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Today, however, the AAR believes this metric has become HIGH-SPEED RAIL GETS A BIG BOOST less useful, and so has decided to stop providing it in Rail Time Gov. Jerry Brown scored a big win for California's $68 billion Indicators, at least temporarily. With fewer cars moving in and high-speed rail project by persuading fellow Democrats to out of storage as a result of changing economic conditions, it dedicate a steady future funding source for it in the state budget. suspects that various aspects relating to the way rail cars are The $108 billion 2014-15 general fund approved June 15 used are adversely affecting this metric. For example, loaded rail includes $250 million this year from the state's cap-and-trade cars are often used as temporary "warehouses" and might not greenhouse gas emissions fund. More important to rail move for more than 60 days, thereby counting for the purposes supporters is the promise of 25 percent of all cap-and-trade of this metric as "in storage" when, in fact, they are being revenue each year, which could eventually total $3 billion to $5 actively used. A change in the length of time a car is used this billion a year. way could make it appear to be moving into and then, later, out The money is a fraction of the state's overall spending plan . of storage. The AAR is currently attempting to develop a new But to high-speed rail officials and the governor, it signals the metric that, it hopes, will offer an improved measure of freight state's investment in the beleaguered project, which has been car utilization. saddled by delays and court challenges that have left it with little [Info. from AAR Rail Time Indicators via Charles Varnes] operating cash and uncertain political support. Rail officials believe the ongoing revenue will be enough to RULING COULD MUDDLE RAILS-TO-TRAILS leverage bond borrowing and start work on new parts of the A U.S. Supreme Court ruling on ownership of former railroad project, such as a segment connecting northern Los Angeles easements means an uncertain future for existing and proposed County to Burbank. Building that section of the rail line could rails-to-trails projects, the Statesman Journal reports. In an 8-1 help generate goodwill from the politically critical Los Angeles opinion in March, the court determined that railroads were built area and blunt criticism over the decision to start constniction in on property right-of-way easements that expire when a line the less populated Central Valley. The renewed attention to high- ceases to be used by a railroad company. speed rail funding also is a reminder of its most pressing Though the ruling affects only a specific case, it could have problem: Where will the rest of the money come from? broader implications — that governments didn't have the right to A Sacramento County Superior Court ruling last year, which turn former railroad easements into public walking or biking is on appeal, has essentially blocked the state from selling $8.6 trails. The ruling stems from a land dispute in Wyoming , where billion in voter-approved bonds that are supposed to be the the Medicine Bow Rail Trail, a popular biking trail, crosses primary source of construction funds for the first 130-mile property owned by Marvin Brandt. segment from Merced to Bakersfield. The state also owes the When the Brandt family was granted the land in 1976, a federal government a $180 million matching payment due July railroad ran through it. The easement, according to court records, 1 as part of the $3.5 billion in federal grants awarded to was "subject to those rights for railroad purposes as have been California. granted to the Leramie Hahn's Peak & Pacific Railway [Info. from Pasadena Star-News] Company, its successors or assigns." However, the Brandt family argued — and the Court agreed — that when the railroad AAR STORED FREIGHT CARS REPORT was completely abandoned by 2004, the easement became void DISCONTINUED as well. The Association of American Railroads created the stored The Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, a nonprofit that advocates freight cars metric in early 2009, when an enormous number of for the creation of public trails along unused railroad paths, rail cars were being placed into storage as traffic plunged by a called the ruling a "disappointing decision." "Just like our result of the severe recession. The organization defined a freight national parks, these former rail corridors are public assets in car as "in storage" if it had a loaded revenue move since 2005, which we all share and benefit," wrote Kevin Mills, senior vice but not in the past 60 days. president of Policy and Trail Development for RTC. As the economy and rail traffic slowly recovered, the metric It's worth noting that along the coast in Tillamook County, offered a useful way to visualize how the recovery was this proposal could be a rails-and-trails project. While the Port proceeding. We believe that changes in the number of cars of Tillamook Bay no longer uses the length of railroad, the counted as "in storage" largely reflecting the fact that rail cars Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad operates tourist trains along a 48- are stored when they are not needed due to lack of demand, and mile stretch of working rail line from its base in Garibaldi. are taken out of storage when demand improves. [Info. from The Oregonian via Caroline Hobson] Werkema's Oakland Terminal Railway presentation as shown at Stockton this year. Steve Crise was able to obtain a copy of it, and will share it with us. Our second feature will be a revised version of Ed Saalig's Winterail presentation WHEEL CLICKS from a prior year, covering additions not included in his JULY 2014 VOLUME 78, NO. 4 wonderful book, The Amazing Journey of Santa Fe's RDC Cars! Both of these programs enjoyed rave reviews at EDITOR DICK FINLEY their respective Winterail meetings! Be there, and bring TECHNICAL EDITOR CHARLES VARNES digital briefs!0 MAILER JOHN STALLKAMP CALTRAIN NEWS by MIKE GONDRON
