line wires on 30 percent of the signal-equipped system, with 27 percent of the on-line track circuitry being transmitted via electronic circuits in the rails. Yet another function of pole lines, the transmission of electric power to signals and other devices, is also being eliminated with that function being transferred to local utility companies or, in some cases, solar power.The company anticipates that by the end of this year, 40 percent of the CSXT signal system, including most routes serving Amtrak, will be radio-code signaled. [Bull Sheet, January 1998]
CSXT'S 75TH STREET TOWER IN CHICAGO CLOSES: CSXT's 75th Street Tower in Chicago closed in November 1997, after 89 years, four months and 19 days of service. The mechanical interlocking tower controlled the crossing of CSXT's double-track Baltimore & Ohio Chicago Terminal with Norfolk Southern's double-track ex-Wabash line and Belt Railway of Chicago's double-track main line, which parallel each other through the plant. A wye track connects the BRC and CSXT lines in the northwest quadrant of the plant. [By Jon Roma reported to the Bull Sheet, January 1998]
LAWSON CLARK DIES, NOTED RAILFAN: G. Lawson Clark, noted railfan and National Railway Historical Society member, died Oct. 18, 1997. A law school graduate and a lieutenant in the Army Air Corps in the second World War, he practiced law for a number of years, was a tax consultant, and later a taxi driver. He was very active in the Washington DC and Potomac chapters of the NRHS. He was 80. [Bull Sheet, December 1997]
UNION PACIFIC SEEKS OFFERS FOR F7 LOCOMOTIVES, BUSINESS CARS: Union Pacific is seeking offers for the sale of six surplus C&NW F7 locomotives. They are numbered 315, 400, 402, 403, 410 and 411, respectively. UP is also seeking offers for surplus business cars. They include SP business car Oregon, SP instrument car 252, SP 10-6 sleeper Sunset Limited, and C&NW 10-6 sleeper Lake Michigan. [Bull Sheet, December 1997]
MARC EXTENSION TO HANCOCK, W.V., BEING CONSIDERED: Town officials from Hancock, Maryland, and Berkeley Springs, West Virginia, have arranged a meeting this month with the Maryland Rail Commuter Service concerning a proposal to extend MARC service to Hancock, West Virginia. Currently the western end point of service is Martinsburg, West Virginia, and the proposal would extend it an additional 23 miles. [Bull Sheet, December 1997]
CONRAIL INTEGRATION TO BE IN METHODICAL, CAREFULMANNER, CSXT OFFICIAL SAYS: "I am here to pledge to you that we will approach the integration of Conrail in a methodical and careful manner, with prime emphasis on safety and service," said Paul Reistrup, CSXT's vice president for passenger integration at a Railway Age conference in Washington on November 10. He gave an overview of CSXT intentions for passenger rail in specific service areas, including MARC, VRE, Amtrak, and South Florida's Tri-Rail operations. [Bull Sheet, December 1997]
AMTRAK'S 4-Q RIDERSHIP INCREASES 5.5 PCT: Amtrak's 4th quarter (July-September) ridership increased 5.5 percent compared with the same period last year, with an overall increase of 2.6 percent for the entire fiscal year. The Coast Starlight showed a fiscal year increase of 23.7 percent, according to an Amtrak press report. [Bull Sheet, December 1997]
BNSF APPROVES NEW AMTAK EXPRESS CARS FOR 90 MPH: Burlington Northern Santa Fe has given approval for Amtrak to operate its new fleet of 60-foot express cars on the Southwest Chief at speeds up to 90 miles per hour. The approval follows joint BNSF/Amtrak tests involving two trains in an "empty car" condition to monitor a variety of performance and safety characteristics, including lateral stability. [Bull Sheet, December 1997]
BNSF TO SELL 23-MILE LINE SEGMENT IN N.D.: Burlington Northern Santa Fe has announced the sale of a 23-mile line segment from Geneseo Junction to Havana, North Dakota, to the Rutland Line, a subsidiary of Red River Valley & Western Railroad Company. In addition, Rutland has been granted trackage rights from Geneseo Junction over 42 miles of the joint BNSF/CP line to BN Junction, Minnesota. [Bull Sheet, December 1997]
FRA IDENTIFIES SAFETY SHORTFALLS ON CSXT: The Federal Railroad Administration has released a report on CSXT detailing safety shortfalls in all areas of the railroad's operation. The key findings include a need for more comprehensive employee training in railroad operations; a review of safety culture to eliminate harassment and intimidation; a need to improve dispatcher communications; deficient implementation of the railroad's operational testing program; inaccurate records in accident/incident reporting and locomotive engineer certification; deficiencies in track program management such as track inspections; and a need for stricter management oversight for cars and locomotives. [Bull Sheet, November 1997, from U.S. Dept. of Transportation news release]
CSXT NAMES LOCOMOTIVE 'SPIRIT OF CUMBERLAND': CSXT locomotive 700 has been named 'Spirit of Cumberland.' It was christened on CSX Day at Cumberland by Maryland's lieutenant governor, Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, at a ceremony to honor the railroad's contribution to the city's economy. Unit 700 is a newly-built SD70AC, and all units of that class have been assigned to service on trains of the Cumberland Coal Business Unit. [Bull Sheet, November 1997]
SIGNAL ENHANCEMENTS BEGIN ON NEW ALIGNMENT ALONG RF&P: Signal enhancements have gone into effect in Arlington and Alexandria, Va., along CSXT's RF&P Subdivision's new three-track alignment. Changes include replacement of the southbound dwarf signals at South RO with high signals, and new signals at Slaters Lane along with a power switch from No. 1 track to the Pepco Lead. [Bull Sheet, November 1997]
CSXT, NORFOLK SOUTHERN CONCLUDE ACCESS PACT WITH CP/D&H: CSXT and Norfolk Southern have concluded an agreement providing joint-line commercial access for Canadian Pacific/Delaware & Hudson to customers in New Jersey, Philadelphia, and the Buffalo/Niagara Frontier area. Canadian Pacific now supports the CSX/NSC acquisition of Conrail and will not seek protective conditions from the Surface Transportation Board. [Bull Sheet, November 1997]
NORFOLK SOUTHERN TO DONATE ROANOKE DEPOT FOR VISITOR CENTER USE: Norfolk Southern has announced it will donate its Roanoke, Va., passenger depot to the Roanoke Foundation for Downtown for use as a visitor center. Also to be donated are two former office buildings for use as an education center and mixed use/residential project respectively. [Bull Sheet, November 1997]
AMTRAK TAKES STEPS TO CUT FOOD SERVICE DEFICIT: Amtrak has announced an action plan to reduce its food service deficit by $6.2-million in FY-1998. In a memo to employees, Amtrak quoted figures from FY-1996 of $39.2-million in revenues and $113.4-million in expenses, or a deficit of $74.2-million. Actions identified include reduction in the amount of preparatory work required of the crew, the use of different products, the substitution of plastic ware for china, the development of more consistent menus among long-distance trains, and the testing of family-style meals. A test of the use of plastic dinnerware was to begin October 26 on the California Zephyr, and family-style meals are to be tested on Silver-Service trains. Customer response surveys will be made, with the results presented to Amtrak's board of directors in December or January. [Bull Sheet, November 1997]
WILLIAM HOLLIFIED DIES, AMTRAK AGENT: William Hart Hollifield, 44, Amtrak ticket agent for nearly two decades at Charlottesville, Va., died September 18. He began his career in 1976, and worked various extra-board positions, including those in Charleston, S.C., and Greensboro, Lynchburg and Charlottesville, Va. He also worked at several stations whose trains were later eliminated completely, or positions abolished, such as in Roanoke, Va., and White Sulphur Springs, W.Va. He received many letters of commendation, including several from Graham Claytor during his tenure as president of Amtrak. [Bull Sheet, November 1997]
MD. REACHES PACT WITH CSXT FOR MARC SERVICE: The Maryland Mass Transit Administration has reached an agreement with CSXT affecting MARC commuter service through 1999. Included is service expansion to Frederick, Maryland. Also included is the reconstruction of a connection track which will allow Penn Line trains to operate into Camden Station. The connection track will reportedly follow the route of the former Claremont branch in West Baltimore which once connected the former Pennsylvania Railroad mainline with B&O's Mount Clare Yard. This would allow sports event specials from the Penn Line access to Camden Station, and makes possible the routing of some of the regular trains as well. Camden Station is more accessible to Baltimore's business district than is Pennsylvania Station. Also, a shop is planned near Carroll Park which can be accessed from both the Penn and Camden lines. [Bull Sheet, October 1997]
CSXT TAKING DELIVERY OF ADDITIONAL AC-TRACTION LOCOMOTIVES: CSXT has been taking delivery of addition AC-traction locomotives. As of September 28, SD70AC units 700, 702 through 716, 720 and 722 (total of 18), and CW44AC units 281 through 300 (total of 20) had been delivered. [Bull Sheet, October 1997]
