Track Warrants
"The Electronic Internet Newsletter of Western Railroading"P.O. Box 720301
San Jose, CA 95172
USA
Issue No. 18
Feb. 1, 1996
Converting a color slide to a B&W was the simplest manipulation this image has been given. ATSF 5942 was changed to 5944 and the roadname changed to "Steve." Such manipulations are simple with today's image manipulation software.
In the morning, on the way to work I often listen to National Public Radio. That doesn't mean I have become some kinda high brow guy. I just hate listening to commercials when I am still trying to wake up. Now that comes with a penalty, every now and then, surprise, it is pledge time.
NPR is like Shareware software. The people who put on NPR, or who write shareware, provide their material free. They let you use it. Then they ask you, if you like it, why not help support it?
Well, you can now add to that list; TRACK WARRANTS. By the time you figure the web site, the PO Box, the AOL account, hardware, software; well, TRACK WARRANTS costs money to produce.
Compared to a slick mag that is low, I know. I also know, it is a labor of love, (ahh gee...) But, it has no ad or subscription revenue to offset costs.
So, if you feel TW is as refreshing to you as say, a coke, perhaps that might be a good guide.
So, if you want to become a TRACK WARRANTS subscriber, say for 75 cents an issue, my address is on the mast head! Now I am not going to cut anybody off who does not subscribe. But if you do, I will pledge to not cut you off if your address bounces. All subscribers will get priority service, that means if your E-mail bounces I will resend that issue, or, if you give me an alternate E-mail address, I will try to get it to you that way.
So if you would like to subscribe, just send $12 for 16 issues to the address above.
Thanks for your support!
Steve
According to NPR this am a train derailment in Cajon Pass closed I-15 in Cajon Pass. No details were on the wire services or newsgroups I checked.
Steve
In an Amtrak nationwide customer satisfaction survey the San Joaquins were rated first among 47 Amtrak services in October '95. This is a tremendous increase since August when the trains dropped out of the top ten. Two areas of particular note were food service and on board personnel courtesy. The Capitols also ranked in the top five. Most of the other top ranking Amtrak trains were also west coast trains... On October 11 a man tried to commit suicide at Stockton. He was reportedly wrestled out of the way of the train by ticket clerk Billy Williams before he was struck.
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Reposted from an e-mail message received from Brian McGowan at the City of Palm Springs, California: On Wednesday Feb 14, 1996 at 10 am, the new AMTRAK passenger station in Palm Springs will have its dedication ceremony.
The TALGO articulated high-speed passenger train will also be on display.
The public is cordially invited to attend.
Don Brown, Tucson AZ
BNSF recently reported a loss of $587 million. Reportedly, the loss was due to costs to cover the BN-ATSF merger... North Dakota Farmers are concerned about car shortages in 1996. According to a recent report they experienced shortages in '95 and are concerned that '96 may be similar or worse. They are concerned the merger may have a negative effect on car availability. BNSF says the merger will help not hurt farmers... Washington land owners are fighting a plan that would have the BNSF resurrect the abandoned Milwaukee Road rail line as part of it's plan to reopen the former NP line over Stampede Pass. The state hopes to get a park out of the deal and says it and the railroad has rights to the land. The property owners have taken the issue to court and the matter has gone to the state supreme court... Meanwhile, also in Washington, two shipping lines with terminals in the Port of Tacoma have signed a load-sharing alliance that will make them the largest shipping alliance in the world. The deal involves Sea-Land and Maersk. This will mean new direct service from Tacoma to several new Asian ports. Courtesy Dave Bono & Brian P. Kreimendahl
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The ATSF 8259 just went by my house here in Clovis, headed west. Painted in the "standard" warbonnet colors, just like it says above, except the number surprised me. I didn't know any of these were out yet, except the two mentioned above. Time: About 10:50 Mountain Time, Saturday, 27 Jan 96. Earl Needham, KD5XB, in Clovis, NM --The consist for the ATSF 199 train on Sunday into Richmond (the one with the 8259 in it) was..
675/ 8259/ 345/ 347/ 211 !!!!! (according to Tracey Hamada) Dash9-44CW/ BNSF SD75M / GP60B/ GP60B/ SD75M..
