UTU News Digest - Tuesday, June 15, 1999

UTU Daily News Digest

Information of interest to operating railroad and transportation employees

Tuesday, June 15, 1999

CANADA: Litigation filed in Thamesville derailment

LONDON -- Two law firms are joining forces to sue VIA Rail and CN Rail.

The class-action suit comes after a VIA train derailed in April 1999 near Thamesville, Ont., killing two engineers.

A London, Ont., law firm has reached a deal with a Windsor, Ont., firm to represent many of the 100 passengers in the suit.

Lawyer Chris Beckett says merging the two $30-million suits will reduce legal costs and avoid duplication.

Shortly after the accident, a spokesperson for the Transportation Safety Board of Canada said a main track crossover switch left in a reversed position on an unmonitored track may have caused the accident.

Two weeks later, CN Rail announced it would spend $25 million to get rid of unmonitored track switches and install centralized traffic control signalling along its busiest lines in central Canada.

NEW YORK: Freight train derailment delays passenger train traffic

CANASTOTA -- Passenger train traffic continued to be delayed today because of a freight train derailment east of Syracuse.

No injuries or hazardous material leaks were reported in the derailment Monday of 12 cars in the village of Canastota.

An Amtrak official said that a Monday night train to Niagara Falls from New York City had to be canceled, along with the line that was to have returned from Niagara Falls this morning. Alternate transportation was arranged for ticket holders of this morning's line.

CSX Corp. (CSX) spokesman Bob Sullivan said the freight train bound for Albany derailed at about 7:15 p.m. He said the 109 cars hauled by three locomotives carried mixed cargo, but none of it was believed to be hazardous.

CSX crews and Canastota police and fire departments were called to the scene about 10 miles east of Syracuse.

OKLAHOMA: Thousands greet passenger rail's return to Oklahoma

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Thousands of Oklahoma and North Texas residents turned out to greet a new Amtrak passenger train, the first to serve cities along the Oklahoma City- to-Fort Worth route in 20 years.

Dignitaries, including Governor Frank Keating, U.S. Senator Don Nickles, Oklahoma Transportation Secretary Neal McCaleb, and mayors along the route joined Amtrak Intercity President Lee Bullock and Amtrak Chairman Governor Tommy Thompson in celebrating the new service.

Amtrak is operating the new daily passenger train, the Heartland Flyer, in partnership with the State of Oklahoma, which will provide funding for the new service.

The return of passenger rail service to Oklahoma underscores the growing popularity of train service in the United States. Amtrak experienced its largest ridership increase in a decade last year, and the trend continues this year with a five- percent ridership increase in just the second quarter. Many states and communities have increased their investments in passenger rail service over the last few years. In 1999 alone, states and localities are investing $300 million in Amtrak capital projects.

"Today, Oklahoma becomes the 45th state in the union to be served by Amtrak passenger rail service," said Governor Thompson. "America wants a strong national passenger rail system and Amtrak plans to deliver. With partners like Oklahoma, passenger rail service will grow across the country, introducing train service to millions of travelers while also helping Amtrak reach its goal of becoming a profitable company."

The Heartland Flyer was christened at ceremonies yesterday morning at the Fort Worth Amtrak Station. Cheering residents and local bands greeted the silver, red and blue streamliner as it stopped in the five intermediate cities that the new train will serve when regular service begins today: Gainesville, Texas, and Ardmore, Pauls Valley, Purcell, and Norman, Okla. A festive celebration capped the day's events upon arrival at Oklahoma City's Santa Fe Station.

"This is a very exciting and historic time as we welcome back Amtrak and daily rail passenger service between Oklahoma City and Fort Worth. We also look forward to expanded Amtrak services connecting Oklahoma to numerous destinations across the United States," Oklahoma Governor Frank Keating said. "This is a wonderful opportunity for our neighbors in surrounding states to visit Oklahoma and see the beauty and splendor that makes Oklahoma a great state. I encourage Oklahomans to use the rail service for their recreational travel and for business trips."