CSXT RETIRES ITS LAST GP30M: CSXT has retired its last GP30M locomotive. Unit 4216 was retired on September 9. Formerly a C&O unit (x-3021), it was built as a GP30 in 1962 and rebuilt as a GP30M in 1983. [Bull Sheet, October 1997]
AVERAGE HORSEPOWER ON CSXT EXCEEDS 3000 PER LOCOMOTIVE: The average horsepower of a CSXT locomotive now exceeds 3000. When the Bull Sheet last calculated this information in June 1997, the average horsepower was 2992.3.With the addition of the high-horsepower AC units this past month, plus the retirement of a number of lower-horsepower units, the average horsepower as of September 28 (with 2766 units on the roster) was 3016.1. [Bull Sheet, October 1997]
CSXT APPEALS JURY VERDICT IN NEW ORLEANS: CSXT is appealing a $2.5-billion punitive damages jury verdict in New Orleans as a result of a 1987 railroad car fire. Pete Carpenter, CSXT president and chief executive officer, has issued a statement that a leak in the tank car occurred because the owner of the car had improperly replaced a gasket in a closure on the bottom of the car, and that CSXT was the victim of a hidden defect. He added that the National Transportation Safety Board had concluded the incident was not caused by CSXT. [Bull Sheet, October 1997]
RESTAURANT TO OPEN IN FREDERICKSBURG, VA., STATION: A restaurant is slated to open in the Fredericksburg, Virginia, train depot on October 9. The 1910 structure, serving both Amtrak and Virginia Railway Express, was recently renovated to include Claiborne's Chophouse, an upscale steak restaurant. [Bull Sheet, October 1997]
TRACK, SIGNAL IMPROVEMENTS SLATED FOR OREGON SERVICE: The Federal Railroad Administration has announced a $5.2-million cooperative agreement with the state of Oregon toward track and signal improvements between Portland and Eugene in support of a designation of the segment for high-speed train service. [Bull Sheet, October 1997]
CAPITOL LIMITED DELAYED BY BOMB THREAT: Amtrak's Capitol Limited was delayed over four hours on August 29 due to a bomb threat. More than 200 passengers were evacuated from the train at Hancock, West Virginia. They were unloaded into an open space next to the Hancock yard and then transported by school bus to a school in Maryland. Meanwhile, the train was moved a safe distance west while a bomb unit searched the train. There was no bomb. A 48-year-old man from Florida, who was a passenger on the train, was taken into custody, charged with three counts in connection with the incident, and held in lieu of $10,000 bond. [Bull Sheet, October 1997]
RETIRED INTERLOCKING TOWERS DEMOLISHED IN MD., D.C.: A contractor demolished the unused Viaduct Junction interlocking tower in Cumberland, Md., on July 24, and the same contractor demolished QN Tower in Washington, D.C., on August 2. Viaduct Junction had closed in January 1997, and QN Tower had closed in September 1992. [Bull Sheet, September 1997]
CSXT REAFFIRMES ON-TIME COMMITMENT FOR AMTRAK: Keeping Amtrak on time is a CSXT priority, according to the company's midweek report to employees on August 20. Quoting Dick Young, assistant vice-president of passenger services, 'Passengers arrive on time, Amtrak customer satisfaction improves and CSXT earns incentive bonuses for good performance. CSXT can receive up to $16 million annually in incentive payments. These payments represent the only opportunity for CSXT to earn money from Amtrak over and above incremental cost reimbursements. Our first priority is ensuring the safety of Amtrak trains on our system. That's followed by seeing that those trains remain on schedule. When our Amtrak performance is poor, we're leaving money on the table.' [Bull Sheet, September 1997]
AMTRAK HAVING PROBLEMS WITH EXPRESS BOXCARS: Amtrak has reportedly run into problems with its new express boxcars. Norfolk Southern has issued instructions that Amtrak trains carrying these cars be considered 'intermodal' trains restricted to 60 miles per hour. UP and BNSF have reportedly expressed dissatisfaction with the cars as well. [Bull Sheet, September 1997]
UPS STRIKE A WINDFALL FOR AMTRAK: The recent United Parcel Service strike resulted in a windfall for Amtrak. A number of trains which carry mail were reported operating with several additional mail cars in their consist. [Bull Sheet, September 1997]
ROCKVILLE BRIDGE DAMAGED BY FREIGHT DERAILMENT: A portion of Conrail's Rockville Bridge in Pennsylvania was damaged on August 19 as a freight train derailed sending five CSX coal hoppers into the Susquehanna River. The accident also caused a fuel pipeline on the bridge to break. According to press reports, the facia of the bridge was damaged, but the superstructure is sound. [Bull Sheet, September 1997]
UNION PACIFIC TO REPLACE, UPGRADE ITS COMPUTER DISPATCHING SYSTEM: Union Pacific has announced plans for a complete replacement and upgrading of its computer-aided dispatching system at its Harriman Dispatching Center in Omaha. Called CAD III, the system will integrate mainline and terminal planning in order to improve utilization of locomotives, cars, terminals and crews, according to a company news release. [Bull Sheet, September 1997]
TRIPLE CROWN TO EXPAND INTO DALLAS, FORT WORTH: Triple Crown Services Company has announced expansion of its intermodal service territory to include the Dallas and Fort Worth area with dedicated RoadRailer trains from the East connecting with BNSF trains at Kansas City, Kansas. Triple Crown has invested $13 million for 400 additional RoadRailer trailers and related equipment to support the service. [Bull Sheet, September 1997]
CONRAIL'S 2-Q OPERATING RATIO ITS LOWEST EVER: Conrail reported net income of $117-million for the second quarter, up from $109-million for the same quarter in 1996. At the same time, it lowered its operating ratio to 77.8 percent, its lowest ever. [Bull Sheet, September 1997]
CONRAIL'S TRENT TOWER CLOSES: Conrail's Trent Tower in West Trenton, New Jersey, has closed. Control has been transferred to SEPTA's Wind Tower. This leaves NK Tower in Newark as the last genuine Conrail tower still in service in New Jersey. [Bull Sheet, August 1997]
PAUL REISTRUP JOINS CSXT: Paul Reistrup, a former president of Amtrak, has joined CSXT as vice president of passenger integration. He will be responsible for integrating passenger and freight operations across the CSXT system, with a particular focus on the lines north of Philadelphia that CSXT intends to acquire from Conrail. Earlier in his career, in the 1960's, he was director of passenger services for the C&O and B&O. [Bull Sheet, August 1997]
CSXT UPGRADING CORRIDOR FROM NEW ORLEANS: CSXT has been upgrading its corridor from the New Orleans gateway to Montgomery and Pensacola with $9.4-million in capital projects. These include extension of the south yard tracks, addition of seven new tracks, and construction of a new mechanical shop at Gentilly Yard in New Orleans; new passing sidings at Mobile, Alabama, and Avalon, Florida; extension of a passing siding at Molino, Florida; upgrading signals at four locations in Mississippi and at Flomaton Yard in Alabama; and other improvements. The upgrades began early this year and are expected to be completed by October. [Bull Sheet, August 1997]
CSXT ANNOUNCES CONRAIL INTEGRATION MOVES TO JACKSONVILLE: From the portions of Conrail that CSXT intends to acquire, customer service centers in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, and the crew management center in Dearborn, Michigan, are slated to be transferred to Jacksonville by the end of 1999. According to CSXT, dispatching centers at Indianapolis and Albany will "transition gradually into the CSXT system," with no date for transfers of those functions being given. CSXT's General Office Building in Jacksonville will be the railroad's headquarters. [Bull Sheet, August 1997]
NORFOLK SOUTHERN DECLARES THREE-FOR-ONE STOCK SPLIT: Norfolk Southern has declared a three-for-one common stock split to become effective in early September. [Bull Sheet, August 1997]
NORFOLK SOUTHERN REPAINTING CABOOSES FOR LOCAL, MINE-RUN SERVICE: Norfolk Southern has begun repainting cabooses at Roanoke, Virginia, for use in local and mine-run service. At least 25 are expected to be repainted. [Bull Sheet, August 1997]
CSXT TO ADD FOUR SERVICE LANDS IN CONRAIL ACQUISITION: CSXT has announced the formation of four service lanes as part of its takeover of Conrail lines. Pending approval of its joint acquisition application filed with Norfolk Southern before the Surface Transportation Board on June 25, the four service lanes will be headquartered in Philadelphia, Willard, Indianapolis, and Albany. [Bull Sheet, July 1997]
CSXT ADDS NEW DISPATCHING CONSOLE: CSXT has added a new dispatching console. Called the 'CR' console, it controls the Northern, Cincinnati, Columbus and Athens subdivisions. Realignment of other consoles has resulted in the following: James River, Rivanna, Peninsula and Newport News subdivisions to the AL console; Allegany, North Mountain, Piedmont and Washington subdivisions to the AM console; and Kanawha and New River subdivisions to the AN console. [Bull Sheet, July 1997]
AMTRAK INTRODUCES BOSTON-NEWPORT NEWS OVERNIGHT SERVICE: Amtrak's Night Owl will be extended southward to Newport News, Virginia, beginning July 10. Renamed the Twilight Shoreliner, it will provide overnight service from Boston, and will be the first train to leave Washington in the morning toward Richmond. [Bull Sheet, July 1997]