Opinons expressed in unsigned articles are those of the editorial In January and February of this year, Caltrain took its annual board, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Society, its ridership count. The results were impressive but not surprising. officers or directors. Opinions in signed articles are those of the Average weekday ridership is now at 52,611, an all time record author only. All rights reserved. ISSN: 0043-4744. and a 54 percent increase since 2010. That is nearly double the number of riders since 2004 when Baby Bullet service was Published monthly by PACIFIC RAILROAD SOCIETY, INC. The Society is a California chartered , nonprofit organization of those who introduced. The annual ridership count also showed that Caltrain share an interest in railroad operations, travel and history. Address carries an average of 5,874 riders with bicycles each weekday. and telephone are the same as for Pacific Railroad Museum. The high demand that resulted in service constraints during PARTICIPATING MEMBER $45.00 per year peak commute hours, with some trains operating at 133 percent SUSTAINING MEMBER $60.00 per year of capacity or more. The potential purchase of equipment from CORPORATE MEMBER $110.00 per year Metrolink mentioned in last month's article will help take some LIFE MEMBER $500.00 pressure off the most popular trains, but the cars would have to PACIFIC RAILROAD MUSEUM is operated by Pacific Railroad Society undergo refurbishment and that could take up to a year. at 210 W. Bonita Ave. , San Dimas, CA 91773. Telephone: (909) Deteriorating conditions on the Track 1 side of the Quint 394-0616. Museum e-mail: [email protected] Open Mondays: Street bridge at Milepost 3 in San Francisco is causing delays for 12-5 p.m.; Wednesdays: 12- 5 p.m.; Saturdays: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. some northbound trains. Track 1 is generally used for MUSEUM CURATOR DAVID HOUSH EXCURSION DIRECTOR MARTI ANN DRAPER northbound movements. During off-peak hours, trains are using WEBMASTER RUSSELL HOMAN Track 2 for movement in both directions, but during peak hours, INTERNET Home Page: http://www. pacificrailroadsociety.org trains using Track 1 are being slowed to 10 mph to minimize strain on the bridge. Next year, plans are to remove the bridge, BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF PACIFIC RAILROAD SOCIETY, INC. which was built in 1907, and build an earth berm to replace it. PRESIDENT VIRGINIA GRUPP VICE-PRESIDENT WILL WALTERS On May 10, residents and local dignitaries gathered at Posy SECRETARY RICK REYES Park in San Bruno to celebrate the completion of the grade TREASURER RICHARD WEIGLE separation project that took Caltrain tracks over San Bruno, San DIRECTOR (2012-2015) DAVID ABBOTT Mateo, and Angus Avenues. The mile-long project, which cost DIRECTOR (2014-2017) STEVE CRISE $155 million , was started in 2010. It includes three new DIRECTOR (2012-2015) MARTI ANN DRAPER pedestrian underpasses and a new San Bruno station with a 200 DIRECTOR (2013 - 2016) ANDY NOVAK DIRECTOR (2014-2017) ED SAALIG space parking lot that opened on April 1. In 2002, the California Public Utilities Commission ranked San Bruno Avenue as the PRS MEMBER MEETINGS fifth most dangerous crossing in the state. July 2, 9, 16, PRM Open Wednesday, 12:00 a.m. — 5:00 p.m. On June 5, Caltrain held a public hearing to receive comments 23, 30 210 W. Bonita Ave., San Dimas, CA 91773 on proposed "adjustments to its codified tariff " In other words, July 3 PRS Board Meeting, 7:30 p.m., Valencia Rm. a fare increase. Actually, the proposed increase is only for Thursday Joslyn Center, 210 W. Chapel Ave., Alhambra certain fares. Customers who use a Monthly Pass, 8-Ride Ticket, July 5, 12, PRM Open Saturday, 10:00 a m. — 4:00 p.m. or Clipper e-cash won't see any changes. However, those who 19, 26 210 W. Bonita Ave., San Dimas, CA 91773 buy a ticket from a ticket vending machine will pay an additional July 5, 12, Saunders Yard Open Saturday, 8:30 a.m. — '? 25 cents for a one way ticket and an additional 50 cents fro a 19, 26 Noakes St. & Herbert Ave., Commerce Day Pass. The changes would become effective October 5, 2014. July 7, 14, PRM Open Monday, 12:00 a.m. — 5:00 p.m. Also being proposed is an increase to the Go Pass, an annual 21, 28 PRS Membership Meeting, 7:30 p.m. Alh. Rm. pass good for unlimited travel on Caltrain. If approved, the cost Friday Joslyn Center, 210 W. Chapel Ave., Alhambra would increase from $165 to $180 on October 5, 2014, then to July 23 August Wheel Clicks Mailing Party, 10:00 a.m. $190 with the 2016 pass. The Caltrain Board will make its final Wednesday 1240 Dominion Ave., Pasadena. 626-794-0783 recommendations at its July 3 meeting.
