Issue No. 43, (rel. 97.1.1)
January 18, 1997
Steve Sloan Send news, correspondence and images to: stevesln@aimnet.com
It's Saturday night, January 18th. This is the first weekend since before Christmas that we were not either with or hosting other family. This issue is the first issue of a release with news dating up to January 15th. I expect that this will go 4 to 5 issue, but I've been wrong before.
I've updated the mail list. Some readers assume that this is an automated task, kinda like subscribing to a list serve, but it is not. One a month I edit all the "sign-me-up" new subscriptions, cutting the "from" address from them and pasting them to a text file. Then I go to all the requests to unsubscribe (or more often bounced emails) and create another text file of deletes. After cleaning all of this information up in Microsoft Word I save it as a text ".txt" file. Then, I import that file into Microsoft Excel.
I have a huge file called "mlist.xls" I cut and paste the excel file I just created onto the end of the mail list program, sort them and delete the addresses marked for deletion. Having created a very long Excel program I copy and paste the addresses, thirty at a time, into my email program. This whole process takes a couple of hours.
I am not telling you all this to impress you with my computer prowess (or
lack thereof.) Sometimes people get frustrated because it takes them awhile to
either get their first issue or to have their subscription canceled and don't
understand why it takes me longer to amend my mail list than it does to
subscribe, or unsubscribe to a list serve. Well, this is why.
Steve
JANUARY BULLETIN
JAN12--Dateline: Santa Fe Station, San Diego,
CA 1-11-97 What is that I see? Hey how bout that! A train on the new tracks.
That's right, actual usage of the tracks that have been under construction for
some time now.
Usage? Well, I guess you could call it that. Actually they were testing the tracks for weight and signaling. A Coaster train was sitting on what could be called the #4 track. I say 'could be' because the word was put out that the tracks would be numbered from the station out, ignoring the trolley tracks, so it would be #4. Then came the rumor that it would be #1 and the tracks would be counted from the farthest towards the station. Well, no matter how you look at it, the two, long awaited, new tracks should be in service as of this writing, at least by the time you get this. I am not aware of any fanfare about it, if I hear of any I will pass it on.
So now San Diego has 6 tracks at the station. Going from the station out
towards the adjacent golf practice strip, there are 2 trolley tracks (one north
and one south), the 2 existing tracks with the new platform, and now the 2 new
tracks with the new platform. Congratulations San Diego Santa Fe Station!
Richard Hamilton
SPRINGFIELD, MA 'BOMB' TURNS OUT TO BE VIBRATING SEX TOY
DEC30--The station in Sprinfield was evacuated due to a mysterious ticking from
a suitcase. The noise turned out to be a vibrating sex toy.
Police reportedly evacuated the building after Amtrak personnel reported a "ticking sound" coming from the piece of luggage in the storage area. The bag had been checked in advance by an Atlanta bound passenger.
Employees first tried to call the phone number listed on the baggage tag.
They called police after discovering the number had been disconnected. Police
officers found the vibrator. The suitcase's owner reportedly came to the
station to claim his property after he was reached by police.
via Dave Bono
AMTRAK CAPITOL SERVICES ARTICLE
DEC16--An aricle on page one of
the San Francisco Chronicle by Carl Nolte on December 16 said the Capitol's are
making a comeback. The Capitol trains are celebrating their birthday and
ridership is up, the story says. According to the story riders are happy about
the service and some are even forming social clubs based upon train ridership.
Despite the fact that the govenor would like to get the state out of the passenger train business the state has spent about $250 million on new equipment for the trains. Now four trains a day go between Sacramento and the Bay Area, three of those going all the way to San Jose and one going to Roseville.
The number of riders, the story says, has doubled in four years and is up
25-30% over the same time last year. According to the story BART may begin
operating the trains this year and has some plans to greatly increase service.
Some people are concerned about this due to the transit agencies different
perspective on rail travel.
via Bill Daniels and Jon Porter
LEAVENWORTH SNOW TRAIN
DEC11--Last weekend I flew up to Seattle
and rode the "Snow Train to Leavenworth" on Saturday December 7th.
The train left Seattle King St. Station on time (0805) with 2 F40s ,12 Amfleet
coaches and 2 Amfleet Cafe cars. Over 1,000 people were on board, most of them
getting on in Seattle, but a few in Edmonds and Everett as well. The route was
via the BNSF Scenic Subdivision through the Cascades via Stevens Pass. At
Leavenworth there was 3 feet of snow on the ground and we experienced moderate
snow all day. We arrived on time and were shuttled into town by charter school
busses.