NORFOLK SOUTHERN ADDS CROSSOVER AT MANASSAS, VA.: A new crossover is now in service on the Norfolk Southern just north of the station at Manassas, Virginia. Named MOORE, for a signal maintainer who died from cancer, it allows northbound trains to cross over from number 1 to number 2 track, reducing delays to Virginia Railway Express (VRE) trains, especially on days when Amtrak's eastbound Cardinal operates. [Bull Sheet, July 1997]
VRE COACH ADDED TO AMTRAK'S CRESCENT: A Virginia Railway Express coach has been added to Amtrak's Crescent for additional capacity. Currently, it is only open to patrons traveling to Virginia, but is expected soon to be open to other local customers as well. The car is cycled between Washington and Atlanta. [Bull Sheet, July 1997]
WASHINGTON METRO BEGINS SERVICE TO FRANCONIA-SPRINGFIELD: Washington, D.C., Metro began service to its new Franconia-Springfield station in Virginia on June 29. The new terminus of the Blue Line, it is the Metro system's 75th rail station. Constructed at a cost of $176.4-million, which includes trackage and real estate, it connects with the VRE stop at the same location. [Bull Sheet, July 1997]
GEORGE RYAN RETIRES: George Ryan, 62, veteran Western Maryland and B&O clerk/tower operator, retired May 31 following 36 years of railroad service. He was the relief-shift operator at CSXT's West Cumbo Tower near Hedgesville, W.Va., at the time of his retirement. He began his railroad career in June 1961 with the Western Maryland Railway at Hagerstown, Md., on the clerks' extra list, where he worked as a car checker, hump clerk and typist for about two years. He then moved into the accounting department in the old Hagerstown passenger station. In the accounting department, he worked as a mail boy, and then as a clerk verifying accounts payable bills. When the accounting department moved to Baltimore about 1975, he opted to stay in Hagerstown where he took a relief clerk's position at the yard office. He remained in Hagerstown until activities there were downsized during the early 1980's, and he then went to Brunswick, Md., working on the B&O extra list. He returned to Hagerstown briefly to learn the duties of NC Tower. He never actually worked there (NC Tower closed in 1986), but he did qualify and worked as an operator on the B&O, first at West Cumbo, then Miller and Hancock, before taking the relief position at West Cumbo on a regular basis. [Bull Sheet, July 1997]
BAY SHORE PARK TROLLEY STATION RENOVATED: The Maryland Department of Natural Resources recently completed renovation work to stabilize and restore the former Bay Shore Trolley depot located on the grounds of North Point State Park in eastern Baltimore County. Once an amusement park frequented by visitors from Baltimore, Bay Shore Park, located on the shores of the Chesapeake Bay near the mouth of the Patapsco River, featured its Crystal Pier, a roller coaster, other rides called the Sea Swing, Thingamajig, and Whirl-A-Drome, a dance hall and music pavilion. The trolley line from Baltimore actually passed under the roller coaster before reaching the depot. The 208-foot long station is about all that is left of the amusement park, which closed in 1947. Plans are to make the depot available for rental for weddings, family reunions, company picnics, etc. The state of Maryland acquired the property in 1987 and renamed it North Point State Park. [Bull Sheet, July 1997]
MARTINSBURG STATION DEDICATED: It's now known as 'Caperton Station - Martinsburg's Intermodal Transportation Center.' Named for former governor Gaston Caperton, the completed addition to the 1847 former Hotel Berkeley and B&O train station at Martinsburg, W.Va., was dedicated in ceremonies on June 21. Said to be the oldest working train station on Amtrak's system (when considering the original portion of the building, not currently in use), the building has been readied for passengers as part of an Intermodal Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) grant which will eventually include a pedestrian-enclosed footbridge over the CSXT mainline and commercial reuse of the former B&O shops complex across from the station. The old portion of the building will also be put to commercial use. Washington-bound MARC commuter trains originate here on weekdays, in addition to daily stops by Amtrak's Capitol Limited. [Bull Sheet, July 1997]
FEDS SET 350-DAY REVIEW OF CONRAIL ACQUISITION: [From a letter to employees from CSXT president Pete Carpenter] As you may have heard, the Surface Transportation Board announced on May 29 that it has set a 350-day review period for the joint application for the acquisition of Conrail. Based on this schedule, we can anticipate the STB's decision on our application by June 1998. While we would have preferred the 255-day review we were seeking, we believe the 350-day process is workable, and far preferable to the 16-month process that a few opponents of this transaction were seeking. At the heart of the STB's decision is a desire to ensure adequate time for a full and complete environmental impact review. We are confident that the review will demonstrate the overwhelming public benefits, including environmental benefits, that will accrue from this transaction. We are still on track to file our joint application with Norfolk Southern on June 16. We believe we will present a compelling case to the STB for approval - a proposal that will restructure the rail freight system in the Eastern U.S. and restore competition to the Northeast. This transaction already has the support of governors and secretaries of transportation from nine states and more than 750 shippers and others. The more people learn about this acquisition and its benefits, the more people support it. Throughout this process, we must still remain committed to our aggressive safety, service and financial objectives. Let's all remain focused on achieving or exceeding these goals. [Bull Sheet, June 1997]
TRAINS BEGIN RUNNING ON NEWLY-OPENED CSXT LINE BETWEEN DESHLER AND BATES, OHIO: Trains began operating on May 12 over a newly-opened CSXT line between Deshler and Bates, Ohio, on the northern end of the Toledo Subdivision. The line had been out of service for seven years. Trains rerouted onto the Bates line include Q201, Q203, Q227, Q245, Q272, Q506, Q507, Q508, Q509 and Q514. [Bull Sheet, June 1997]
TRACKS IN SERVICE ON EAST SIDE OF POTOMAC YARD, VA.: Numbers 1, 2 and 3 tracks are now in service on their new alignment on the east side of Potomac Yard between South RO and North Alexandria on CSXT's RF&P Subdivision in Virginia. Numbers 2 and 3 tracks have bidirectional signaling, but Number 1 track remains temporarily without signaling with direct traffic control rules in effect. [Bull Sheet, June 1997]
CSXT RE-IMPLEMENTS RESTRICTED-PROCEED SIGNAL: Effective May 12, CSXT re-implemented its Restricted-Proceed signal, replacing the one known as Stop and Proceed. The signal now permits trains affected to pass it at restricted speed, if conditions permit, without stopping. [Bull Sheet, June 1997]
JIM WHITE DIES, RETIRED B&O TOWER OPERATOR: Retired B&O tower operator Jim White died on May 25. He was 68. He retired from WB Tower in Brunswick, Maryland, in 1987, having begun his career with the B&O in 1947. Earlier he had worked on the Norfolk & Western, as had his father. [Bull Sheet, June 1997]
CSXT TO INCREASE CAPACITY IN OHIO, INDIANA AND ILLINOIS: CSX Corporation today [May 19] announced plans to immediately begin spending approximately $220-million to improve and expand capacity on approximately 270 miles of its former B&O route between Greenwich, Ohio, and Chicago. "This is one of the most ambitious U.S. rail freight development ventures in modern times," said John W. Snow, chairman and chief executive officer of CSX. "This major construction project will create a truly world-class stretch of railroad with enormous economic potential not only for CSX, but also for the region," he said. In press conferences today in Willard, Ohio, and Indianapolis, Snow called the project "critical to realizing the growth objectives we have for our acquisition of Conrail lines." The section of railroad being upgraded and expanded links Conrail's 'Water Level Route,' which connects Cleveland and the key eastern markets of Boston, New York and Philadelphia, with the industrial heartland of America and its Chicago gateway to and from the West. Snow said the project will result in "dramatically improved service and vastly increased capacity across the entirety of this key line, which is the most direct route from New England and mid-Atlantic coast ports and industrial centers to the Midwest." A.R. 'Pete' Carpenter, president and CEO of CSX Transportation, Inc., the company's rail unit, said work will begin immediately and will be completed in early 1998. "The 1997 phase," he said, "will include construction of more than 70 route miles of double and triple track railroad, with an additional 40 route miles completed in 1998." Ultimately, more than 100 route miles of new track will be constructed and another 250 route miles of existing track will be reconstructed and upgraded or surfaced. [CSX, 5-19-97]