PROGRAM by RUSS DAVIES AGING TRAIN CREWS A SAFETY WORRY July 11: A California-related Double Feature! Well see two Visibility was 10 miles and the morning sun had pushed the former Winterail Features. First we'll see Evan temperature close to 90 as Danny Joe Hall guided his mile-long WHEEL CLICKS JULY 2014 Page 3
Union Pacific freight train east through the grasslands of the such as obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Oklahoma Panhandle. Near the farming town of Goodwell, Because of data-gathering shortcomings "medical impairments federal investigators said, the 56-old engineer sped through a are probably responsible for more accidents than the reports series of yellow and red signals warning him to slow down and reflect," said Bruce Fine, a former FRA associate administrator stop for a Los Angeles -bound train moving slowly onto a side for safety. NTSB have linked alone have linked medical track. The 83-mph collision killed Hall and two crew-men. problems to 13 serious train accidents since 1984. FRA data Dozens of freight cars derailed, and the resulting inferno sent show that over the last three decades, some physical condition of towers of black smoke over the plains, prompting the evacuation a worker was a factor in at least 86 accidents that killed nine of a nearby trailer park. people and injured 61. Almost three-quarters of those accidents As it turned out, Hall was colorblind. The National involved employee fatigue, although the records do not indicate Transportation Safety Board's subsequent probe of the June if sleep disorders or potentially sedating medications contributed 2012 wreck faulted the engineer's deteriorating eyesight and to the fatigue. inadequate medical screening that failed to fully evaluate his One FRA analysis found that of 36 on-duty deaths of railway vision problems. But the Goodwell crash underscored a far workers in 2003, 20 were a result of medical problems, primarily larger concern: Railroads are the only mode of U.S. commercial heart attacks. All of the workers involved were older than 47, transportation without national requirements for thorough, raising fears among regulators about the potential safety risks of regular health screenings to identify worker ailments and aging train crews. Most of the rail labor force is now over 45. medications that could compromise public safety. Despite such concerns, reform has been slow. After the 2001 Federal investigators are examining whether an engineer's Canadian Railway crash was linked to sleep disorders, the FRA severe case of undiagnosed sleep apnea – a condition that can ramped up education programs, issued safety advisories and cause fatigue – contributed to last year's derailment of a launched a study concluding that industrywide medical standards commuter train that killed four passengers and injured 59. Union were needed and probably could have prevented past accidents. and legal representatives of the engineer have said he either By 2012, the attempt to draft comprehensive requirements nodded off or went into a daze before heading into a 30-mph collapsed. Medical professionals, union officials and industry curve at 82 mph. representatives couldn't agree on how to proceed, according to The NTSB found that the engineer's doctors never evaluated FRA officials and NTSB records. FRA officials also said the him for the condition, and medical guidelines provided to proposals would be too expensive for carriers, although a cost- employees by Metro-North Railroad did not mention sleep benefit analysis was not performed. disorders. "The problems are not getting fixed, and more Shortly after the effort stalled, the Goodwell crash occurred significant risks could occur as the population of railroad and the NTSB renewed its recommendations for comprehensive workers ages," said Mark Rosekind , an NTSB board member. medical requirements. FRA officials promised to reconsider Working with unions and carriers, the FRA has opted for non- vision and hearing standards, revisit the issue of sleep disorders mandatory education problems for rail workers , formal advisory and explore other voluntary measures. In February, the NTSB notices and other strategies to reduce risks associated with health called that approach "unacceptable." problems. Currently, engineers and conductors are required to [Info. from Los Angeles Times] pass vision and hearing tests every three years. In a statement, Union Pacific, which employed the engineer faulted by the UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD COMPLETES NEW NTSB in the Goodwell crash, said it complies fully with current MEXICO RAIL FACILITY federal standards. Train crews also undergo random testing for Union Pacific's new Santa Teresa rail facility officially opened alcohol and illegal drug use. April 1. Located just west of the Santa Teresa Airport, Union "The FRA is committed to ensuring that train operators are fit Pacific's new Santa Teresa rail facility includes a fueling station, for duty," said agency spokesman Kevin F. Thompson. The crew change buildings, and an intermodal ramp with an annual administration "continues to work with labor and industry to lift capacity of around 225,000 containers. The southern region comprehensively address standardized medical practices." The of New Mexico is now a strategic focal point where shippers can FRA's Thompson said current regulations