U.S. Senator Don Nickles said, "It's great news for Oklahoma to have Amtrak service coming back to the state after a 20-year absence. I hope this inaugural trip will mark the beginning of a long and successful Amtrak presence in Oklahoma. My compliments to Amtrak and Oklahoma Transportation Secretary Neal McCaleb for their cooperative and committed efforts over the years to make this happen. The new train will run daily back and forth between Oklahoma City and Fort Worth, connecting Oklahoma to the entire nation by rail. I hope Oklahomans will take advantage of this resource."

Starting today, June 15, the new train will depart Oklahoma City's Santa Fe Station daily at 8:25 a.m. and arrive in Fort Worth, Texas, at 1 p.m. The train will depart Fort Worth daily at 5:25 p.m. and arrive in Oklahoma City at 10 p.m. The refurbished bi-level equipment will offer customers wide, reclining coach seats with leg and foot rests and several food service options including both snack and beverage service provided in a staffed snack car as well as food vending service. The train will also provide travelers a commanding view of the Canadian and Washita River Valleys and the Arbuckle Mountains.

At Fort Worth, customers will be able to connect to Amtrak's nationwide passenger rail system. Fort Worth is served four times a week by the Texas Eagle, operating between Chicago and San Antonio via St. Louis, Little Rock and Fort Worth, with continuing service to Los Angeles.

Today under new leadership, Amtrak is turning the corner to become a successful business enterprise. In 1998, Amtrak passenger revenues surpassed $1 billion for the first time ever powered by the largest ridership increase in a decade, totaling more than 21 million customers, and the best on-time performance in 13 years. As part of its turnaround, Amtrak is focusing on growing public and private business partnerships, improving and guaranteeing consistency and quality of service, introducing high-speed rail in the Northeast this year, and developing other high-speed rail corridors nationwide.

Passengers wishing to travel on the new, all-reserved train can make reservations and get information on fares and schedules by calling Amtrak's toll-free reservation and information number, 800-USA-RAIL. In addition, customers may see an authorized Amtrak travel agent for details on any Amtrak service. Ticketing, schedules and service information are also available at the Amtrak site on the World Wide Web at www.amtrak.com.

NEW JERSEY: CSX charged with disturbing the peace

BOGOTA -- A round of complaints from residents on a neighborhood street about idling trains has prompted borough officials to take the only action they can: Slap the train with a summons for disturbing the peace.

Edward and Rosemarie Adams said they were accustomed to trains rumbling by their Leonia Avenue apartment in Bogota day and night, but an idling freight train spewing diesel fumes for 13 hours is another matter.

"The smell of it," said Rosemarie Adams, making a disgusted face. "It was very sickening. You have to close your windows."

"We're gonna fight it. It's not right that they can park their train wherever the devil they want," said Bogota Mayor Steve Lonegan.

Residents on Leonia Avenue are the victims of a $10.5 billion buyout of Conrail's lines by CSX Corp. and Norfolk Southern Corp., in which the two companies, seeking federal approval, promised better connections and fewer bottlenecks.

But CSX, which took over the New Jersey section of Conrail's lines on June 1, is still working out the patterns for its trains.

"Some of the operating patterns are still in flux so you're going to find [trains stopped] at various points along the rail line," said Bob Sullivan, a CSX spokesman. "We recognize that there may be some inconvenience here and we apologize for that. It is not our intent for these [trains] to become permanent fixtures."

Yet residents who live near the tracks on which the freight trains run say that is what has been happening in Bogota.

The neighborhood near the train tracks is a mix of apartment buildings, houses, commercial buildings, and a senior citizen housing complex, where the Adamses live.

Leonia Avenue residents say trains have been stopping along a second set of tracks at all hours of the day and night for the last couple of weeks. The train sits there idling until another crew comes by and moves it, the residents say.

On Thursday, a train stopped at 3 p.m. and stayed until 4 a.m. on Friday, residents said.

"It was just sitting there, running," said Rose Brue, who has lived on Leonia Avenue for 22 years. "The fumes go in our house. The noise was so severe it shook our windows."

Lonegan said he inspected the idling, unmanned train at 11 p.m. on Thursday after fielding complaints from property owners.

"I went out there last night and this big old train is sitting there huffing and puffing," he said Friday. "I want them to come to court so we can shed some light on this."

Sullivan said trains have been left idling because the crews did not anticipate they would be there for a long period of time. He pledged that CSX would work with Bogota to find a solution.