CSXT REPLACES R-SYMBOLED FREIGHT TRAINS WITH Q SYMBOLS: CSXT has redesignated its R-symboled manifest freight trains with Q symbols. The Q symbol has been in use for certain trains since early 1992 to designate schedules arranged for specific customer commitments, while the R symbol remained for other manifest trains, including intermodals. Except that R-symboled intermodal trains generally got preference over other manifest train movements, Q-symboled trains were considered preferential over R-symboled trains. The numbers within the R and Q category were sequential, meaning there would not be both an R and Q train with the same number. There were examples of some trains randomly being switched from R to Q designations, and vice-versa, with the same number prevailing. In December 1995, all Automotive Business Unit trains, some having R symbols, were grouped into the 200-series, all with Q symbols. The latest change groups all manifest trains under the Q symbol, but designations L and S will continue to be used for alternate schedule and second section respectively. [Bull Sheet, May 1997]
FREIGHT TRAIN DERAILMENT IN GRAHAM TUNNEL DISRUPTS CAPITOL LIMITED: Amtrak's Capitol Limited east of Pittsburgh was suspended April 23 and 24, with passengers bused, due to a freight train derailment in Graham Tunnel on CSXT's Cumberland Subdivision in West Virginia. [Bull Sheet, May 1997]
CSXT BEGINS HPO PHASE-II ON WESTERN SIDE OF SYSTEM: CSX Transportation began the first wave of its HPO (High Performance Organization) Operational Excellence phase II on April 29 on the western side of the system, including the former Louisville & Nashville Railroad. The territory represents about one-third of CSXT's total merchandise traffic, and the program is designed to reduce elapsed shipment time by about 40 percent. The second wave is scheduled to be implemented on the eastern side on June 3, and on the former B&O on July 8. [Bull Sheet, May 1997]
AMTRAK SEEKS AIR RIGHTS DEVELOPERS FOR 30TH STREET STATION IN PHILADELPHIA: Amtrak is interested in finding developers to make use of air rights above the tracks next to 30th Street Station in Philadelphia, particularly for a hotel, theaters, and retail stores, according to a press report. [Bull Sheet, May 1997]
PASSENGER TRAINS MAY RETURN TO KANSAS CITY UNION STATION: The developers of the old union station in Kansas City, Missouri, have agreed to return passenger trains to the depot if financing can be worked out. According to a report in the May 1997 issue of the Arkansas Railroader, a section of the building once housing a drugstore and soda fountain would be made available for passengers. [Bull Sheet, May 1997]
NORFOLK SOUTHERN, BNSF BEGIN INTERLINE INTERMODAL SERVICE FROM LOUISVILLE: Norfolk Southern and Burlington Northern Santa Fe have begun offering interline intermodal service between Louisville, Kentucky, and points in both the Pacific Northwest and Pacific Southwest. The service runs through the Kansas City gateway. [Bull Sheet, April 1997]
CONRAIL CUTS FOOD SHIPMENT RATES: Conrail has reduced its rates on southbound food shipments originating in the Northeast and Midwest. According to the company, the new rates average 45 percent below those of trucks. [Bull Sheet, April 1997]
FEDS SLATE HEARING ON DIESEL LOCOMOTIVE EXHAUST EMISSIONS: A hearing is scheduled this month on proposed Environmental Protection Agency standards for diesel locomotive exhaust emissions. The plan involves a three-tier implementation with 33 to 40 percent emission reductions for units built since 1973, through and including 1999, and further reductions for units to be built from 2000 to 2004, and from 2005 and beyond. [Bull Sheet, April 1997]
CSXT SALE OF TRACK SEGMENT TO PICKENS RWY APPROVED: The Surface Transportation Board has approved the sale of seven miles of CSXT's Belton subdivision in Anderson County, S.C., to the Pickens Railway. [Bull Sheet, April 1997]
RESURRECTION OF SALTVILLE R.R. IN VA. PROPOSED: A car dealer in Salem, Virginia, wants to resurrect the Saltville Railroad in Smyth County, Va., as a freight hauling shortline. He plans to ask for a grant from the state's railroad preservation fund. He is William Pinkerton, once a manager with the New York Central, and he plans to rename the 10-mile line the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad. [Bull Sheet, April 1997]
CONSTRUCTION UNDER WAY IN IVY CITY FOR HIGH-SPEED FACILITY: Construction is under way in Ivy City yard, Washington, for the high-speed rail maintenance facility. New tracks and catenary are being installed, and foundations are being poured for new installations. [Bull Sheet, April 1997]
NORTHEASTDIRECT ACHIEVES ON-TIME RECORD: Amtrak's NortheastDirect on-time performance was 92.5 percent in February 1997, the first time NortheastDirect service has exceeded Amtrak's performance goal of 90 percent. [Bull Sheet, April 1997]
CHICAGO UNION STATION IS NOW SMOKE-FREE: Chicago's Union Station became a smoke-free environment on March 1, 1997. [Bull Sheet, April 1997]
NEW JUICE TRAIN ON CSXT: K652 is a new unit juice train to move Tropicana products on CSXT from Bradenton, Florida, to a distribution center at Springdale, Ohio. The train operates one day per week, powered by two B36-7-type locomotives. [Bull Sheet, March 1997]
NEWINGTON, VA., SITE OF NEW AUDIBLE DEFECT DETECTOR: CSXT has placed into service a new audible defect detector at Newington, Virginia (MP-CFP95.8), on the RF&P Subdivision. [Bull Sheet, March 1997]
CSXT TRAIN ACCIDENTS DOWN BY 3 PCT: CSXT reduced train accidents by three percent in 1996 to a frequency index of 1.87 per million train miles. Norfolk Southern's frequency index was 1.99. [Bull Sheet, March 1997]
NORFOLK SOUTHERN STACK TRAIN BEGINS ON CSXT CONNELLSVILLE-HAGERSTOWN: Norfolk Southern double-stack trains began operating [temporarily] on CSXT between Hagerstown, Maryland, and Connellsville, Pennsylvania, February 4. It uses Wheeling & Lake Erie crews with Norfolk Southern power. Their symbols are (eastbound) Z278 on CSXT, 128 on WLE, and 228 on NS; (westbound) Z279 on CSXT, 127 on WLE, and 227 on NS. Complete routing of the train on all three railroads is as follows: Detroit, Bellevue, Pittsburgh, Connellsville, Cumberland, Hagerstown, Front Royal, Manassas, Lynchburg and Norfolk. Formerly, the train operated by way of Ft. Wayne, Cincinnati and Knoxville. [Bull Sheet, March 1997]
NORFOLK SOUTHERN CHANGES OVER TWO-THIRDS OF ITS CONTROL-POINT NAMES: Norfolk Southern has changed the names of many of its CTC control points. System-wide, over two-thirds of the names have changed. [Bull Sheet, March 1997]
UNION PACIFIC TO HAVE TEN GP50'S OVERHAULED: The Boise Locomotive Company has received a $4-million contract to overhaul ten GP50 locomotives for Union Pacific. [Bull Sheet, March 1997]
MARC TO CONSTRUCT ELEVATOR AT ROCKVILLE, MD., STATION: MARC will construct at $175,000 elevator at its Rockville, Maryland, station to permit easier access for passengers to reach the track level, and for passengers transferring between MARC trains at the Metro red line. Amtrak's Capitol Limited also stops at this station. [Bull Sheet, February 1997]
AMTRAK TO MOVE CRESCENT CREW BASE TO CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA.: Amtrak plans to move its crew base for the Crescent from Lynchburg to Charlottesville later this month. [Bull Sheet, February 1997]
NORFOLK SOUTHERN BUDGETS $144-M FOR LOCOMOTIVE PROJECTS: Norfolk Southern has budgeted $144-million for locomotive projects this year, including the purchase of new six-axle, high-adhesion units. Also in the budget is $21-million to eliminate pole lines system-wide and replace them with electronic track circuits and data radios. [Bull Sheet, February 1997]
NORFOLK SOUTHERN REPLACING N&W SIGNALS WITH TRI-COLOR LIGHT SIGNALS: Norfolk Southern continues to replace N&W style intermediate signals with Safetrans tri-color light signals on its Bristol line between Walton and Bristol, and Shenandoah Valley line between Hagerstown and Roanoke. [Bull Sheet, February 1997]
CSX REPORTS 4-Q 1996 EARNINGS: CSX Corporation achieved fourth quarter earnings of $253-million, or $1.17 per share. Excluding a non-recurring gain of $51-million in the corresponding quarter the previous year, the 1996 quarterly earnings were an all-time record. Meanwhile, for the year, CSX Transportation lowered its operating ratio (the ratio of operating expense to operating revenue) from 77.9 to 77 percent. [Bull Sheet, February 1997]
UNION PACIFIC APPROVES CAPITAL SPENDING PLAN: Union Pacific has approved a 1997 capital spending plan of $2.2-billion for the railroad, including more than $500-million to implement the merger with Southern Pacific, and $615-million for the purchase of 260 new locomotives and the upgrading of existing units. [Bull Sheet, February 1997]