and voluntary leverage the economic and environmental benefits of shipping industry screening programs have contributed to a steady decline freight by rail. in railroad accidents. The last two years have been the safest for Facility construction created 3,000 jobs during the build phase the industry, and Thompson noted that no fatal train wrecks from 2011 to 2014. The site will be home to 300-600 permanent linked to the health problems of train operators occurred jobs once the facility reaches full capacity. The project's between 2002 and 2010. estimated overall economic impact to New Mexico exceeds $500 However, NTSB officials, safety experts and former FRA million, with Union Pacific's investment highlighting the officials say there is ample evidence that current practices. which company's commitment to enhancing the nation's transportation put much of the onus to disclose serious medical problems on infrastructure and setting the standard for outstanding customer workers, need to be strengthened. Dozens of crashes ranging service. from deadly collisions to less serious mishaps have been linked Union Pacific is planning to invest approximately $4.1 billion to sleep disorders, mental illness, poor vision and medications in 2014 — capital investment that is part of a long-term strategy that can cause drowsiness, FRA and NTSB records show. to provide safe, efficient service across its 32,000 mile network. Accidents have likewise been tied to a host of other maladies [Info. from Union Pacific via Charles Varnes] Page 4 WHEEL CLICKS JULY 2014
UNION PACIFIC CORPORATION STOCK SPLIT go through a lengthy and rigid permitting process Union Pacific Corporation - on May 15, 2014 - announced The downtown PBID board will consider a specific plan of that its Board of Directors voted to authorize a two-for-one stock action at its July 2 meeting that likely would include approaching split, distributed as a stock dividend. Shareholders of record on the Port of Los Angeles with the renewed proposal. May 27, 2014, will receive one additional share of Union Pacific [Info. from Daily Breeze Michael Palmer] common stock for each common share they hold as ofthis record date. The stock dividend will be paid on June 6, 2014. This stock PASSENGER TRAIN UPDATES by CHARLES VARNES dividend will not change the proportionate interest that a AMTRAK shareholder maintains in the Company. First New Single-Level Car Delivered The Board also declared a quarterly dividend of 91 cents per On May 16 Amtrak's first new single-level car departed from share (45.5 cents per share post-split) on its common stock, the CAF plant in Elmira Heights, N.Y. It is baggage car 61000. payable July 1, 2014, to shareholders of record on June 16, The car was moved in a special train consisting of F4OPH 2014. Union Pacific has paid dividends on its common stock for AM'TK. 203/Dinette AMTK 43358/ Baggage AMTK 61000/ 115 consecutive years. GP38H-3 AMTK 520. The Company also announced Board approval of an The four cars types (and their numbers) are: Baggage (61000- additional $150 million in capital expenditures this year, 61085); Sleeping Cars (62500-62534); Diners (68000-68039); bringing the total 2014 capital spending plan to $4.1 billion. The Baggage-Dormitory (69000-69039). additional capital will be used for equipment acquisitions, Historical Route On-Time Performance including 29 more locomotives, as well as additional capacity The April 2014 historical on-time performance percentages investment, targeting growth opportunities in the northern region for selected routes were: of the railroad. Route Arid March Last 12 [Info from Union Pacific Corporation via Charles Varnes] 2014 2014 months Sunset Limited 76.9% 73.1% 62.8% CUMBRES & TOLTEC SCENIC RAILROAD Texas Eagle 55.0% 32.3% 46.7% The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad , once a key asset for Heartland Flyer 50.0% 54.8% 60.3% miners in New Mexico and Colorado and now a seasonal tourist Southwest Chief 75.0% 77.4% 69.2% and rail-fan attraction, is rolling again for summer. The narrow- California Zephyr 36.7% 64.5% 39.7% gauge, steam-powered train, based in Chama, N.M., 106 miles Empire Builder 21.0% 17.4% 21.8% north of Santa Fe, started running May 24 and will continue until Coast Starlight 75.0% 88.7% 79.1% Oct. 19, crossing a landscape full of mountain scenery. Elevation City of New Orleans 66.7% 58.1% 63.7% ranges from 7,863 feet to 10, 015 feet. The Cumbres & Toltec Pacific Surfliner 82.0% 76.8% 78.2% offers customers day trips, half-day trips and dinner train San Joaquin Note 72.8% 81.5% 75.3% excursions along the 64 miles of track connecting depots in Capitol Corridor 96.2% 95.4% 95.4% Chama and Antonito, Colo. Prices from $79 to $189 per adult. Amtrak Cascades Note 2 73.6% 73.1% 70.4% Info: www.cumbrestoltec.corn Illinois Service No1e3 63.5% 63.5% 56.5% [Info. from Los Angeles Times] Missouri River Runner 69.3% 87.9% 80.5% Hiawatha 93.7% 86.3% 83.4% VOTES TO PUSH RED CAR TROLLEY EXTENSION Michigan Services Note 44,7% 51.9% 36.9% A complicated and costly proposal to extend the historic Acela Express 80.5% 77.1% 74.2% electric Red Car into downtown San Pedro has languished for Northeast Regional 80.7% 77.0% 74.6% years. But it's about to get a renewed push from downtown Notes. Combined multiple route performance percentages. leaders who say the extension is a linchpin to connecting the 1. Bakersfield-Oakland; Bakersfield-Sacramento shopping district to the waterfront, especially with Ports 0' Call 2. Vancouver, B.C.