ABBA, except for that stinkin' DASH9!! :-) :-)
Cheers,
Harry Wong
In 1995 21 people were reported killed by Caltrain commutes on the peninsula. That is nearly double the 11 killed in 1994. Of these 21, 11 were apparent suicides, 9 were accidental deaths and one was an apparent homicide. In contrast three suicides were reported in 1994 and five in 1993. Caltrain officials are considering stepping up anti-trespasser activities along the right-of-way. Being able to cite trespassers would require putting no trespassing signs every 600 feet along the entire route and that is a lot of signs. Police agencies along the route can be expected to get a lot more aggressive about their enforcement of trespassing laws.
Courtesy Dave Bono & Brian P. Kreimendahl
I heard a rumor from a union official on Conrail that the new SD80MAC's cannot be mu'd with the rest of the railroad's DC-powered locomotive fleet.
Could this be true? Can AC and DC units both be run on-line in the same consist? Seems weird to me that the propulsion system should make them incompatible...
Bill (Bill Stephens)
While AC and DC units work OK in mixed consists (at least as delivered to other RR's), here are a few exerpts from the BN SD70MAC operating manual that tend to indicate why CR might prefer to keep them in straight AC consists, at least at first.
"Units will operate in throttle 8 stall. WARNING:THIS IS NOT POSSIBLE WITHOUT DAMAGE TO DC UNITS [in the loco consist]."
"Observed normal DC unit operation is to release brakes, then advance throttle. AC operation should be to: advance throttle, then release brakes."
"Running DC model locomotives with AC locomotives may cause overheat damage to the older units' T/MS, under extended slow, high tractive effort conditions."
"When operating with a DC locomotive in the consist at speeds exceeding 25 MPH, reduce the throttle to No. 4 position at least 8 seconds before locomotive reaches a rail crossing." (comment--this is normal procedure with DC units, to reduce chance of motor damage resulting from the mechanical shocks caused by rail crossings, but not required for AC units)
Again, none of these preclude mixed operations, but CR probably wants to attack one problem at a time--i.e. straight AC operation first to get crews accustomed to them, before introducing added complexities.
Bob Thompson
From Chris Toth's WWW Pages.......
WIDE CABS!!!......Yes, after many rumors, it has been confirmned by both NS and GE sources that wide cabs are on the way. Specifically, NS has placed an order for 120 GE Dash 9-40CW units for delivery in 1996, and another 120 similar units for delivery in 1997. Each locomotive will be equipped with abidirectional control stand, rather than desktop controls common to most other wide cab units. The first of these new units are scheduled for delivery in January 1996 and will be delivered in primer. Accordingly, these units will be sent directly to the NS Paint Shop in Chattanooga, Tennessee for painting into a slight variation of the standard NS "Thoroughbred" paint scheme. Supposedly, the horse logo applied to the wide cabend will have longer speed stripes.
The first two wide cab Dash 9-40CW units, Nos. 8890 and 8891, were delivered to NS on January 26th. As expected these units were delivered in primer and were sent directly to the NS Paint Shop in Chattanooga, TN for painting. These units arrived in Chattanooga on January 27th on train M79.
via L. G. Ruback [ On Track Ltd ]
Recently, all seven cities in Imperial County, CA approved inclusion in California Railfill Systems regional landfill plan.
Courtesy Dave Bono & Brian P. Kreimendahl
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While I was home over Christmas, I saw a westbound SP business train in Benicia, CA on Jan 5. I was sleeping in the car when my dad spotted it. The power looked like a single SD, but it was already past us so I couldn't tell. We went looking for it latter, and found the cars parked in the Oakland SP yard, not the Amtrak coach yard. The were a few Daylight cars and a number of the silver SP business cars. I couldn't get a picture but they sure looked great.
Thanks again for the great newsletter.
Nathan Pettit
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There were about six of us at the "Mons Massacre"...the UP dead-head equipment special climbed the east slope of San Timeteo Canyon about 10 minutes after the sun dipped behind the San Gorgoino Mountains. The special got caught up the middle of the westbound fleet; it managed to pass a couple on the flats between Indio and Palm Springs, but it was just running later than scheduled. The coup de grace was at the switch at the west end of West Palm Springs, which refused to line for the main. That pretty much took care of the light.
