Track Warrants
"The Electronic Internet Newsletter of Western Railroading"P.O. Box 720301
San Jose, CA 95172
USA
Issue No. 15
December 22, 1995
SP 2472 heads north, in a photo inspired by Jon Porter, who waited for years to catch a northbound train at this location. Jon suggested the location, a bridge just north of the Sunnyvale depot. He was standing next to me shooting slides.
(Jon also helped my family and I move into our new house recently. Thanks, thanks, thanks...)
I have some photos of an Alco being trucked down Route 28 in N.Y. You can see them via your web browser at:
http:/www.li.net/~adruda/alco.html
Andy Druda
In the referenced article, Silas Warner writes:
More info has become available:
UP's agreement involves going to 79-mph passenger speeds by =
June 1996, pending a trackage rights sale.
Stops will be at Stockton, Manteca, Tracy, Dublin/Pleasanton,
Fremont/Niles (quote), Santa Clara, and San Jose.
The agreement is with the (quote) San Joaquin Regional Rail Authority.
Okay, who are these guys? And where is Fremont/Niles? Any chance
of replacing the (serious mistake) Fremont Amtrak depot?
Reply...
Presumably this route goes via Niles Canyon? Picturesque if nothing else; they used to film movies (westerns, mostly) there. The "Dublin/Pleasanton" station has to be somewhere near downtown Pleasanton or over by 680; there is no trackage anywhere near Dublin that I know of, certainly not UP. Pleasanton has a nice old railroad station; unfortunately it sits next to a nonexistent railroad (the SP tracks have been pulled up) and has been converted into real estate offices and a cafe. The former proprietors of the cafe (Coffee Roast Express) had it filled with railroad memorabilia,unfortunately they got in a dispute with the building owner and had tomove to a smaller place on Main St.; most of the railroad stuff is instorage pending the opening of their new building up the street.
Michael C. Berch, via Newsgroups: ba.transportation, via Vic Neves
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VAN NUYS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 14, 1995--New station facilities at Van Nuys for Amtrak passengers and Metrolink commuters have been completed and will be dedicated at a public ceremony Monday, Dec. 18.
Located in the center of Van Nuys' business community, at 7600 Van Nuys Boulevard, the station is especially convenient for workers and shoppers. The station is within walking distance of major employers and shopping centers.
Passengers on Amtrak California's San Diegan trains now have the convenience of an Amtrak ticket office, interior and exterior passenger waiting areas, restrooms, and an adjacent parking lot. The ticket office is staffed by Amtrak ticket agents four days a week, Friday through Monday, to provide ticket sales and trip planning, checked baggage service and package express.
via Brian P. Kreimendahl
Reportedly there was no defect with the braking system of a westbound train that slammed into the rear of an eastbound train that was entering an adjacent track just west of Vaugn NM at 9am on Wednesday. Railroad officials are saying the train wreck that killed a conductor and seriously injured and resulted in $3.5 million in damages may have been the result of crew error. "There's a possibility of human failure on the part of the people operating the (westbound) train," said BNSF spokesman Mike Martin. The signals and tracks were found to be working properly. It was reportedly very foggy at the time of the wreck. The tracks were reopened at about 1:15am on Thursday.
via Vic Neves & Brian P. Kreimendahl
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BNSF named Daniel Davidson as non-executive Chairman effective Jan 1, on Dec. 14th. Davidson had served as director of BN since 1976.
via Brian P. Kreimendahl
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BNSF SANTA CLAUS SPECIAL Jim Burrill was inquiring about this train's consist, and you will find from the web page http:/www.bnr.com/SantaTrn/20fa.html that it is a locomotive, boxcar, two flatcars, and caboose, and 'is decorated with more than 10,000 lights, Christmas trees, garland and an array of holiday ornamentation.'
BNSF's HOME PAGEThis (http:/www.bnr.com/) is quite impressive I must say as is BNSF's new Network Operations Center as described (with photos) in the page. Quite professional.