-Seattle; Seattle-Eugene, Ore. redevelopment finally moving forward. 3. Chicago-Quincy.; Chicago-St. Louis; Mo.; Chicago- "What it does is it hardwires downtown to the waterfront with Carbondale train tracks," said Eric Eisenberg, president of the San Pedro 4. Chicago-Pontiac, Chicago-Port Huron; Chicago-Grand Historic Downtown Waterfront property-owners' business Rapids improvement district (PBID) during aboard discussion about the LONG DISTANCE TRAINS expansion on June 4. "We want to make sure with the Southwest Chief redevelopment of Ports 0' Call that the downtown doesn't The Southwest Chiefdeparted from Los Angeles, on time, on become isolated," said Stephens Robbins, executive director of May 29, 2014. About 20 minutes into its run the train was the PBID. stopped due to a large fire at a paper recycling plant near the In a Red Car feasibility study commissioned in 2006 by the tracks in Sant Fe Springs. The delay resulted in a departure from Los Angeles harbor commission, Wilson & Co. determined that Fullerton three hours and five minutes late. The train ran about the 1.4-mile addition into downtown would cost $26.2 million. three hours late all the way to Chicago, arriving at 6:00 p.m. The port's original 9.5 million , 1.5-mile Waterfront Red Car MIDWEST ROUTES line opened in July 2003. But getting there took years of effort Wolverine [Pontiac, Mich. - Chicago, Service - with numerous delays - as safety and security systems had to and WHEEL CLICKS JULY 2014 Page 5
Blue Water [Port Huron, Mich — Chicago, 11.] Trains 364 and layout, many trains would stop for just a few minutes, or not at 365 all if they were expresses. Planners say that would increase Effective May 19 through August 31, 2014 Union Station's capacity 40% to 50%. In order for maintenance crews to accomplish track and "If you are coming from San Diego and can cut 15 minutes off signal improvements in the shortest time, schedules will be your trip to San Luis Obispo, that is a pretty significant saving," temporarily changed. The largest change affects the westbound said Don Sepulveda, executive officer for regional rail at the Los schedule of Blue Water Train 365, westbound from Port Huron. Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. "This from May 19 to August 31, 2014, but many other schedules are important project is long overdue." Metro officials say the also modified. project will result in flexible scheduling, the addition of express NORTHEAST CORRIDOR service, lower costs for railroads, and additional track for storing Upgraded On-board Wi-fi Service engines and cars closer to the terminal. Amtrak is exploring options to upgrade its on-board Wi-Fi Railroads first considered run-through tracks in the 1950s. service in the Northeast Corridor (NEC), with a particular Nothing was done until the mid-2000s, when Metro began interest in constructing a dedicated, wireless trackside network planning on an environmental analysis. But a lack of funding that provides a high-capacity, broadband-speed Internet and other priorities stalled the work. Sepulveda said about 30% connection between Washington and Boston. of the project's planning has now been completed and the Metro A wireless trackside network would provide passengers a board has hired a consultant to finish the earlier environmental true broadband experience, close existing coverage gaps along review. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2017 and be the NEC, and allow Amtrak to drop current restrictions on completed in late 2019 or early 2020. streaming media and large file downloads. The project is being funded by state and federal grants as well Amtrak is now soliciting bids for a proof-of-concept project. as revenue from Measure R, the county's sales tax to finance The goal is to increase available bandwidth per train from transportation projects. "This will be a game changer for 10Mbps today to a minimum of 25 Mbps (and scalable to even intercity and regional rail in Southern California," said Paul faster speeds as technology advances) to meet growing customer Dyson, chairman of the Burbank Transportation Commission data usage demands. Results of the test project will be used to and president of the Rail Passenger Assn. of California and determine whether it is technically and financially feasible to Nevada. "The good news is that it makes use of existing rail cars construct such a network along the entire 457-mile NEC. and locomotives, train crew hours and fuel, lowering the AMTRAK CHINESE LANGUAGE WEBSITE operating costs of both Metrolink and Amtrak." Amtrak is now offering a Chinese-language version of its [Info. from Los Angeles Times] website to serve as a resource for the increasing number of Chinese-speaking residents of and visitors to the United States. FLOW OF OIL BY RAIL IS RAISING CONCERNS The site is accessible by clicking on the Chinese-language link Although most people think of oil spills in California as on the Amtrak. corn homepage or at zh.amtrak.com. potential beachfront disasters, there is new anxiety in Chinese is the second-highest language encountered Sacramento about the surge of crude oil now coming 'through the throughout the Amtrak system. The Amtrak website is also state each day by train. Gov. Jerry Brown and