Here's a run down of the action in the afternoon of 1/29/96:
1406 Mons SP e/b 8382 8291 FB light helpers
1406 Mons SP NIWCL 7463 7401s FB +1 Niland Turn w/b
1430 Mons SP w/b SSW9638 8236 7414 8261 FBBB Helper:
8666s 8524s FB +115
1440 Mons SP WCNIL 8563s 5399s 7941 7466 FBFB IV
Turn; first two units helpers
1500 Cabazon SP w/b CSXT8562 8361 8619s 8298 IC6106
FBFBF +115 No helpers!
1530 Cabazon SP w/b SSW8093 9730s 9733s 8315 7443 7423
8293 9359s 7365 7332 FBFFFBFFBF +100
1530 Cabazon SP e/b 8524s 8666s FB light helpers
1550 Cabazon SP e/b 8677s 2720s 8694s 8688s DRGW5386
7555s FFBFBB
1615 Cabazon SP e/b SSW8065 8670s CNW7020 8525 FFBF +32
1630 Mons SP w/b SSW9657 8358 9722s 8289 FFFF
Helper: 8291 8382 FB
1700 Mons SP w/b UP949 UP963B UP951 F-B +8
Cars: Arden, Selma, Walter Dean, Powder River, Wyoming, Omaha,
Cabarton, 207
JAN 31-UP & SP said they reached an agreement with the IC on a variety of marketing and operational issues associated with the pending UP/SP merger.
The agreement may involve cooperative marketing efforts. In the operating area, the agreement focuses mainly on issues designed to ensure efficient operation after the merger. It covers interchange of traffic,
rebuilding of facilities and resolution of the impact of the merger on some trackage rights.
IC agreed not to oppose the merger application. UP/SP agreed to negotiate first with IC if additional competition beyond the BNSF isimposed by the Surface Transportation Board and the UP still decides to
go ahead with the merger.
via Brian P. Kreimendahl
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SP shareholders have voted by a margin of 85% to approve the merger with UP... Conrail has formally notified the Surface Transportation Board that it intends to file comments opposing the merger, unless the roads make major line concession sales concessions to Conrail. UP Chief executive Drew Lewis reportedly said that if Conrail got the line concessions it wants, UP might walk away from the deal.
Courtesy Dave Bono & Brian P. Kreimendahl
The following addresses have had problems with transmission and are being deleted:
spassmo@cello.gina.calstate.edu, FXUN06A@prodigy.com, WZSX26A@prodigy.com
gp302@aol.com, jstefani@intelenet.net, 9601022005.AA17383@amweld.org, bndlstif@macshasta.com, tchandle@bcrr.secret.com, miker@applewize.com
FYI, there are two EXCELLENT railroad magazines available on the Internet:
Track Warrants, the Internet Newsletter of Western Railroading, by Steve Sloan Click on: http://users.aimnet.com/~stevesln/twar/twmenu.htm
Ahead of the Torch, the OnLine Journal for Railroad and Industrial Preservation by Rob Davis Click on: http://www.injersey.com/Media/IJFeatures/AOTT/
Enjoy!!!
Don Brown
Tucson AZ
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I have uploaded my new web site, The Diesel Shop. Do you object to my
linking it to your Track Warrants site? Please advise.
The Diesel Shop -- http://www.rust.net/~rcraig
Best Regards, Craig (RS27)
"Don't Shoot Til You See The Whites Of Their Number Boards" - R. Craig
Craig Rutherford, (RS27)
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I got the following from Bill Farmer today...
Moving to the California Region TT, I went by West Colton Friday on my way to Arizona, to check out Pepper Ave. for you. I couldn't find any mileage markings on the Pepper Ave. bridge, so I measured the distance from mp 537 to the bridge with my car odometer. It was 0.2 miles, so Pepper Ave. is at 537.2.
Unless you spot something that is different, I think we nailed it! Thanks for your help on this one...