The summons for violating the borough's noise ordinance was issued despite the fact that the company that operates the railroad -- CSX Corp. -- is exempt from municipal ordinances under federal interstate commerce law. Officials in Bogota are simply trying to make a point.

"It was disturbing the peace," said Bogota Patrolman Greg Kohles, who tried to contact CSX in response to complaints. "It's kind of tough when you have trains sitting there idling in a residential area. It's not like it's in a rail yard. Hopefully, it'll get their attention and they'll stop doing it."

Police in Bogota will notify CSX of the summons by mail.

COLORADO: Denver & Rio Grande Railway may roll again

SOUTH FORK -- It has been 14 years since a train rolled over the winding tracks from South Fork to Creede, but if plans to restore the line are successful, a steam-powered Denver & Rio Grande Railway "tourist train" will begin hauling passengers and freight on Memorial Day 2002.

Don Shank, president of the nonprofit Denver & Rio Grande Railway Historical Foundation, announced recently that his 200-member group is under contract with the Union Pacific Railroad to purchase the 21.6 miles of original right-of-way and tracks that wind up the Rio Grande canyon. They hope to close the deal in August for "The Creede Branch," as it was commonly called when it operated from 1883 until 1985.

"I have been interested in acquiring The Creede Branch since 1987," Shank said. By the end of the summer the nonprofit foundation has to come up with $625,000, and "it will take a lot more than that to rehabilitate the line."

Before any trains can roll, however, 20-foot-tall aspen trees that have grown up through the rails have to be removed, 23,000 rotten ties have to be replaced and the rails have to be realigned from the current standard gauge, 4 feet, 8 inches, to narrow gauge, which is 3 feet between the rails.

Shank expects the project to take at least two years and provide dozens of jobs. "The whole point of this is to provide economic development that will benefit the entire San Luis Valley and increase tourism."

In February the Union Pacific Railroad applied to the federal Surface Transportation Board (STB) for abandonment of the line "but we prevented the abandonment from taking place," Shank said.

Although Native Americans lived in the San Luis Valley for thousands of years, the area was first "settled" by Hispanic pioneers from New Mexico in the 1850s.

In 1878, settlement by Anglos literally exploded after the Denver & Rio Grande Railway narrow-gauge line was built from La Veta over the Sangre de Cristo mountains to Alamosa under the direction of General William J. Palmer, a Civil War hero and chairman of the D&RG board.

Two years later the line was extended south to Antonito and Española, New Mexico, and a year later it was extended west to Monte Vista, Del Norte and South Fork.

In 1883 it was extended from South Fork to Wagon Wheel Gap, where Palmer built a resort on property he owned that included 125 hot springs, now called the 4UR Guest Ranch. "He entertained his wealthy friends, business associates and financiers there," Shank said.

In 1890, silver was discovered in the San Juan mountains. Creede boomed from a collection of shacks to a thriving city. At the time, Mineral County Miner Editor Cy Warman boasted: "It's day all day in the day-time, And there is no night in Creede." David Moffat, president of the D&RG, wanted his board of directors to extend the line to Creede, where he owned the hugely successful Holy Moses Mine, but the board refused. Moffat resigned and formed the Rio Grande Gunnison Railway and extended the line, which was so successful that it paid for itself in four months, Shank said.

Moffat then leased the line back to the D&RG, which eventually purchased it. In 1902, the company widened the rails from narrow gauge to standard gauge.

The last train rolled down the canyon in 1985.

SOUTH CAROLINA: NS provides haven for endangered woodpecker

DORCHESTER -- Norfolk Southern Corporation (NS) has signed a "safe harbor" agreement with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to provide a protected nesting area for the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker.

The safe harbor agreement provides land management flexibility for NS as it engages in conservation efforts at its 15,000-acre Brosnan Forest timber and wildlife preserve near Dorchester, S.C. The agreement also provides opportunities for Norfolk Southern to assist in the recovery and re-population of the red-cockaded woodpecker.

This will be the first time a private corporation has entered into a long- term partnership with federal agencies to serve as a continuing source of juvenile red-cockaded woodpeckers in order to help save a population on public land.

