Track Warrants

"The Electronic Internet Newsletter of Western Railroading"
P.O. Box 720301
San Jose, CA 95172
USA

Issue No. 11

November 10, 1995

  • Track Warrants Menu
  • Sloan Home page
  • stevesln@aimnet.com

    An image from Ken Rattenne's upcoming segment of San Jose Towers. Here soon!
    Photo by Ken Rattenne ©

    BNSF

    BN is proposing to cut 6% of it's work force by 1997, according to a Wall Street Journal article. The cuts include 2,750 union and salaried employees. Charges associated with these cuts were included in the previously released merger costs.

    About 1125 salaried employees were expected to loose their jobs immediately. They are expected to be paid through the end of 1995, according to a story by Reuters. In all, 1600 of the company's 6,400 nonunion jobs will be cut, according to the article.
    via Brian P. Kreimendahl

    - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

    Nov. 09--Floodwaters have damaged a bridge above Seattle. The BN has closed 40 miles of track for UP to two weeks, according to a recent Reuters story.
    via Brian P. Kreimendahl

    MARLBORO

    Philip Morris Co. has begun advertising a promotional campaign in which 2,000 contest winners will be given passage for two aboard a special luxury train which is now under construction. The train will be called the "Marlboro Unlimited" and will travel through the states of Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Idaho, and Montana. The exact route has not been announced but is believed to include Denver-Salt Lake City on DRGW, Salt Lake-Silver Bow MT on UP, Silver Bow-Phosphate MT on MWRR, and Phosphate-Billings on MRL. BNSF turned down a request to run on the Wind River Canyon line in Wyoming due to coal train congestion. The trips are scheduled to begin in October 1996 but may be delayed until 1997 if the equipment isn't ready in time.

    Twenty former Southern Pacific gallery commute coaches are being converted for this special train by Rader Railcar in Denver CO. The consist is believed to include 18 revenue cars and 2 cars for the 55- member on-board staff. The revenue cars will be similar to the UltraDome cars that Rader built for Tour Alaska and Rocky Mountaineer, but will include specialized cars like a "spa car" with 5 hot tubs and two massage rooms, a dance car, movie theater, and library. There will be 15 staterooms in each of the 8 sleeping cars; each room will include 2 beds, bath, and shower. All cars will be equipped with high-capacity ventilation so nonsmokers can supposedly enjoy the trip.

    Philip Morris is also buying two locomotives from EMD, believed to be the two F69PHAC units that were leased to Amtrak for testing several years ago and later pulled the ICE train on its demonstration tour. The total amount being spent on the locomotives and cars is estimated at $50 million.

    The 5-day excursions will include off-train activities like white water rafting and horseback riding to let passengers experience "Marlboro Country." Capacity of the train is appears to be 240 (8 sleepers x 30 beds), so it's obvious that several runs will be needed to handle the 4,000 passengers.

    The City of Billings MT has applied for a $1.1 million grant from the Philip Morris Foundation to refurbish the former Northern Pacific depot there. Philip Morris has expressed interest in making Billings one of the endpoints for the "Marlboro Unlimited" trips.
    Bill Farmer

    PORT-TERMINAL/MK

    MK Rail received authorization to proceed with a $91 million contract to build and maintain 24 locomotives for Port Terminal Railroad Assn., according to a recent Dow Jones News Story. The first delivery is scheduled for the first quarter of 1996. The engines will be switchers, MK1500D's, powered by 1500 horsepower Cat. motors. The Port Terminal Railroad Assn., of Houston, is run by UP, SP and BNSF.
    via Brian P. Kreimendahl

    RAILTEX

    Railtex's share price fell a dollar, it was reported on November 3, because the company has not made any recent acquisitions. This was despite the fact that profits were up 18 percent in the quarter. The numbers were what Wall Street was expecting," said John Nebens, director of research at Arneson Kercheville & Associates, "but the company continues to have some nagging problems, including slow coal shipments in the midwest and Canada."
    via Brian P. Kreimendahl

    SOUTHERN PACIFIC

    NOV. 3, The pace for retiring old SP diesels has slowed during the last two weeks of October. However, many of the retired units sold to Progress Rail are moving out with many going to the San Joaquin Valley at Fresno. There must be 20-30 units there by 11/01. Obviously the SJVRR doesn't need the locomotives so there are several possible reasons why they are being sent there.

    1. SP wants them off the property.
    2. Progress Rail wants them off SP's property because SP charges too much to store them.
    3. Progress Rail has a customer (scrap dealer) near Fresno, although I don't think so.

    In SP's computer some of the locomotives sent to Fresno do not show as being sold to Progress Rail but do show "To Fresno - SJVRR." These locomotives (7 SD7Rs) have left Roseville already. Those units know to be going to the SJVRR at Fresno are:

    1500 1504 1510 1511 1525 1529 1531 3348 3429 3432 3742 3759 3828 3831 3836 3878 4320 4334 4344 4349 4353 4359 4369 4373 4389 4416 4417 4424 4430 4440.

    Other retired SP units going bye-bye are 1537 3377 3383 to Pacific Rail at Colton CA. DRGW3024 to go to East Metro Ind. at E. St. Louis.

    Twenty-six (26) of SP's SD45T-2Rs are off the roster as their leases expired. Most (or all) have been returned to Helm Leasing for further assignments. These locomotives are known to been sent to VMV-Paducah: SP6767 6768 6769 6770 6772 6773 6775 6782 6786 6787 6788 6791. Eight others have been renumbered to HLCX numbers and are now working for British Columbia Railway. HLCX 930-937 are ex-SP 6771 6777 6778 6780 6781 6783 6790 6792.

    Quick rundown of models still on the SP/DRGW active roster as of 11/04/95.