VIADUCT JUNCTION TOWER CLOSES: CSXT's 95-year old Viaduct Junction Tower in Cumberland, Md., has closed. It officially closed at 3PM on January 22, at which time switch and signal control was assumed by the train dispatcher in Jacksonville, but operators remained on duty through several additional eight-hour shifts before all positions were abolished. The tower's closing followed a cutover period lasting about 12 weeks. Viaduct Junction Tower, with the call letters 'ND,' was named for the double-track arch viaduct just behind the building. Its location in the heart of Cumberland at the junction of the former B&O's Chicago and St. Louis lines, respectively, with the main line east to Washington, Baltimore and Philadelphia, made the tower one of the most visible and noteworthy of all such facilities on the B&O system. Its closing marks the end of tower presence in Cumberland. In 1928 there were no fewer than seven interlocking towers serving the sprawling Cumberland complex. They included Patterson Creek, Evitts Creek, Virginia Lane, Baltimore Street, McKenzie, Mt. Savage Junction, and Viaduct Junction. By 1958 the number had been reduced to six, with McKenzie having been eliminated and Mexico replacing Evitts Creek. Two towers remained as of one year ago, with Mexico closing in July. Interestingly, Mexico was a relatively modern tower when it closed - state of the art from the late 1950's - whereas Viaduct Junction retained its vintage armstrong lever assembly with pipelines until its cutover. The closing of Viaduct Junction reduces to 11 the number of electro-mechanical interlockings with armstrong lever assemblies in service in the United States. [Bull Sheet, February 1997]
DOUBLE-DECK COACHES APPROVED FOR VRE: The Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission has approved spending $23-million for 13 double-deck commuter cars for Virginia Railway Express for 1999 delivery. [Bull Sheet, January 1997]
BNSF BEGINS INTERCHANGE TRAFFIC WITH CSXT AT NEW ORLEANS: Burlington Northern Santa Fe began interchanging traffic with CSXT at New Orleans December 18 over trackage rights acquired as a result of the UP/SP merger. [Bull Sheet, January 1997]
CSXT INAUGURATES APPALACHIAN SERVICE LANE: CSXT's Appalachian Service Lane was implemented December 19. It extends from Etowah, Tennessee, to just south of Cincinnati, and includes the former Blue Ridge Division. [Bull Sheet, January 1997]
CUMBERLAND WEST HUMP OPERATOR POSITIONS ABOLISHED: Five months after they were established, the round-the-clock operator positions at CSXT's West Hump yard office in Cumberland, Maryland, were eliminated. Their last full day was December 18. The positions had been created by the closing of Mexico Tower on July 25 with the Mexico operators transferring directly to the West Hump office. Yard power switches are now controlled by the dispatcher in Jacksonville, and administrative duties are performed by the West Hump yardmaster. Viaduct Junction Tower, at the west end of Cumberland yard, is slated to close this month. [Bull Sheet, January 1997]
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA., DEPOT TO BE RENOVATED: Union Station at Charlottesville, Va., will be renovated in a project to begin this spring. A developer has received approval from the city for the project which will involve converting the station to entertainment and retail use. Amtrak will occupy the former baggage and express building to the east of the main building. [Bull Sheet, January 1997]
NORTH CAROLINA CHIP MILL TO GENERATE CSXT TRAFFIC: Williamette Industries has begun construction on a chip mill at Union Mills, North Carolina, which is expected to produce about 200,000 tons of wood chips annually for shipment by CSXT to Hawesville, Kentucky, and Marlboro Mills, South Carolina. [Bull Sheet, January 1997]
CSXT INAUGURATES JACKSONVILL, ATLANTA SERVICE LANES: CSXT's Jacksonville and Atlanta service lanes have been implemented. The Jacksonville Service Lane extends west to Flomaton, Alabama; south to Vitis and Auburndale, Florida; and north and east to Manchester and Savannah, Georgia. The Atlanta Service Lane, begun three weeks ahead of schedule, extends west to New Orleans; north to Etowah, Tennessee; and east to Abbeville, South Carolina, and Augusta, Georgia. It includes the Atlanta, Montgomery, Birmingham, Mobile and New Orleans terminals. [Bull Sheet, December 1996]
CSX INTERMODAL'S 'IRON HIGHWAY' TRAINS END: CSX Intermodal's Iron Highway Trains, R160-R163, between Chicago and Detroit have been discontinued. [Bull Sheet, December 1996]
MAYFAIR TOWER IN CHICAGO CLOSES: Mayfair Tower in Chicago has closed. It was located at the crossing of the CNW Skokie and Northwest lines and Metra Milwaukee District North Line. [Bull Sheet, December 1996]
UNION PACIFIC SELLS LAND IN LAS VEGAS FOR STADIUM: Union Pacific has sold 61.5 acres of land in Las Vegas, Nevada, for construction of a domed stadium. The land was acquired by Nevada Stadium Partners for approximately $45-million. The stadium is slated for completion in late 1999. [Bull Sheet, December 1996]
RONALD BURNS, PRESIDENT & CEO OF UNION PACIFIC, RESIGNS: Ronald Burns has resigned as president and chief executive officer of Union Pacific. Jerry Davis, formerly of CSXT, has been named president and chief operating officer of Union Pacific, and Dick Davidson has been named chief executive. [Bull Sheet, December 1996]
CSXT BEGINS SERVICE ON HENDERSON SUBDIVISION: CSXT began service October 3, 1996, on the Henderson Subdivision, which was recently acquired from Indiana High Rail (IHRC). [Bull Sheet, November 1996]
LOOSE BARGES DAMAGE CSXT'S LITTLE RIGOLETS BRIDGE: A tow of coal barges broke loose from their mooring October 6 damaging CSXT's Little Rigolets bridge on the line between New Orleans and Mobile. There were no injuries. The bridge was out of service for about a week. [Bull Sheet, November 1996]
WISCONSIN CENTRAL ORE TRAINS NOW RUNNING ON CSXT: Wisconsin Central ore trains, with Wisconsin Central power, which formerly ran on Conrail, are now operating over CSXT's former B&O line between Chicago and Middletown, Ohio. The train's symbol is K188. [Bull Sheet, November 1996]
WISCONSIN CENTRAL TO PURCHASE UNION PACIFIC LINES IN WISCONSIN, MICHIGAN: Wisconsin Central has signed a letter of intent to purchase 220 route miles of Union Pacific's Green Bay North lines in Wisconsin and Michigan. The lines principally carry iron ore and shipments for the paper industry. Upon approval, the purchase is expected to be completed by the end of the year. [Bull Sheet, November 1996]
NORFOLK SOUTHERN TO CLOSE CHATTANOOGA LOCOMOTIVE SHOP: Norfolk Southern has announced the closing of its system locomotive assembly shop at Chattanooga, Tennessee, effective January 6, 1997. Approximately 60 employees will be affected, and work will be transferred to the shop in Roanoke, Virginia. The Chattanooga facility has specialized in overhaul of EMD locomotives, and the Roanoke shop has overhauled GE locomotives. With the consolidation, the Roanoke shop will do both. [Bull Sheet, November 1996]
NORFOLK SOUTHERN TO IMPLEMENT HUB-AND-SPOKE DISTRIBUTION FOR FORD: Norfolk Southern has reached a long-term agreement with Ford Motor Company to distribute new vehicles to dealers through a network of four hub-and-spoke mixing centers located near Fostoria, Ohio; Chicago, Illinois; Shelbyville, Kentucky; and Kansas City, Missouri. The system is expected to reduce transit time by as much as 33 percent, according to a Norfolk Southern press report. [Bull Sheet, November 1996]
BERNIE MARTIN DIES, RETIRED B&O TRAINMASTER: Bernard F. Martin, 66, retired B&O trainmaster, died September 2. He had retired at the end of 1989 after 40 years of service. He began his career as a brakeman. [Bull Sheet, November 1996]
AN UPDATE ON AMTRAK SLEEPING CARS: With 38 Viewliner sleepers now on Amtrak property, the days of the 10-6 Heritage sleeper are numbered. Amtrak expects to withdraw all survivors by January 1997. The last Slumbercoaches disappeared from the Silver Star and Silver Meteor, their last assignments, in September. The Lake Shore Limited had Viewliners displace its Slumbercoaches in late spring. Most recent arrival, no. 62037, Southern View, was outshopped by Amerail at Hornell, New York, on 26 September. In addition, more Superliner II coaches and transition sleepers have arrived from Bombardier at Barre, Vermont. [Bull Sheet, November 1996, from report by Mark Sublette]
AMTRAK, SPARTANBURG SEEK PLAN TO RESTORE FIRE-DAMAGED DEPOT: In the wake of a fire that heavily damaged the former Southern Railway depot, Amtrak and the city of Spartanburg, South Carolina, are seeking to work out a plan to restore the 1905-vintage structure rather than raze it. The unmanned station burned on the afternoon of July 27 when a blaze of either electrical or arson origin began in an interior office and spread through the attic to the roof. Amtrak subsequently suspended stops by trains 19-20, the Crescent, on August 9, forcing patrons to use the Greenville, South Carolina, stop 30 miles to the south. Amtrak restored the Spartanburg stop about October 2. [Bull Sheet, November 1996, from report by Mark Sublette]
NEW SCHEME APPEARS ON AMTRAK AEM7 ELECTRICS: NortheastDirect has begun repainting AEM7 electrics into the new blue and white scheme. No. 905 was the first to receive the treatment in early September, and was joined in mid-October by 934. The only red in the scheme are the two "cheat lines." Amtrak had a film crew out in the Ivy City yard under a gray overcast sky on 24 September filming a matched set of AEM7 905 and restyled Amfleet cars for documentary/promotional purposes. [Bull Sheet, November 1996, from report by Mark Sublette]
CSX, CONRAIL AGREE TO MERGE: CSX and Conrail have agreed to a merger valued at approximately $8.4-billion. MORE..
NORFOLK SOUTHERN MAKES TENDER OFFER FOR CONRAIL: On the heels of the agreement between CSX and Conrail to merge, Norfolk Southern made a tender offer of its own. MORE..