Jon (Ham Radio -- KB8ODT)
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BNSF is currently testing eletro-pneumatic train braking on the former Santa Fe. Train SCHLA arrived Hobart 12/16/95 at 1345 with power 927-951-227, BN business car BNA8 Canadian River, and approximating 20-25 3 unit stack platform cars all from the BN 67100 class. Each car is stenciled with "Equipped with electro-pneumatic braking system" and a little ligitning bolt. Each car has a control cable with connector strapped to the air hose. The pneumatic braking control cables were not present between units; just a cable from the 227 to the BNA8 (They probably use pins in the MU cables for the unit to unit connections).
Because of congestion at Hobart, the entire train was left on the middle main but cut in two to clear the Hobart cross overs.
Ron Lehmer
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Hey all BN and ATSF fans Surf on over to: http:/www.bnr.com/
Try it, you'll LIKE it!!
Happy Holidays,
Don Brown
I spent the better part of today chasing SP2472 on the Caltrain Santa train. I had already shot 2472 on the Garlic train inJuly, and was somewhat ambivalent about following this trip. If the weather was overcast and rainy as it had been during the week, I figured I'd just skip it.
Well, the weather turned out to be perfect for chasing, and so at 9:50am I was down at the Bayshore "station" shooting the Santa train blasting out of the last tunnel. The train was 7 minutes late out of SF, having been held back for some 10-15 passengers who were coming in on a westbound train. The Santa train had many more stops than the garlic train, which made it much easier to chase (or it would have, if I hadn't gotten myself lost or stuck in traffic now and again. 2472 trips are about the only time I get over to the peninsula, so I don't know the territory very well.)
The chase crew for this trip didn't seem all that big, but the crowds waiting at the stations seemed HUGE compared to those that met the garlic train. San Jose was a mob scene. Amtrak police in white blazers did their best to keep the throng in line and out of danger, which wasn't easy. I overheard more than a couple of comments about problems with "foam on the rails." Perhaps that was the reason for the use of Caltrain's "operation lifesaver" F40PH (#916) as the pusher on this train.
After an amazingly short service stop at San Jose (did they actually get any water into the tender in the time they had?) the steam engine was wyed and putback on the train. The best one-liner of the day was from 2472's crew after they had run the engine around the wye and past College Park tower. The signal allowing them to back up to the station was slow in coming, prompting one crew member to mutter that they needed to "put another quarter in the CTC machine and get us a signal back to the station." The northbound trip left San Jose some minutes late, and arrived back at SF around 2:30.
All in all, I'm glad I followed the train. They seemed to be working the steamer a bit more on this trip and having the diesel just provide HEP, which was fine by me (a working Pacific can just about drown out an "idling" F40PH on a taperecording). The colder weather helped make the exhausts more dramatic, and the crew evenmanaged to "smoke it up" on a couple of occasions. After the scrupulously clearstack on the garlic trains, I had begun to wonder if these guys had to stay within California emmissions requirements. Hats and lens caps off to Caltrain and theGGRM for another excellent trip.
Evan Werkema via Newsgroups: misc.transport.rail.americas
Sun, 17 Dec 1995 15:47:46---Thursday/Friday Conrail had a massive derailment by Albany/Amsterdam NY. They put 56 cars on the ground. Therefore, not to much traffic appeared on Friday. On Saturday December 12, traffic started up again with many trains a day late.
For you Western fans who are wondering where all the western power is, here is a report of the pool power that went through Berea Ohio.Saturday, train BRSE had 3 CR units with UP 3518 at 12:45
That was all the pool power in day light for Saturday. We saw only 19 trains all day whch was poor but understandable with the derailment.Sunday December 17 saw 17 trains all day, again poor performance. Amtrak 49 came by at 11:29 which is about 5 hours late (but about normal for the Lakeshore)
Well, that's our 5 centavos for the day. Enjoy.
Tim Frey
MNNR has purchased CP M630 #4573 for a reported $64,000. Also, CP M636 #4743 goes to the Gennessee Valley guys.