I know Bill is as intense as me when he goes after information. I would have liked to been the fly on the rearview mirror to see if he checks this stuff like I do. I wonder how many times people wondered if I was in the Twilight Zone when I was making a field check of this stuff. I know Mike Martin wonders until I give him the long story why I am asking some bizarre questions. Oh well, to keep the timetables as accurate as possible you gotta check for some strange stuff once in a while...
Serious with a smile...
Rob
Altamont press
The Altamont Press philosophy: "Put all seriousness aside and get back to business!"
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I'd like to tell you about a new group out of St. Louis Called.. Amer. Railway Caboose Historical Educational Society, Inc.
This group headed by my father Richard Eichhorst is already 200+ members strong and growing. I'd like to have my father send you info on this with the hope of you letting your readers know about it and its goals and purpose. Please email me your Snail mail address or contact ARCHES directly at 314-752-3148.
sincerely,
Dave Eichhorst
daveeic@aol.com
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Now that we solved the mistery of Pepper Ave., (I know, it really isn't a mistery unless you live some 300 plus miles away and can't drive down for a quick field check.) I have one last item I want to add into the next California Timetable. This will later be added or improved in all timetables in the future.
For West Colton and Roseville, I list the Yard Channels beneath the road channels on the station profiles. I am trying to be more specific on some usages, particularly around large yards or hump facilities.
As an example, this is a sample of how I would do Roseville on the Cal-P, Donner or East Valley:
AAR Frequency Channel ID District 96 161.550 Dispatcher 62 Roseville-Dunsmuir 66 161.100 Antelope Herder Antelope 88 161.430 245 Herder Roseville 58 160.980 Hump Roseville
I want to do the same for West Colton though I don't know which frequency is which for the Crest and Trim herders. I just have channels 66 and 88 listed as yard frequencies and Channel 4924 as the hump. Any particulars would help.
Thanks
Rob (102765.2553@compuserve.com)
Altamont Press
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Steve The Santa Clara River Valley Railroad Historical Society are shure enjoying these newsletters. Visit our site at http://www.fishnet.net/~johngart I would like to put in a link to you if it is ok.
John Gartman
Railroad Stock Report for Wednesday, 31 January 1996
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Market Data from Tuesday, 30 January 1996
Dow Jones Industrial Average closed at 5381.21, up 76.23 on Tuesday.
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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 81.500 80.500 80.750 81.375 13.90
CSX CSX 46.750 46.375 46.375 46.250 16.10
Conrail CRR 70.875 69.750 70.250 71.125 12.90
Norfolk Southern NSC 78.500 78.000 78.500 78.125 14.60
Southern Pacific RSP 23.625 23.000 23.250 23.125 25.70
Union Pacific UNP 65.000 64.125 64.500 64.625 15.30
Canadian Pacific Ltd CP N 19.500 19.000 19.500 18.875 23.20
Illinois Central IC 37.500 36.500 37.250 36.250 12.30
Kansas City Southern KSU 44.875 44.250 44.625 44.000 25.10
Florida East Coast FLA 69.125 68.750 68.750 69.125 22.30
Sea Container SCRA 17.375 17.250 17.250 17.250 1.90
XTRA XTR 42.000 41.750 41.750 41.625 12.10
Greenbrier GBX 10.875 10.625 10.875 10.750 9.60
Wabash Natl. Corp. WNC 21.000 20.375 20.750 20.625 15.70
Trinity Ind. TRN 34.500 32.000 34.250 32.250 12.60
Ameri. President APS 20.875 20.750 20.875 20.750 9.50
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NASDAQ
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Line Symbol High Low Close Previous P/E
===============================================================
J.B. Hunt JBHT 15.500 15.250 15.250 15.250 39.10
Wisconsin Central WCLX 75.500 74.250 75.000 74.750 25.30
RailTex RTEX 21.000 20.750 21.000 20.875 27.30
RailAmerica RAIL 3.750 3.687 3.687 3.687 12.30
Providence & Worc PWRR 6.750 6.750 6.750 7.250 10.90
Delaware Otsego DOCP 10.000 10.000 10.000 10.000 7.20
MK Rail Corp. MKRL 4.125 4.000 4.125 4.000 NA
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Pioneer Railcorp PRR-M 3.500 3.375 3.500 3.500 46.40
This document was last updated Feb 1, 1996.