Leavenworth is a Bavarian tourist town. There were many winter activities there and shopping to do. At 1645 hrs they turned on the lights to the trees and store fronts. It was quite a sight.
The Snow Train left a little late, about 1840 hrs. We encountered one potentially serious incident in the Cascade Tunnel (mp 1700, about 28 miles west of Leavenworth). While in the tunnel the lights flickered in our coach and then went out. The trained slowed and stopped west of the west end of the tunnel. .. Our coach had a fair amount of smoke in it after we stopped (probably diesel exhaust and perhaps some smoke from the electrical fire). We were told to remain seated and to keep the doors closed. I learn from the road channel (161.16) that the power cable was severed on 2 coaches, causing a small fire beneath one coach. After about a 45 minute delay, Amtrak officals told us that repairs would take 2 hrs, so the crew elected to continue to Seattle in the dark. For compensation for the delay, we were given free drinks in the cafe car! We arrived back at King Street Station at about 2300 hrs.
I never thought I would go to Seattle for a winter vacation, but this trip
turned out to be very scenic, and quite the adventure, as many Amtrak trips are!
Dave Bono
A MORNING SPENT RAILFANNING
DEC08--On Friday, November 29,
1996, the day after Thanksgiving, I had the day off so I went to LAUPT. I
figured this would be a great oppertunity to watch the morning rush since
Metrolink was going to run the regular scedule.
It turned out to be a buitiful fall day, crisp, cool, clear. (I had to make sure I was in Los Angeles.)
I arrived at LAUPT at 5:45 a.m. and the consist for Amtrak San Diegan 570 in the terminal. The engine on the consist was 2052 which was painted in California DOT colors. This engine is a Dash 8 and used to be painted in Amtrak colors. I dont know the history of this engine but if anyone knows please pass it along. The train departed on time at 6:10 a.m.
At 11:00 p.m. on Thursday night I had called to find out the status of Amtark # 1. It was reported 49 minutes late out of Yuma, AZ. Imagine my surpise when at 5:59, it arrivided 6 minutes early. The consisit was: Engines 828, 508; Express Bagage 1729, (looks like a ex-Heritage car); Transistion Sleeper 39033; Sleepers 32048, 32093; Dining Car 38038; Sightseer Lounge 33015; Coach 31545; Coach Baggage 31019; Coach 34060; From # 21, Coach 34014; Coach Baggage 31024; and Sleeper 32112. It was backed out of the station at 7:15 a.m.
Amtrak # 3 arrived at 07:28, 32 minutes ahead of schedule. The consist was: Engines 843, 10, 516; Mail Cars 1472, 1523, 1427, 1461, 1516, 1400; Baggage 1126; Transistion Sleeper 39019, Coachs 34075, 34085; Coach Baggage 31043; Sightseer Lounge 33022; Dining Car 38030; and Sleepers 32040, 32096. The cars were cut away from the engines at 9:10 and the mail cars were spotted at the mail track at 9:25. The engines were taken out at 9:32.
The consist for San Dieagan # 572 was brought in at 7:45 a.m. It consisted of California Engine 2004; a Heritage Coach, a Custom Class Coach, a Cab Car, two Coachs, a Heritage Dinette Car, a Heritage Coach, a Custom Class Coach, a Baggage Car, and Engine 220. It daparted on time at 8:35 a.m.
The consist for Coast Starlight # 14 was brought into the station Engines first at 7:58 a.m. I learned that do to the swithching neccasary for the through cars from San Diegan # 571, it is brought in this way and then backed straight out across the bridge over the Los Angeles River and then proceedes up the East Bank. The consist was Engines 800, 231, (I thought the Coast Starlight was suppose to have two P40's); Baggage 1707 in Superliner II colors; Transistion Sleeper 39022; Sleepers 32118, 32082, 32085; Pacific Palor Car 39973; Dining Car 38058; Sightseer Lounge 33036; Coachs 34508, (was orginally numbered 34108), 34110, 34109, Coachs off of # 571 34103, 34090; and California Car Lounge 8810, (this was being deadheaded to Oakland, Ca.) A total of 14 cars. When I asked the Engineer, he said that with only 1 P40, it was going to be a hard run.