Bill Miller, via RAILROAD@CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU
The December issue of Cinders, monthly pub. of Phila. Chapter NRHS shows info from Market St. Rwy. organization via Al Gaus. Following are car numbers Muni# (ex-SEPTA Phila # for all but last 3 since they are rebuilt from Phila. PCC's), colors and city colors:
current paint scheme:
in addition, Muni double ended PCC #1007 has been repainted in the former S.F. grey/red scheme, #1010 in San Fran blue/yellow and #1015 in Illinois Terminal olive/cream.
Bill Nixon
Don't know if you know, but NCRR has "temporarily" stored their passenger car fleet at Scotia (Pacific Lumber Co property), and isn't running their traditional holiday season trains between Arcata-Eurkea-Fortuna.
The cars were getting vandalized sitting in Eureka Yard (??), so they moved them out of harm's way. Supposedly they DO have plans for some excursions in 1996, but they're not giving out any details.
Harry Marnell
NYS&W Alco C430 3006 has been returned to service. The 3006 had been sidelined in Utica, NY with genarator problems. Saturday 12/9, the Binghamton local crew taxied to Utica and brought the 3006 back to Binghamton. The 3006 has been on the Binghamton local since. C430 3000 is still sitting in Utica, future uncertain. NYSW crews believe that the Utica shop is attempting to locate a new prime mover for 3000. NYS&W E-9 2400 was assigned to the Utica local on 12/11, 12/12. NYS&W's Syracuse, NY Commuter Shuttle service, OnTrack, is preparing to shut down for the winter. The last day of operation will be 12/31, they expect to reopen 4/1. RDC M-5 was returned to Utica 12/12 for the winter. RDC M-7 will be used for the shuttle until 12/31. Comments/replies please use e-mail as my newsreader does not let me see my own posts.
Ian Clark
WASHINGTON, Dec. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE: UNP) today filed with the Interstate Commerce Commission supplemental support statements to its application to acquire the Southern Pacific Rail Corporation (NYSE: RSP).
The original filing on November 30 contained 1,338 support statements, a record for a railroad merger application. Today's filing includes nearly 200 additional statements in support of the acquisition. The supplemental filing brings the total number of expressions of support to 1,525 customers, governors, legislators, public officials and other railroads.
via Brian P. Kreimendahl
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I just received word from our webmaster that the Union Pacific's web site is now open to the public! Check it out at:
Be sure to follow the link to Union Pacific Technologies, or connect directly at:
http://www.up.com/upt/
Jeffrey Dobek
Union Pacific Technologies
St. Louis, MO
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We are planning to run a LARGE passenger deadhead move west in connection with the Utah Centennial and a business car special which will leave Cheyenne December 28 at 4:55 p.m. The train will be 25 cars long and have the following power: The three E9s, 6936 and UP3300 and 3301 (The United Way SD40-2s).
After the train gets to Utah the next morning it will be split into three separate trains. Two of the trains will be Utah Centennial specials; one operating on the north end, the other on the south. The north train will be pulled by 6936 and will run push-pull (6936 on the south end) Jan. 3 from Ogden at 7 a.m. up Weber Canyon to Morgan and back to Ogden, then north to Cache Junction via Brigham City, reversing back through Ogden to Salt Lake City with a 2 p.m. arrival. The south train will be powered by the Es. It will originate in Cedar City, Utah (rare mileage on the branch) on Jan. 3, departing at 10 a.m. It will get on the main line at Lund and run north through Milford, to Salt Lake, arriving at 5 p.m. The Espee also will run a Utah Centennial passenger special which will start at Helper, UT, run up over Soldier Summit and arrive in Salt Lake City on Jan. 3.
All of the trains are VIP, invitation only.
Look for the UP deadhead moves to get the equipment in place to happen on Jan. 2. The 3300 and 3301 will continue on from Salt Lake City on Dec. 29 with business cars enroute to Tempe, AZ where they will be spotted near the stadium in connection with the Fiesta Bowl.
The Fiesta Bowl special with UP 3300/3301 is scheduled to leave Salt Lake City at 5 a.m. on Dec. 29, arriving in Las Vegas at 3:15 p.m. and departing at 3:20. It's due in Yermo at 5:40 p.m. and will interchange to Espee in Colton at 8:05 p.m. It's due in Tempe at 7 a.m. on Dec. 30, spotted at the Tempe station.