CSXT INTRODUCES CW60AC LOCOMOTIVE: CSXT officially introduced its 6000-horsepower CW60AC locomotive 602 at a ceremony September 13, 1996, at the B&O Railroad Museum in Baltimore. One of three such units now being tested, a total of 53 are slated for service over the next two years. [Bull Sheet, October 1996]
BEAUBIEN TOWER IN DETROIT CLOSES: Beaubien Tower in Detroit is now closed. Beaubien controlled the crossing of Conrail's North Yard Branch and GTW's Shore Line Subdivision. This leaves Milwaukee Junction, Delray and FN as the only true towers left in the immediate area of Detroit. There are also two drawbridge installations which have separate tower structures and perform the same function as an interlocking tower. These are "Bridge" on Conrail's Detroit Line and "River Rouge" at the NS & GTW crossing of the Rouge River. [Bull Sheet, October 1996, from report by Charlie Whipp]
MONUMENTS DEDICATED TO VICTIMS OF GEORGETOWN JCT WRECK: Two monuments were dedicated September 21 in Brunswick, Md., in memory of the victims of the collision between the MARC train and the Capitol Limited at Georgetown Junction in February 1996. [Bull Sheet, October 1996]
CSXT SELLS SOUTH LOUISVILLE SHOPS PROPERTY FOR USE AS STADIUM: The University of Louisville has acquired CSXT's former South Louisville Shops property to construct a football stadium. In exchange, CSXT will receive a 118-acre parcel at Hurstbourne Park, and $3.5-million in cash payments over 20 years. [Bull Sheet, October 1996]
CSXT TRANSFERS OPERATING TERRITORIES: CSXT's Augusta and Columbia subdivisions, and Augusta and Cayce terminals have been transferred from the Jacksonville Division to the Florence Service Lane; and the Dothan, Bainbridge and Tallahassee subdivision, the PD/P&A Subdivision between mileposts 645.0 and 810.7, and the Pensacola Terminal have been transferred from the Mobile Division to the Jacksonville Division. [Bull Sheet, October 1996]
EMMONS INDUSTRIES ACQUIRES GP16 FROM CSXT: Emmons Industries, owner of Yorkrail and the Maryland & Pennsylvania, has acquired former Family Lines GP16 locomotive 1815 from CSXT. Earlier it had acquired units 1733, 1734 and 1735. [Bull Sheet, October 1996, from report by Stewart Rhine]
OHIO CENTRAL ADDS POWER DUE TO TRAFFIC INCREASE: Due to increased freight traffic, the Ohio Central has placed into service GP10 unit 7586, GP30 unit 2187, and GP35 unit 2393. All units wear a Conrail blue paint scheme, less Conrail markings. Generally, 7586 and 2187 are being used between Zanesville and Warwick on steel trains AY-1 and WX-2, and 2393 can be found on the Coshocton to Columbus CBT-17. All units have assisted with coal traffic movements as well. [Bull Sheet, October 1996, from report by Oscar Manheim]
CHESSIE-SCHEME LOCOMOTIVES GETTING ALL-YELLOW NOSES: CSXT has begun painting CSX yellow noses to locomotives with the old Chessie System scheme. Chessie units already have a yellow nose, of sorts, but the new application eliminates the cat with a fresh coat of yellow paint. [Bull Sheet, September 1996]
IRON HIGHWAY TRAINS BEGIN ON CSXT: Iron Highway trains began running August 5 on CSXT between East Chicago and Detroit. The service includes two trains in each direction, five days a week. [Bull Sheet, September 1996]
NOTES FROM OHIO CENTRAL: The following locomotives have been sent to the 'Northern' lines in the Youngstown area: SW1500's 2494 (ex-SP) and 2590 (ex-Cotton Belt), GP10's (ex-CR) 7574 and 7591, and MT4 slugs (ex-CR) 1000 and 1001. All are painted in the Ohio Central livery. Ex-CSXT GP38 2175 is in daily service still wearing full CSX paint. The unit is primarily assigned to the CBT, the Coshocton to Columbus road freight, though it occasionally heads north to Warwick on unit coal trains. Ohio Central trains AY-1 and WX-2, while operating on CSXT at Warwick, are symboled Z610. AY-1 and WX-2 are the Steel Trains between Zanesville and Warwick. [Bull Sheet, September 1996, from report by Oscar Mnheim]
CSXT TO LEASE SD40 LOCOMOTIVES: CSXT plans to lease 70 additional SD40 locomotives to accommodate the seasonal increase in business this fall and winter. They include 30 leased through December 31, 15 leased through February 28, and 25 leased through March 31. [Bull Sheet, September 1996]
TWO KILLED, TWO HURT IN CSXT COLLISION IN W.VA.: Two crewmen were killed and two were injured August 20 in a collision of two CSXT freight trains near Smithfield, West Virginia, on the Short Line Subdivision. [Bull Sheet, September 1996]
NORFOLK SOUTHERN, WISCONSIN CENTRAL INTRODUCE 'PACER' SERVICE: Norfolk Southern and Wisconsin Central have introduced daily service between Chattanooga, Tennessee, and Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, to expedite shipments of paper and clay. The service is called 'Pacer,' an acronym for Paper and Clay Expedited Runthrough. [Bull Sheet, September 1996]
MA & PA BUYS THREE GP16 LOCOMOTIVES FROM CSXT: The Maryland & Pennsylvania has purchased three GP16 units from CSXT. They are 1733, 1734 and 1735, painted CSX, Seaboard and Family Lines respectively. The company has also repainted CF7 unit 1500 with Operation Lifesaver for Yorkrail. [Bull Sheet, September 1996, from report by Stewart Rhine]
CSXT RETIRES CW44AC UNIT 23: CSXT has retired CW44AC unit 23 due to damage sustained in the August 20 accident at Smithfield, West Virginia. Also retired from the accident were GP40-2 unit 6146 and SD40-2 unit 8304. [Bull Sheet, September 1996]
NORFOLK SOUTHERN TO BUY DIGITAL MICOWAVE RADIOS: Glenayre Technologies has received a $2.7-million order from Norfolk Southern for WM-4T-6 licensed digital microwave radios to replace existing analog spur radios operating at 6 GHz in areas east of the Mississippi River. [Bull Sheet, September 1996]
AMTRAK PLANS LONG-DISTANCE TRAIN CHANGES IN NOVEMBER: Amtrak has proposed a number of changes affecting long distance trains to become effective November 10, 1996. Included is the elimination of the Pioneer, Desert Wind, Texas Eagle (as through service), and the Boston section of the Lake Shore Limited; cutting back the Sunset Limited to originate and terminate at Sanford, Florida; extension of the Three Rivers (Broadway Limited) through to Chicago; restructured Florida service with the addition of the Silver Palm; and restoration of through daily service to the Empire Builder, California Zephyr, and Crescent (through to New Orleans). Eastern standard-level long distance trains, all of which will be cycled through New York, will reportedly have identical passenger car consists to facilitate the cycling process. [Bull Sheet, September 1996]
FOUR INDUSTRIES TO LOCATE ON CSXT: Four industries have announced plans to locate facilities on CSXT, which will produce nearly 9000 carloads and revenues of almost $8-million annually. They include: ConAgra, Mount Vernon, Indiana, about 7300 carloads of soybean and soybean products; All Metals Service & Warehouse Inc., Spartanburg, South Carolina, 1000-plus carloads of inbound steel coil; U.S. Aluminate, Schenck, Ohio, 160 carloads of hydrate and sulfuric acid; and KCG Inc., Columbus, Ohio, 175 carloads of drywall, regained after that traffic went to a Norfolk Southern reload facility. [Bull Sheet, September 1996, from CSXT Employee News Service]
RAILWAY HERITAGE GRANT AWARDED FOR PULLMAN DOVER HARBOR: The Washington DC Chapter NRHS has been awarded a Railway Heritage Grant of $2500 toward the restoration of the interior of the chapter's heavyweight Pullman Dover Harbor to the splendor of its 1930's decor. NRHS president Greg Molloy described the Dover Harbor as "a valuable historic restoration project and an important advertisement for the NRHS," when he made the formal announcement of the grant award at the society's national convention in Charlotte, North Carolina, on June 21. The grant requires the chapter to raise matching funds. [Bull Sheet, September 1996]
NOTES FROM CYCLE SYSTEMS IN ROANOKE: On July 8 , it was noticed that Cycle Systems had recently cut up N&W/NS GP35 216 and SOU/NS GP38-2 5159, their cabs upon the scrap heap. Units with hood and prime mover off were ATSF C30-7 8075 in merger yellow & red, and blue & white NJT U34CH's 4161 and 4170. With only long hood off were ATSF C30-7 8035 in the freight warbonnet, and NJT U34CH 4155 in blue & white. Intact on the property were CSXT GP30M 4218, N&W/NS C30-7 8074, SEPTA-schemed U34CH 4154, and NJT blue & white U34CH 4169. Also present were yardswitching GP30's SOU/NS 2607 and N&W/NS 2907, though 2607 appeared to be out of service. [Bull Sheet, September 1996, from report by Mark Sublette]
CUMBERLAND'S MEXICO TOWER CLOSES: CSXT's Mexico Tower at the east end of the Cumberland, Maryland, yard has closed. Its last official day was July 25 following a cutover period that began July 15. Main track switches are now controlled by the CM train dispatcher in Jacksonville, Florida, but certain yard switches are now controlled by an operator at the West Hump yard office in Cumberland, a position created by the closing of the tower. The operators from Mexico transferred directly to the new position at West Hump. [Bull Sheet, August 1996]
CSXT TO IMPLEMENT THREE NEW SEVICE LANES: CSXT has announced the formation of three new service lanes. The Jacksonville Service Lane will be implemented November 1, to extend west to Flomaton, Alabama, south to Vitis and Auburndale, Florida, and north and east to Manchester and Savannah, Georgia. The Atlanta Service Lane will be implemented December 1, west to New Orleans, north to Etowah, Tennessee, and east to Abbeville, South Carolina, and Augusta, Georgia. The Appalachian Service Lane will be implemented January 1, and will extend from Etowah to just south of Cincinnati, including the present Blue Ridge Division. [Bull Sheet, August 1996]