lawmakers want available in Spanish, French and German. to avoid the sort of fiery disaster that killed 47 people in July in The new simplified translation allows Chinese-speaking southern Quebec when tank cars exploded as they carried oil passengers, regardless of their dialect or country of origin, to from the booming Bakken oil fields of North Dakota through plan and reserve trips to cities and attractions throughout the Canada. Other less spectacular oil tanker car derailments nation and access information on routes, stations, train schedules occurred in Aliceville, Ala.; Casselton, N.D. ; and Lynchburg, and special promotional offers. Va., during the last 12 months [Info. from Ken Ruben, Ed Von Nordeck] With a steady increase of oil now being shipped into California from out of state, policymakers are scrambling to UNTYING A LOS ANGELES RAIL KNOT come up with spill-prevention programs to lower the risk of Reviving a decades-old idea, Los Angeles transportation potentially deadly accidents. Proposals under consideration officials are planning $350 million in track improvements at include hiring new state railroad inspectors, developing better Union Station that could dramatically reduce travel times for spill-response plans and improving communications between rail many trains and accommodate future growth of the famous carriers and emergency services agencies. terminal. The Southern California Regional Interconnector "California is seeing a huge shift in the way we import oil," Project is designed to benefit travelers by installing four sections said state Sen. Fran Pavley (D-Agoura Hills), one of two of track that will enable Amtrak and Metrolink trains to run lawmakers pushing oil-by-rail safety bills this session in the straight through the terminal, eliminating the 15 to 20 minutes it Legislature. "We need to address the new and unique hazards of now takes to enter and exit the station at is lone north entrance. crude-by-rail transportation." The threat to California All tracks now dead-end in the terminal area. communities is particularly dire, environmental groups contend, The interconnector will significantly reduce turn-around times because many of the state's busiest rail lines run through densely by extending several tracks out the south end of the station. They populated areas, and refineries often are in low-income will cross over the 101 Freeway, turn to the left and connect with neighborhoods, such as Wilmington in southern Los Angeles existing tracks heading north, south and east. With the new County and Richmond in Northern California's Contra Costa Page 6 WHEEL CLICKS JULY 2014
County. persuade regulators to reject plans for what would be the Pacific Railroads question the need for new state regulations that Northwest's largest crude oil train terminal — the proposed could conflict with federal government's historic oversight of all destination for at least four trains a day, each more than a mile aspects of rail safety, operations and working conditions. Rail long. The increasing numbers of trains, each carrying tens of companies say they have "a 99.997% safe delivery record of thousands of barrels of potentially volatile crude oil from the hazardous materials" and they are eager to co-operate with state Bakken oil fields in North Dakota, have raised concerns around officials to ensure even safer operations. the country after nine accidents in the past year, including one Oil imports by rail account for just about 1% of total last month in Virginia. shipments to California refineries. Most of the cnide arrives by In Vancouver, Wash., just across the Columbia from Portland, ship or by pipelines from in-state production fields. But that mix Ore., the oil companies say their proposed terminal will create at is changing fast. Last year, railroads brought 6.3 million barrels least 80 permanent jobs and will bring an economic windfall to of crude into the Golden State, mostly from North Dakota and the region. But area residents and others in nearby communities Canada., according to the California Energy Commission. That's are worried about the risks to people, wildlife, businesses and up from 1.1 million barrels in 2012 and just 498,000 in 2010. A their way of life. barrel contains 42 gallons of crude oil. Shipments to Southern "We depend on the Columbia for moving freight, generating California accounted for most of last year's almost sixfold jump power, irrigating farms, fishing," said Eric LaBra nt, president of in crude-by-rail activity, the commission reported. the Fruit Valley Neighborhood Association, which represents As part of his annual budget, Gov. Brown wants to expand an about 2,000 residents who live next to the proposed site. existing prevention-and-response program for ocean oil spills to "Anywhere on the Columbia, an oil spill would cripple our cover inland areas. The initiative would be funded by a economy,"he said. The river is, in a way, the soul of the Pacific proposed 6.5-cent-per-barrel fee on all crude oil delivered by rail Northwest. It is cherished for its beauty, for its recreational to refineries. Additionally, Brown is asking lawmakers to offerings like wind surfing, and for the salmon and steelhead approve hiring new track inspectors. caught by sport fishermen, commercial fishermen and Native Separately, Pavley the last week of May steered a similar spill- Americans. response