Since this is a deadhead move under winter weather conditions, these times could be drastically altered, but this is the plan. The return schedule hasn't been determined.
Go Big Red! National Champions!
John Bromley, UPRR Public Affairs, Omaha, via Harry Wong (& "Trainzilla"), Courtesy of Gregg Fuhriman
On Wednesday the House approved legislation to dismantle the ICC. Expected Senate approval will send the bill to President Clinton who is expected to sign it. Under the bill the ICC's functions will end on Jan. 1 and a three member surface transportation board will be created in the Dept. of Transportation to carry out the remaining duties. Republicans said the elimination of the ICC will save $21 million annually.
via Brian P. Kreimendahl
Railroad Stock Report for Friday, 22 December 1995
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Market Data from Thursday, 21 December 1995
Dow Jones Industrial Average closed at 5096.53, up 37.21 on Thursday.
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Big Board (NYSE)
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Line Symbol High Low Close Previous P/E
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BNSF BNI 77.125 76.250 76.500 76.125 14
CSX CSX 87.625 86.750 87.500 87.125 13
Conrail CRR 69.750 68.750 69.125 69.250 12
Norfolk Southern NSC 77.875 76.625 77.125 76.375 14
Southern Pacific RSP 23.000 22.750 23.000 22.875 11
Union Pacific UNP 65.250 64.500 65.000 65.000 27
Canadian Pacific Ltd CP N 17.625 17.500 17.625 17.375 NA
Illinois Central IC 37.500 36.750 37.375 37.625 16
Kansas City Southern KSU 46.500 46.250 46.375 46.250 16
Florida East Coast FLA 66.500 65.000 66.500 64.875 24
Sea Container SCRA 17.250 17.000 17.000 17.125 13
XTRA XTR 43.500 43.000 43.000 43.000 13
Greenbrier GBX 12.500 12.125 12.250 12.125 12
Wabash Natl. Corp. WNC 21.875 20.750 21.375 21.375 24
Trinity Ind. TRN 29.625 29.250 29.625 29.250 14
Ameri. President APS 23.000 22.875 22.875 23.125 12
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NASDAQ
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Line Symbol High Low Close Previous P/E
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J.B. Hunt JBHT 15.750 15.625 15.750 15.250 17
Wisconsin Central WCLX 66.750 66.500 66.500 66.750 23
RailTex RTEX 21.250 21.000 21.000 21.250 29
RailAmerica RAIL 3.750 3.500 3.750 3.437 NA
Providence & Worc PWRR 7.500 6.875 7.500 7.187 NA
Delaware Otsego DOCP 9.250 9.250 9.250 10.000 NA
MK Rail Corp. MKRL 4.125 3.750 3.875 3.875 NA
The following addresses have had problems with transmission and are being deleted: danno@fn.net, jashaw@fileshop.com, rosnics@kcstarnet.com
Steve-
Thank you very much for TW#14 which arrived last night via e-mail. TW is EXCELLENT!!! Keep up the good (and hard) work!!! A brief suggestion for the TW menu page. Can you post the date of each issue please so when we go to the menu page we can tell what's new and what's old Thanks again PS You're invited to visit our RR homepage at: http:/www.tucson.com/concor.
Don Brown
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Steve:
I'm new to the Internet, and unsure whether this message will go through. Here goes! I read Track Warrants #13 and wanted to comment on one of Tom Krummell's observations. He referred to a grain train which he saw coming down off Donner on Saturday, 11/25. He assumed because of the CNW and UP power that this was a UP reroute. Be advised that I saw the same train earlier in the day leaving Sparks. It was an SP train, the UPBKG. The UP/CNW power was run-through power. This is an SP train received from the UP at Ogden. UP power is fairly common on these.and I'm not Chris Ralph... his name happens to be on our common server at work ! Actually, I'm Brian Jennison, and my address ...
(You can call me Ray, or you can call me Jay... -Steve)
This document was last updated December 23, 1995.