The switching went like this. San Diegan # 571 arrived at 8:44 a.m. The consist was Engines 230,214; Coach Baggage 31046, (This is used as a Custom Class Coach on California Car consists.); California Coach Cars 8807, 8005, 8011,8006, Superliner Coachs 34103, 34090, 34101. Amtrak Swith Engine 551, an SW1 I think, spotted Car 8810 between tracks 10 and 11. It then hooked onto the rear of # 571 and pulled off Coachs 34103, 34090, 34101.The passangers on board these cars are allowed to remain onboard but must remain seated. Engine 551 then backed these cars onto # 14. He then pulled off 34101 and spotted it across the plattform from 34090 because passangers had boarded 34101 enroute from San Diego. I was unable to obtain an answer asto why 34101 was allowed to be boarded when it was not going onto # 14. He then hooked back up to 8810 and placed it onto # 14. Engine 551 then went to hook up to the Cars off # 3. These moves were completed at 9:22 a.m., only 8 minutes until the advertised departure time. Now the fun began. 6 carmen swarmed over the consisit making all the connections. However, while trying to connect the airlines between 8810 and 34090, the engineer and conductor began their airtests. The carmen could not figure out why air was coming out of the hoses. Some one had forgot to close the angle cocks when they were taken off of # 571. The carmen were also having trouble pluging in the cables between 8810 and 34090, so the assistant conductor told them that since it was a deadhead move, it was not neccasary to connect the cables, so they didn't. It was now 9:28 and the final airtest had been done. Then the assistant conductor looked up at the back of 8810 and notice to rear markers were on. Why, because the cables weren't used between the cars. Now everybody is yelling into their radios trying to get a cable, or a flag, or a portable, or just something "to just get this damn trian going". Finally, at 9:30, the assistant conductor was at the back door of 8810 with a portable flasher and he radioed OK to Depart. But the Conductor wanted to verify it for himself, so he said to wait until he got to the back of the train. Now another yelling match went on over who was to be blamed for the additional delay. Finally the Conductor was on 8810 and radioed to the head end OK to Shove. But, LA Terminal Tower was still confused as to wether or not there were markers on the rear. Finally, at 9:37, permission was granted to depart.
All in all, and very good and interesting morning.
John Tolmachoff
BNSF LAUNCHES NEW SERVICE OVER UP TRACKAGE RIGHTS,
BNSF PRESS
RELEASE 01-16-97
JAN17--The Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway
Company (BNSF) today announced it has begun new service from Houston to Memphis
using trackage rights gained following approval of the Union Pacific-Southern
Pacific merger, and from Memphis north to Effingham, Ill., under an interline
agreement with Illinois Central Railroad.
This new service, which begins today, enables BNSF to provide improved levels of service -- both consistency and shorter transit times -- between the Texas Gulf and the Northeast region. Two daily through trains will serve this corridor initially.
"Since the Union Pacific-Southern Pacific merger became effective in September, BNSF has been steadily increasing our services for our existing customers as well as new customers we reach by using our new routes over UP and SP," said Peter J. Rickershauser, BNSF's vice president, Marketing -- UP-SP Lines. "With our interline partner Illinois Central, this new service over trackage rights resulting from the UP-SP merger will enable BNSF to compete very favorably with other rail carriers on traffic between the Gulf Coast and the Midwest and Northeast."
As a condition of the August 1995 approval of the UP-SP merger, BNSF was granted access by the Surface Transportation Board to more than 3,900 miles of UP and SP track in Gulf Coast and West Coast markets, primarily in areas served only by UP and SP. Specifically, BNSF received trackage rights over roughly 3,550 route miles and the right to purchase an additional 335 miles.
BNSF began serving customers via haulage rights on these new routes immediately after the merger, which was effective September 11, 1996. Since that time, BNSF purchased two of the three UP-SP line segments -- Dallas to Waxahachie, Texas, and Iowa Jct. to Avondale, Louisiana. The purchase of the Bieber to Keddie, Calif., line is now scheduled to close during the first quarter of 1997.
Direct BNSF train service on the new routes commenced as follows:
October 8, 1996:
October 9, 1996
December 16, 1996
March 1997
via James Czarnecki
BNSF/UP OPERATIONS NEWS
JAN15--Winter storm conditions have
been causing serious problems for midwest railroads and grain dealers.
According to one Minneapolis source nothing is moving there. BNSF reports that
it's main lines have been mostly cleared. The railroad was reportedly clearing
snow on branch lines. According to Mike Martin of BNSF, "It took a number
of days to plow out the main lines and now we're working on the branch lines."
A UP source said that no tracks were shut down but that trains are moving
slower due to the cold. Grain dealers have reported problems with farmers not
being able to get to the grain elevators with their grain and some elevators not
recieving rail service. This has been raising grain values. Forecasters show
more harsh weather on the way.
via Brian P. Kreimendahl
BNSF NEWS
JAN13--BNSF officials are blaming bad weather and
merger problems with causing the railroad to fall short of its on time
performance goals in 1996. According to a company source the railroads on-time
performance was 87 percent, slightly below its 92 percent goal.
via Brian P. Kreimendahl
BNSF FLOWING IN THE CANYON
DEC22--James Groenke wrote:
I've heard mention made of at least 3 BNSF trackage rights trains that were headed in/out of the canyon over the last 12hours. Via my Dial-a-Train monitor, I've heard references to:
Santa Fe X4048E which was going through Sacto area about 0830hrs this AM.