CSX INTERMODAL ACQUIRES PROPERTY IN GEORGIA FOR NEW TERMINAL: CSX Intermodal has acquired property near Fairburn, 20 miles south of Atlanta, for a new intermodal terminal facility. CSXI will continue to operate its current facility at Hulsey Yard in Atlanta, and the two terminals will more than double capacity in the area, according to a company report. [Bull Sheet, August 1996]
AMTRAK CONSIDERS ADDING THIRD SILVER-SERVICE TRAIN: Amtrak is reportedly considering the addition of a third Silver-Service train to Florida, to be called the Silver Palm. It would begin operating later this year between New York and Miami by way of Tampa. [Bull Sheet, August 1996]
CSXT TO TEST 6000-HP LOCOMOTIVE: CSXT has announced that the first of its 6000-horsepower AC locomotives is expected to arrive this month for testing. [Bull Sheet, July 1996]
CSXT IMPROVES LOCOMOTIVE UTILIZATION: Work continues on improving utilization of the CSXT locomotive fleet. According to a news report, CSXT was able to release 54 leased units recently. Road locomotive utilization has improved to 56.5 percent (as to time units are pulling freight), and average miles per week to as many as 1300, according to the report. Meanwhile, CSXT has advanced its testing of AC locomotives in merchandise service. According to Tom Schmidt, vice president-network operations, 35 AC locomotives are in merchandise service, most in single-unit operation. "Our goal is to hit a ratio of 1.5, in which a single AC unit replaces one and a half Dash-8 or comparable model locomotives," he said. "Right now, we're at 1.3 - about what the Union Pacific is seeing in its AC fleet - and our data indicate we would realize significant efficiencies if we could reach at least 1.4." [Bull Sheet, July 1996]
CSXT TO PURCHASE 80 MORE AC LOCOMOTIVES: CSXT has announced agreements to purchase 80 additional AC locomotives, including 25 from EMD. This is in addition to its earlier order for 250 AC locomotives from GE which continue to be delivered. Included in the new orders are 55 CW44AC units from GE, and 25 SD70AC units from EMD. "Locomotive reliability is key to delivering the higher level of service required to our customers," said John Basso, vice president-supply and services management. "The AC technology has been proven in the difficult railroad operating environment." In addition to increased tractive effort, AC locomotives require significantly less maintenance than conventional locomotives powered by direct current, according to a CSXT news report. [Bull Sheet, July 1996]
CSXT CONTINUES TO RECEIVE CW44AC LOCOMOTIVES: CSXT continues to take delivery of CW44AC units with ten more arriving in the final days of last month. Units delivered in June were numbered 201 through 210 inclusive. Tentative delivery schedule includes 15 units this month, 22 in August, and 33 in December. [Bull Sheet, July 1996]
CSXT, OHIO CENTRAL INAUGURATE STEEL COIL SERVICE: CSXT and Ohio Central have partnered to inaugurate biweekly transportation of steel coils from AK Steel in Middletown, Ohio, to Armco in Coshocton, Ohio. Armco has committed to a minimum of 250,000 tons over five years from the AK facility. [Bull Sheet, July 1996]
CSX A PARTNER IN EUROPEAN INTERMODAL VENTURE: Netherlands Railways Ltd. (NS Cargo), Deutsche Bahn AG (DB), and CSX Corporation have signed a letter of intent to form a joint venture to provide door-to-door intermodal freight transportation across Europe. The partnership will operate as NDX Intermodal, and will be organized as a service-sensitive intermodal marketing company. Startup operations are planned for early 1997, according to a CSXT news report. [Bull Sheet, July 1996]
PETE KELLEY RETIRES, OPERATOR AT SAND PATCH: Veteran B&O railroader Pete Kelley, first-shift operator at Sand Patch Tower in Pennsylvania, retired on June 28. [Bull Sheet, July 1996]
YELLOW NOSE APPLIED TO LAST C&O BLUE-SCHEME LOCOMOTIVE: CSXT has applied a yellow nose to C&O blue SD40 locomotive 4617. This was the last C&O blue unit remaining on the roster. [Bull Sheet, June 1996]
YELLOW NOSE APPLIED TO LAST READING GREEN-SCHEME LOCOMOTIVE: CSXT's last remaining Reading green unit, 4316, has reportedly been repainted into the Yellow Nose 2 (YN2) scheme. [Bull Sheet, June 1996]
CSXT, TROPICANA WORKING TO INAUGURATE NEW JUICE TRAIN: CSXT has reported it is working with Tropicana to inaugurate a new Juice Train to begin operating between Bradenton, Florida, and Union Township, Ohio (near Cincinnati), early next year. Initially, it will involve at least 30 cars per week. [Bull Sheet, June 1996]
CSXT INAUGURATES NEW TRAINS BETWEEN CUMBERLAND & RICHMOND: New CSXT trains Q414 and Q415 are now operating between Cumberland and Richmond's Acca Yard as part of a plan to improve service reliability and eliminate the need for second sections. The plan included the reroute of 39 cars per day moving between the Carolinas and Chicago, according to the CSXT Employee News Service. [Bull Sheet, June 1996]
NORFOLK SOUTHERN ADDS NEW DOUBLE-TRACK SERVICE: Norfolk Southern has begun new daily double-stack intermodal service directly connecting Kansas City and Chicago with Taylor Yard in northeastern Pennsylvania. The service also includes an intermediate stop at Bellevue, Ohio, for traffic originating and terminating in the Columbus area, according to a press release. [Bull Sheet, June 1996]
NORFOLK SOUTHERN REPLACING SIGNALS BETWEEN HAGERSTOWN & RIVERTON JCT.: Norfolk Southern is replacing its old N&W-style color-position light signals with Southern-style color-light signals on its line between Hagerstown, Maryland, and Riverton Junction, Virginia. [Bull Sheet, June 1996]
A 'VIGIL' AT THE STATION INN: The renowned Station Inn along the Conrail mainline at Cresson, Pa., was the setting for a 24-hour railfanning vigil for members of the Cherry Run Railroad Club on Memorial Day weekend. Twenty-one happy participants crammed the 1860's era railroad hotel to partake of games, a cookout, slide presentations, video tapes, train watching, and camaraderie. Sleeping was optional. Seventy-three trains were counted passing the inn - recorded on a train sheet the same as if the participants were staffing a tower - during the vigil period beginning exactly at noon on Saturday and ending at noon on Sunday. This, coincidentally, is more than three times the one-train-an-hour average guarantee offered by the inn's railfan proprietor to guests who get half their money back if this average is not achieved. [Bull Sheet, June 1996]
CONRAIL DONATES MO TOWER TO CRESSON, PA.: Conrail has donated MO Tower to the borough of Cresson, Pa. The tower, which closed in 1994, is slated to be moved to a new location in a lineal park between the Conrail tracks and Front Street in Cresson, about a quarter of a mile from its former working site. The borough will cover the estimated $4500 cost of the move, according to a press report. [Bull Sheet, June 1996]
RG TOWER IN PHILADELPHIA CLOSES: CSXT's RG Tower in Philadelphia has closed. Its last official day was March 29, but operators remained on duty until April 3. The tower was located in the office building serving East Side Yard at the east end of the Schuylkill River swing-span bridge. The building was built as part of a B&O modernization project in 1960 combining the functions of other offices. A 1928 agreement book listed seven towers serving the B&O in Philadelphia. Now there are none. [Bull Sheet, May 1996]
CSXT APPLIES 'D' MARKERS TO CERTAIN SIGNALS: CSXT has been mounting 'D' markers on signals, and 'D' marker signs at the departure end of passenger stations located in the block immediately preceding an absolute signal in other than train control territory. The marker is round with a black background containing a white 'D' in the center. They are intended to remind engineers in push-pull or MU passenger trains making the station stop of requirements to approach the absolute signal at controlled speed not exceeding 40 MPH, as provided by emergency order of the Federal Railroad Administration. [Bull Sheet, May 1996]
ASHLEY, DREW & NORTHERN GETS PERMISSION TO ABANDON: The Ashley Drew & Northern Railway in Arkansas has been granted permission to abandon its line between Whitlow Junction and Monticello, and to sell the remaining five-mile portion between Crossett and Whitlow Junction to its sister line, the Fordyce & Princeton. The matter was decided by the Surface Transportation Board on April 9. [Bull Sheet, May 1996]
BNSF TO RESTORE STAMPEDE PASS ROUTE: Burlington Northern Santa Fe plans to restore the 78-mile Stampede Pass route between Auburn and Cle Elum, Washington. According to the company, the $125-million project will connect with the Washington Central Railroad route at Cle Elum that extends through Yakima Valley, and will give the company a third route linking central Washington with the Pacific Coast. BNSF has signed an agreement to acquire the Washington Central for $40-million. [Bull Sheet, May 1996]
CSXT ISSUES NEW OPERATING PROCEDURES MANUAL: CSXT has issued a new operating procedures manual containing safety, operating, hazardous material, train handling, and helper service rules. The book is softbound, about the size of a pocket dictionary, and replaces the looseleaf binder format. The binder is still being used for division timetables. [Bull Sheet, May 1996]
CSXT TO REPAIR 11 BRIDGES IN ILLINOIS: CSXT bridge forces will be making repairs to 11 bridges on the Decatur Subdivision between Dana and Decatur, Illinois, with work expected to last until the end of September. [Bull Sheet, May 1996]
