‘Monster train’ rolls through SoCal
Posted by Lou on Jan 13, 2010
LOS ANGELES — An apparently unprecedented, super freight train extending about 3-1/2 miles rolled through Southern California over the weekend, catching state regulators off guard and prompting concerns about potential safety risks and traffic delays, The Los Angeles Times reported.
Union Pacific alters tunnels for double-stacked trains to reach Reno
Posted by Lou on Dec 28, 2009
Union Pacific Railroad has raised the roof on 15 of its tunnels over Donner Pass in the Sierra, allowing double-stacked trains to cross the pass and go through Reno for the first time on the way to Chicago.
When the effects of the recession ebb, more trains could be coming through Reno and Sparks. Up to now, double-stacked trains have been routed through the longer and more difficult Feather River Canyon north of Reno.
The development might allow former Reno Mayor Jeff Griffin to consider himself redeemed for pushing to build the downtown railroad trench, which was completed in 2005 at a cost of $282 million.
In the late 1990s, Griffin often said the day would come when the tunnel roofs would be raised for cars carrying double-stacked cargo containers from Pacific Rim countries unloaded at the Port of Oakland.
“It took a little longer than I thought,” said Griffin, who ran a international shipping business in Reno for years and recently saw his first double-stacked train on the route east of Fernley. “I just know that it was a business decision a multibillion company had to make.”
While Griffin predicted the number of trains a day would jump substantially, critics railed against city plans to build a railroad trench and eliminate crossings in downtown. Opponents feared cost overruns and dangers from floods or earthquakes.
Tom Lange, Union Pacific western spokesman, said 15 to 18 trains a day are routed through Reno, about the same as before the tunnels were finished in November. He said there is no way to know how many more trains will be coming.
“Our volume is based on the economy and customer needs,” he said. “There’s not really a way to project future transportation volume.”
He said dispatching is based on traffic across a 32,000-mile network in 23 states.
“So trying to pinpoint some peak level of train volume would be speculative at best,” he said.
Union Pacific spent about $2.6 billion in the past year to improve its rail system while business was slow because of the recession. Read the rest of this entry »
My Letter to the Railroad
Posted by Lou on Sep 25, 2009
It’s now a week ago that I was very frustrated with the work and furlough Situation that I decided to write a letter to Union Pacific Railroad. I did not expected an answer, just wanted to get something out that’s bordering me. Here is my Letter:
Hello,
Since 2006 I am with Union Pacific Railroad as a Conductor in the Roseville Hub. I love to work for UP – if I only get a chance. In my long Railroad Career (I worked for 17 years with the German Railroad) I’ve never expected a situation like this : several hundreds of Employees are furlough now. The Situation is very bad and the hope to get back to work get’s lower and lower.
There is no financial help or other support from UP for us. I am very glad to have the Health Insurance going on for 4 months.
Every day I am expecting and waiting to go back to work. You can imagine the situation we are in.
What does Union Pacific Railroad expect from me ? Do you want me to come back and be ready for work once there is enough work ?
The answer after the break. Read the rest of this entry »
San Luis Obispo Chalk Board August 2009
Posted by Lou on Sep 17, 2009
The Editor French Morgan spent most of the summer working for the Alaska Rail Road so the SLO Chalk Board is a little bit late. Never less here is the newest Edition fresh for your information. See the Download Section ‘Chalk Boards’ to grab one.
Union Pacific Spends $13 Million on Fort Worth Rail Intersection
Posted by Lou on Aug 6, 2009
Union Pacific Railroad reports that it is spending $13 million to upgrade track between Roanoke, Texas and Tower 55 in Fort Worth.
Tower 55 is a major juncture of rail lines that has prompted numerous complaints from Fort Worth motorists about emissions and traffic delays from trains.
Union Pacific crews are replacing more than 45,000 ties and renewing road surfaces at 38 grade crossings in a project scheduled to be completed next month. The railroad spent more than $400 million last year on capital projects in Texas.