measure, SB 1319, through the state Senate, winning The fight over the terminal underscores a new reality on the approval on a 23-3 vote. In the lower house, Assemblyman West Coast: The region is receiving unprecedented amounts of Roger Dickinson (D-Sacramento) recently amended a bill that crude oil by rail shipment, mostly from the oil boom in North would require railroads to report to the state Office of Dakota, Montana and parts of Canada. More than a dozen oil- Emergency Services information about hazardous materials, by-rail refining facilities and terminals have been built in including crude oil, being transported into the state. California, Oregon and Washington in the past three years. As His proposal, AB 380, which was unanimously approved by a result, long oil trains are already rolling through rural and the Senate Environmental Quality Committee the first week of urban areas alike — including along the iconic Columbia. June, also would require rail carriers to maintain live. 24-hour Another two dozen new projects or expansions are planned or communications lines that would enable that would enable local in the works in those three states. While traditionally most crude first-responders to contact them. "We want to make sure that in has moved to Gulf Coast and the East Coast terminals and California we get the information we need," Dickinson said. refineries, experts say there's a West Coast boom because of Meanwhile, the federal government, which is ultimately cheap rail transport prices and its proximity to Asian markets responsible for railroad safety regulation, recently issued an should Congress lift a ban on U.S. oil exports. emergency order to railroads to notify states of the specific In California, the voltme of crude imported by rail routes they will use when transporting more than I million skyrocketed from 45,500 barrels carried on 63 tank cars in 2009 barrels of Bakken crude. Such oil "might be more fla minable to more than 6 million barrels on 8,608 tank cars in 2013, than traditional heavy crude," the U.S. Department of according to data by the California Energy Commission. Transportation warned. [Info. from Pasadena Star-News] The Brown administration plans and the Pavley legislation are opposed by the two principal railroads that haul crude oil to PORT PUTS BRAKES ON OIL TRAINS, CITES SAFETY California: Union Pacific and BNSF. "The railroads understand Developers see an opportunity for oil trains to start unloading the questions and concerns that California has regarding crude large volumes of crude oil from Canada and the United States in oil shipped into the state by rail," the two companies said in a the Port of Portland, Oregon. But the Port , which owns four May 22 letter to Pavley. They warned that the proposed industrial terminals on the Columbia and Willamette Rivers, said California rules may be unworkable, preempted by existing in March it won't allow any oil train projects to be built until federal laws and harmful to national security concerns. numerous safety concerns are addressed, something the agency The oil industry in a May 28 "alert" to state senators called the doesn't expect for a year or more. Pavley bill "excessive" and -not narrowly focused on areas With worries about unsafe tank cars, lagging oil spill where there may be a real risk from potential oil spills by rail." preparedness and the unusually high volatility of the crude being [Info. from Los Angeles Times] hauled, a top Port official said too many questions existed for his agency to allow oil train projects at this time. This does not feel FEARS RISE IN THE WEST WITH OIL TRAINS safe enough for us and the community we operate in today," said Residents along the scenic Columbia River are hoping to Curtis Robinhold , the Port's deputy executive director. "It felt WHEEL CLICKS JULY 2014 Page 7
like we should look at this panoply of concerns as a whole. Are safe and efficient rail system to get them to work, medical we confident enough in this to move forward with serious appointments, school and recreation," the Republican governor business negotiations? The answer was no." said in a statement. "I call on both parties to work together, find Robinhold said he expected it would take more than a year for common ground and place the riders at the forefront." state and federal safety concerns to be resolved to the Port's The unions said they would comply with the law, but said the satisfaction. Top federal officials have resisted calls to set a strike is designed to force SEPTA to agree with their demands deadline for phasing out older, less-safe tank cars that carry oil. or accept binding arbitration. Commuters in the Philadelphia The Port is closely watching those policy debates, Robinhold region spent the day scrambling for alternatives to one of the said, and won't allow projects to be developed until crude oil nation's busiest rail systems. trains have an accident-free record for an unspecified amount of [Info. from Pasadena Star-News] time. "It would be a management call and one we're currently not comfortable making," Robinhold said. "We don't have a SUBWAY TO THE SEA GETS FEDERAL GRANT checklist." The proposed "Subway to the Sea" that would stretch from The Port's decision comes as an oil boom in North Dakota has mid-Wilshire to Westwood will receive a $1.25 billion grant pushed an unprecedented amount of crude