CSXT REPORTS HIGHER EARNINGS: CSX Corporation recorded first quarter earnings of $146-million, or 69 cents per share. The results are 21 percent higher than the corresponding quarter in 1995. [Bull Sheet, May 1996]
CSXT LOCOMOTIVE ROSTER UPDATE: As of April 28, there were 2,734 units on the CSXT locomotive roster. CW44AC units through and including 171 had been delivered. [Bull Sheet, May 1996]
AMTRAK TO PURCHASE 18 HIGH-SPEED TRAIN SETS: Amtrak has selected Bombardier Inc. to provide 18 high-speed train sets for late 1999 delivery to replace the Metroliner fleet. Each train will include six cars, plus leading and trailing locomotive, incorporating tilt-technology, for speeds up to 150 MPH. [Bull Sheet, April 1996]
NATIONAL INDUSTRIAL TRANSPORTATION LEAGUE OPPOSS UP-SP MERGER: The National Industrial Transportation League has voted to oppose the merger of Union Pacific and Southern Pacific unless 'conditions are imposed to mitigate anticompetitive effects in certain areas.' [Bull Sheet, April 1996]
MARC TRAIN, CAPITOL LIMITED COLLIDE: An eastbound MARC train collided with Amtrak's westbound Capitol Limited in Silver Spring, Md., the evening of Febr. 16, 1996. Eleven people died and more than a score were injured. MORE.. [Bull Sheet, March 1996]
CSXT RETIRES SUNBURST LOCOMOTIVE, DONATES IT TO B&O MUSEUM: CSXT has retired B&O sunburst-scheme locomotive 4253 and donated it to the B&O Railroad Museum in Baltimore. The museum plans to renumber the unit to its B&O number 6944. [Bull Sheet, March 1996]
UNION PACIFIC CONSIDERS MERGING ITS RAILROAD MUSEUM: The Union Pacific Railroad Museum in the Omaha, Nebraska, headquarters building may be moved to the Western Heritage Museum in the former Omaha Union Station, according to a UP report. Discussions are underway with Western Heritage Museum to merge. The move would give the UP display significantly more space than it now has in the headquarters building, and ample public parking. UP is studying the feasibility of the Idea. The Union Pacific Museum, one of the oldest corporate museums in the country, was started in 1922. [Bull Sheet, March 1996]
UNION PACIFIC TO INTRODUCE SPECIALIZED ROUTES IF SP MERGER IS APPROVED: Union Pacific has announced that if its merger with Southern Pacific is approved, specialized use of parallel lines in Arkansas - similar to one way streets - will be introduced. UP and SP currently operate lines through the state which run northeast to southwest. Under the plan, the present UP line through North Little Rock would become primarily a northbound line, and the present SP line through Pine Bluff would become primarily a southbound line. Local traffic would still move in either direction. UP's locomotive repair facility at North Little Rock will remain operating, focusing on repairing EMD locomotives. GE locomotives will be overhauled at the SP facility in Denver. SP's locomotive repair facility at Pine Bluff will remain open, according to the UP report. [Bull Sheet, March 1996]
TWELVE ENTER BIDDING FOR MEXICAN RAIL CONCESSIONS: Twelve companies and investment groups have entered the bidding process for Mexican rail concessions, according to the country's Transportation and Communications Ministry. In preparation for a partial privatization, the Mexican government has divided its state-owned rail system into three separate rail companies: Northeast, Pacific North, and Southeast railroads. [Bull Sheet, March 1996]
JUICE TRAIN CSXT'S BEST PERFORMER: The Tropicana Juice train was CSXT's best-performing merchandise train in 1995 with a 94 percent on time record, according to CSXT. The Tropicana Juice train, recently redesignated K650, operates on CSXT from Florida to Baltimore, thence as a Conrail train to New Jersey. Between Baltimore and Philadelphia, as a Conrail train on CSXT, it is designated Z414. [Bull Sheet, February 1996]
CSXT IMPLEMENTING THREE NEW SERVICE LANES: The Chicago Service Lane was officially established by CSXT effective January 1. Its territory covers the former Chicago and Nashville divisions from Chicago to Birmingham, and from Memphis to Chattanooga. John Drake is the general manager. The Louisville Service Lane, under general manager Bob Bernard, becomes effective February 1. The Baltimore Service Lane, under general manager Emory Hill, is slated to become effective next month. Billy Eason has been named CSXT's vice president-service lanes. [Bull Sheet, February 1996]
CSXT ADDS 200 JUMBO HOPPERS FOR GRAIN EXPRESS: As part of CSXT's Grain Express program, 200 new jumbo covered hoppers have been placed in unit train service. The cars accommodate more than 5100 cubic feet of capacity, or about 11 percent more than conventional equipment. [Bull Sheet, February 1996]
CSXT RENUMBERS ITS F-UNITS: CSXT's two remaining F-units, 117 and 118, have been renumbered 417 and 418 respectively. This allows continued sequential numbering of CW44AC units, currently being delivered. [Bull Sheet, February 1996]
CSXT ADOPTS ANOTHER INTERMEDIATE LOCOMOTIVE PAINT SCHEME: CSXT has adopted yet one more intermediate paint scheme. It has applied a yellow nose to a black locomotive, former Georgia Railroad unit 6776, a GP40. [Bull Sheet, February 1996]
CSXT RESTRICTS GRADE DESCENT IN SNOW: CSXT has issued instructions to prohibit trains (except lite engines) to descend grades of 1.5 percent or greater for a distance of three or more miles when snow accumulations exceed 24 inches. Trains may descend such grades whenever there has been a movement within the previous hour, or it has been determined that roadbed snow level no longer exceeds 24 inches. [Bull Sheet, February 1996]
AMTRAK TO RUN THROUGH COACHES VIA THREE RIVERS, CAPITOL LIMITED: Amtrak will reportedly extend through coach service from the Three Rivers to the Capitol Limited at Pittsburgh. To implement the operation, standard-level Amfleet coaches from the Three Rivers will be coupled to a coach-dorm transitional car on the rear of the Capitol Limited - which runs with Superliners - thus allowing passengers from the Three Rivers access to the rest of the train. [Bull Sheet, February 1996]
CONRAIL TO SELL 1,800 MILES OF BRANCHLINE TRACKAGE TO SHORT LINES: Conrail has announced plans to sell about 1800 miles of branch lines to shortline companies. Most of the lines involved are grouped into 12 geographic clusters or corridors. Conrail also plans to sell about 200 additional miles of line not associated with the clusters, according to a press release. [Bull Sheet, February 1996]
NORFOLK SOUTHERN BOOSTS STOCK DIVIDEND: Norfolk Southern has boosted its dividend to 56 cents a share payable to shareholders of record February 2. [Bull Sheet, February 1996]
CSXT'S ALTAMONT TOWER CLOSES: CSXT's Altamont (AM) Tower on the Mountain Subdivision of the Cumberland Coal Business Unit in Western Maryland officially closed as an interlocking office at 5 P.M., December 29. Noted for its presence at the highest point on the former B&O, with a concrete marker designating "Summit of the Alleghanies - 2628 ft." across from the office, the tower served notably as a location to switch helper engines following their shove up Seventeen Mile Grade. It is on the route of B&O's famed National Limited, trains 1 and 2, which once sped their way by the tower en route to or from St. Louis. [Bull Sheet, January 1996]
MARYLAND MIDLAND INAUGURATES STONE TRAIN: Maryland Midland operated its first exclusively on-line stone train on November 16, hauling 19 carloads from Woodsboro to Finksburg. [Bull Sheet, January 1996]
MARYLAND MIDLAND NEGOTIATING WITH PROSPECTIVE PASSENGER OPERATOR: Auction of EnterTRAINment Line equipment took place in November. Meanwhile, the Maryland Midland has been negotiating with a prospective party to assume a new passenger operation. Former MARC F-units 82 and 84, painted for Washington Central, have been moved to Union Bridge, reportedly for use in excursion service being developed. [Bull Sheet, January 1996]
NORTHERN CENTRAL EXCURSION COMPANY FORMED: The Northern Central Railroad Excursion Company has been formed with the intention of running dinner trains between New Freedom and York, Pennsylvania. A startup date of May 3 has been reported. [Bull Sheet, January 1996]
W&LE BEGINS USING NEW INTERMODAL FACILITY IN OHIO: The Wheeling & Lake Erie Railroad began operating from the new Stark County Intermodal facility near Navarre, Ohio, on December 15. [Bull Sheet, January 1996]
NORFOLK SOUTHERN ANNOUNCES CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS: Norfolk Southern plans to spend $708-million on capital improvements in 1996. This includes $193-million to purchase locomotives. [Bull Sheet, January 1996]
AMTRAK PLANS TO BROKER ELECTRICITY: Amtrak has proposed a plan whereby it could buy and sell electricity along the electrified portion of its Northeast corridor. The power could be transmitted over the railroad's electrical system which could get its feed from the lowest-cost supplier and then be sold to customers along the route. [Bull Sheet, January 1996]
AMTRAK ENDING SLUMBERCOACH SERVICE ON SILVER METEOR: Amtrak is ending Slumbercoach service on the Silver Meteor. Slumbercoach service remains on the Silver Star, for the time being, but the company says its Slumbercoach equipment is slated for retirement. The cars "have just gotten too old," according to a memo. [Bull Sheet, January 1996]
MARC, VRE INTRODUCE ONE-TICKET SYSTEM: MARC and VRE have begun an experiment whereby passengers with tickets for one system may use them on the other system at no additional charge. Tickets must be used on the day of purchase. [Bull Sheet, January 1996]
LEW GEIGER DIES, VETERAN B&O TRAINMASTER: Veteran B&O trainmaster Lew Geiger died on December 5. He was 60. [Bull Sheet, January 1996]
EARLIER NEWS REPORTS, CLICK HERE
.