BN X6056W (pretty sure about this no., postive about the direction) was mid way through the canyon about 0900 hrs today's date and just now heard the DS tell a MTM that there's a BNSF =BIEBER=- trains about to leave MILPITAS, and should be on the Highline by 0300hrs tomorrow's date. (this one is a real surprise to me)
Well I just heard at least two different BNSF trains mentioned on the radio.
I was listening to D-A-T as well. The first was reference to a BN6806 getting a
speed restriction for MP 97.? for 15MPH of a road crossing. Also heard BN5035
referenced in a T&T given out near MP33.So I traced it in th UP computer and
it was out of Haggin Yrad Dec. 22 at 3:00pm. Also just heard the UP dispatcher
talking to ATSF5039 getting told that the Desert Sub dispatcher would take him
in an hour or so!! So again it was traced to Keddie on Dec22 at 12:03pm. So that
could be the local BN plans (is) running from Keddie to Portola and east!!!
Mike Leland
BNSF ARRIVES IN NEW ORLEANS VIA SP TRACKAGE RIGHTS
DEC22-- The
BNSF has arrived - they have been running 1-2 GP's and up to 3 cars in from
Texas ( really impressive display so far). I caught the first run over the Huey
Long today (DEC 19, 1996; 2 GP's + 2 cars). - Bill Lang, New Orleans, LA
From Bill Lang for TW via Matt Vurek
ATSF(BNSF) ON SP TO WARM SPRINGS
DEC13-- On 12\12 I heard the
ATSF870 getting the Irvington Block about noon and made it to Warm Springs
before they did. And saw no less than eight(8) people get off of the
locomotives. At least noe was Former SP who had a track chart with him to help
familiarize the ATSF crews with the yard. So I have pics of it arriving in Warm
Springs and leaving as well as going back west up the Hayward line at Niles. I
believe that is the line they used to go east out of Oakland as well. As a side
note, the pictures I have from Warm Springs show NO SP power in the yard. It was
a UP unit plus two EMD blue leasers.
Mike Leland
CAJON DERAILMENT FOLLOW-UP
DEC11--According to the NTSB the
cause of last February's derailment on Cajon Pass that killed two train crewmen
was brake line blockage probably occuring between the fifth and sixth cars of
the train, the cause of which is unknown.
According to the board the train's crew failed to make certain the system that permits the brakes to be applied from the rear of the train in an emergency was working. They faulted the Federal Railroad Administration, the railroad industry and the Santa Fe for failing to require constant use of the end-of-train braking systems.
Recently the Transportation Department announced that the nation's major
railroads have completed installing the end-of-train devices on all trains
operating in mountain territory.
via Mike Leland
MORE NEWS FROM SAUK RAPIDS, MN, IC ON BNSF
DEC11--At 1:15pm on
12/11 a solid IC grain hopper train went by (westbound) with 3-SD40-2 (IC) on
the point. The hoppers looked like they were mostly new and I believe empty.
Here's some news from Minnesota (St Cloud). A P32 was on the Empire Builder
either Dec. 2,4 or 5 (sorry I did not write the date down. My studio is on the "North
pole" main line and last week all the Builder's were going by 6 to 8 hours
late, so I saw the P32 in daylight (it was trailing.) Also, since the merger, I
have seen coal trains bound for Becker (NSP) with 3 SD60's, 3 70MACS, or
sometimes some combination. Before the merger 2 SD60's were about the only
power seen, now there is at least 2 MACS going by every week. Have also seen
tremendous power balancing moves, with as many as 9 units (mixes of C44-9's and
others.) One lash up earlier this week included 6 C44-9's, 1 SD40-2 and an SD9,
cool!
Tom Bernhardt
Most of the following addresses have been deleted from the mailing list due to bounced Email. Some have also been removed at the readers request, either because they have a new address or are unsubscribing:
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WINTERAIL 97
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This document was last updated January 20, 1997.
All content sent to stevesln@aimnet.com is assumed to be submitted for publication, unless it is clearly marked "NOT FOR PUBLICATION." Material may be edited for accuracy and for publication standards. This publication is dedicated to furthering the enjoyment of the hobby of railfanning. The goal is to keep it fun. This is a volunteer publication. This is not an official source, material is not always verified for accuracy.