into the U.S. rail from the U.S. Department of Transportation ion June 18, Sen. system. North Dakota oil has given the country a new domestic Barbara Boxer announced. When the federal grant is combined supply while exposing shortcomings in state and federal safety with an $856 million federal loan approved by Congress two rules, prompting Gov. John Kitzhaber to order a top-to-bottom years ago, it will bring the amount of federal funding for the review of state laws. controversial subway extension to $2.1 billion, according to the Trains in Oregon are carrying the same type of flammable Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. crude oil involved in three high-profile explosions last year, The money will be used by the MTA to build the first phase including one that killed 47 people and leveled part of a of the extension of the existing Purple Line subway, which runs Canadian town. from Union Station to wilshire Boulevard and Western Avenue [Info. from The Oregonian via Caroline Hobson] just west of Koreatown, to the Westwood area , stopping near the Veteran's Administration. DRIVER KILLED IN CRASH WITH TRAIN The Westside subway extension will run about 8.9 miles and A collision with a freight train in Corona on May 16 killed the add seven new stations at a cost of about $6.3 billion. The driver of a cement truck and triggered hours of delays for project is being planned in three phases. The first phase would Metrolink service to the Inland Empire. An eastbound be built to La Cienega by 2023, the second phase to Century City Burlington Northern Santa Fe freight train struck the tnick about by 2026 and the third phase to Westwood by 2035, according to 12: 30 p. m. at a private grade crossing near the Green River Golf Dave Sotero, a Metro spokesperson. Club. Boxer, U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx, Los Metrolink officials said service was interrupted on the gland Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and MTA CEO Art Leahy will be the Inland Empire-Orange County lines. The cause of the in Washington june 25 to accept the grant. They will be joined accident is under investigation, and the driver's name has not by Los Angeles area Reps. Hrnry Waxman and Xavier Becerra. been released. The project is opposed by the Beverly Hills Unified School [Info. from Los Angeles Times] District which has sued to try to prevent the subway that would run under Beverly Hills High School. PRESIDENT INTERVENES IN CITY'S RAIL STRIKE [Info. from Pasadena Star-News] President Barack Obama on June 14 intervened in a commuter rail strike in the nation's sixth largest metropolitan area, granting TRANSIT SYSTEM WORKERS CALL IN SICK Gov. Tom Corbett's request to create a presidential emergency San Francisco's famed cable cars stopped running June 2 and board to mediate the contract dispute between the Southeast the rest of the city transit system experienced delays when Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) and its drivers called in sick a few days after a contract vote, officials engineers and electricians unions. said. The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency Obama ordered the establishment of the three-member board operated just a third of its normal morning service, spokesman effective at 12:01 a m. June 15. He called for "a swift and Pul Rose said. smooth resolution" of the dispute. Workers will have to return The agency runs buses, light rail and street cars in addition to to the job when the board goes into effect after midnight, the cable cars. It serves about 700,000 passengers each day. however SEPTA said it would take eight to 10 hours to restore Rose said he did not know how many employees had called in service. They don't have to resume direct talks with each other, sick. "We're doing our best to balance service throughout the but they do have to participate with the board's process. which city and provide service on every route and line , but at this point typically involves written submissions and hearings. More than there will be delays," he said. 400 workers went on strike at midnight, and no talks were [Info. from Pasadena Star-News] scheduled over the weekend. Obama is giving the board 30 days to deliver a report recommending solutions to the dispute. "The people of Philadelphia and the surrounding region expect and deserve a Page 8 WHEEL CLICKS JULY 2014
At 9:38 a.m. "4014" Train was passing milepost 489, which is At 12:25 p.m. "4014" Train is heading north on tracks next to about 2.5 miles north of Union Pacific Colton Yard on the Summit Valley Road. View is about 3 minutes before the train Palmdale Cutoff. View is from Terrace Road at 6thn Street. went past the Hesperia Airport. All photos were taken on April 28, 2014 by Tom Geer.
At 2:29 p.m. "4014" Train is now rolling along at top speed At 10:58 a.m. "4014" Train was in the Palmdale Cutoff just approximately 29 minutes north of Victorville. View is on south of "Blue Cut". View was from Cajon Blvd. National Trails Highway (Old Route 66).
At 12:08 p.m. "4014" Train is now on Burlington Northern At 4: 59 p.m. "4014" Train has just arrived at Yermo, California, Santa Fe tracks at "Summit". Tom estimates 150 rail fans were todays final stop. This historic first day trip (Colton, C4 to at the high point on Highway 138. Cheyenne, Wyo.) took approximately 7Y2 hours and you could say it was "ON TIME".