As host to the endangered species, NS is required to provide the birds with large areas of old growth, long-leaf pine forest in an open, park-like setting. NS maintains about 8,000 acres of suitable pine forest at Brosnan Forest, where trees reach an average age of 90 years.

The red-cockaded woodpecker creates its home by carving small, round nest cavities in living pine trees at least 80 years old. The birds, which live in family units called groups, require a cluster of suitable trees within five to 10 acres to build their homes. Brosnan Forest is home to 67 groups of birds on 4,200 acres of timberlands -- the second largest known population of red- cockaded woodpeckers on private land in the Southeast and the largest population in South Carolina.

NS also plans to participate in a program with the Department of Energy's Savannah River Site (SRS) to breed red-cockaded woodpeckers for transplanting to other areas. By providing juvenile birds to the SRS recovery effort, Brosnan Forest can maintain a stable population of woodpeckers while helping the population grow elsewhere.

The cardinal-sized birds are distinguished by snow-white feathers on their cheeks and black-and-white markings on their backs and wings. The red- cockaded woodpecker gets its name from the male, which has a small patch of red feathers behind its eyes and under its black cap.

In the mid-19th century, this woodpecker was common throughout the Southeast. But as the human population grew, the woodpeckers' habitat declined. By 1970, its numbers had diminished to the point that the federal government put the bird on the endangered species list.

MISSOURI: TWA, International Association of Machinists reach tentative deal

ST. LOUIS -- Trans World Airlines (TWA) and its biggest union reached a tentative contract agreement Sunday, avoiding a potentially devastating walkout and ending two years of negotiations.

The deal, if approved by the rank-and-file, would avert a strike or wildcat work stoppage that could have crippled -- or even destroyed -- the airline.

"TWA couldn't afford a strike, and neither could the members of the union," said Ted Evans, a TWA skycap at Lambert Airport for 24 years. "Too many people would have been out of work."

The deal must still be approved by TWA's 16,000 members of the International Association of Machinists (IAM).

Details of the proposal were expected to be released today, and voting could begin by Wednesday. Union leaders said there would be no work stoppages during the monthlong ratification process.

The union covers a wide range of workers -- baggage handlers, flight attendants, ramp workers, ticket agents and mechanics. It makes up three-fourths of the airline's total 21,000 workforce.

William O'Driscoll, president of Machinists District 142 in Kansas City, Mo., said the new deal offered "a significant improvement over previous contract offers from TWA."

The agreement came as something of a surprise considering TWA officials had said their offer on May 28 was the "last, best" proposal workers would get.

O'Driscoll, TWA chief executive William Compton and other negotiators, including former St. Louis Mayor Vince Schoemehl, began meeting secretly in New York a week ago.

"We always had an interest in coming up with a package that would be endorsed by the Machinists," Compton said. "It is always better to get a deal that is endorsed by both sides."

Union workers had only last week begun to vote on the previous contract offered by TWA, though indications were that they were soundly rejecting it.

Had that contract been rejected, the union was threatening walkouts at selected cities over the busy Fourth of July weekend.

Compton had warned that a strike could doom the airline, which has been to bankruptcy court twice in the 1990s and has failed to turn an annual profit in 10 years, losing more than $2 billion during that time.

Many employees haven't had a raise in 15 years, and part of the reason the company's still around is because workers have given up part of their salaries and benefits to help make ends meet.

NEW YORK: Corpse found on NYC subway

NEW YORK CITY -- A subway train picked up and dropped off scores of passengers Monday morning before anyone notified officials there was a dead body on board, police said.

The dead man, believed to be in his 40s, was reported shortly before noontime.

Police said they do not know where the man boarded the train, but believe he was dead for four to five hours. It was not clear how long the train had been running that morning.

They speculate that no one noticed him because the train was so crowded and people in too much of a hurry.

"Do you know how many people sleep on the train during morning rush?" subway rider Mario Licari said. "Unless the guy slumps into me, I just leave him alone."

The man was wearing jeans, a polo shirt, black boots and had on him 20 cents, a watch and a comb. No identification was found.

Investigators said the body showed no visible signs of a struggle or attack.

The man's body was found on a train that runs from the southern tip of Manhattan to the Bronx, and was turned over to the medical examiner to determine the cause of death.