Back to work (or not)
Posted by Lou on Jul 26, 2009
I finished my Rules Class last week. Here in the Roseville Hub you have to attend to rules class if you want to go back to work and it’s more than 2 months ago you worked. It’s a great and safety way and I really appreciate it. There are so many rules updates in those days that you have many questions about. And since it’s payed by the company, it’s another bonus. Another thing I like a lot – you stay in contact with the other Co-Workers. New faces appear every time and you see some guys you worked before with. Rumors and little stories round up the 2 days and makes it a great experience. You ‘only’ have to concentrate during class and get the test’s done. Some of the GCOR Questions are really tough. Even old, 100 year old guys have some problems with it.
But I was able to pass those tests. Happy I’d return home just to find out that one of my many applications were picked up and I was assigned to a Trainman Conductor Board. Man, I can’t tell you how nervous I was getting back to work. Usually, as of my past experience, I expected to get bumped just short going to work. Not this time ! 4:30 am I got the call the next morning to bring a Z-Train (Container Train 1.st priority) over the mountains north. Left the Station a few minutes later and here we go. I can’t tell you how many beautiful routes we have in California. There were at last 25 Tunnels and as many Bridges we’d passed. On one side the Mountains, 100’s of feet steep high into the sky, on the other site getting down deep to the river. Between us, crawling up the mountains with 25 mph enjoying the scenery many people would pay for.
After a really pleasant ride with good company we arrived at the mountain station – crew change. Usually you have to wait before the new crew is available – not this time. Since it’s a Z-Train the new guys were just waiting for us to arrive and getting on the Train.
14 hours later the same procedure only the other way. Man, was I happy that the Mountains and the Canyon was still there. It was even more beautiful than the way up because I’d know for what I had to look.
I can report that this was the most nicest ride I had so far. Only sad thing that I got bumped from that board 2 hours after I was on duty. Now I am back where I was before but just with a little more smile on my Face and very good memories how nice it CAN be to work for the Railroad. Hopefully I will have the opportunity soon to get my memories refreshed.
Back to work
Posted by Lou on Jul 23, 2009
What a day. Just got back from Rules Class and checked on the Computer my status. And the unbelievable happened: I am back on the Board. What a surprise. Right away for my Birthday (Saturday). I can’t believe that’s happening to me. Now all out there press you thumbs (that’s what we Germans do) so that I will net get bumped before my trip starts. It will be the Mountain Tour : Just from Roseville over the Grade towards Reno / Sparks in Nevada. Hopefully I can post in 2 days about a great trip with some new experience. In a few years (hopefully many) I will put on my gravestone : Worked the Mountain Pool.
More later.
New Downloads
Posted by Lou on Jun 10, 2009
The new San Luis Obispo Chalk Board for June 2009, Issue 10, is out. Information about the C.A.R.E. program, Retirements and much more. Fresh, new, only here and in the Crew Room. Go to the Download Section and browse to the Chalk Board Section. Or just press download from here.
Railfax Report
Posted by Lou on Jun 5, 2009
No comment …..
Mad As Hell
Posted by Lou on May 31, 2009
Oh yeah, that’s how I feel today after checking the board standings. I feel my Company gave up on me and let me fall. Hired at a time when UP thought of 1000’s of retired people for the next few month. Everything we gave up to get a good nice job with a ‘Great’ Company – many promises were made. Do you remember the Newspaper Adds or the Hiring Sessions nationwide : Come to the Railroad and earn between $40.000 and $70.000 a Year. How can someone miscalculate the retirement of employees so bad ? How can someone willingly destroy hundreds of peoples live ? Nobody would have ever thought that the recession is hitting so bad, but that all happened before the recession started. Did you ever saw someone going on a street telling the people what’s happening here ? How Company’s treat their employees ? Sure, it’s getting old seeing and hearing stories about mistreated employees. It become a normal thing. Nobody, besides the families, care’s about us. I certainly don’t get any nice treatment from the Company. Only two positive things I can remember how I was treated well : when I get the monthly newsletter (but never mentioned anything about furlough employees) and the Company pay’s the health benefit for 4 months. Do they think I will be thankful for that ? Guess I am, because after being furl ought for almost a year, just a call : Be there in 90 minutes will have me ready with my gear and getting the papers to get the Job done. Getting the job done after all this treatment I reserved is my first thought. And getting my family supported who suffered from wrong decisions some managers made.
