WHEEL CLICKS

SEPTEMBER 2014

LET'S GET ON BOARD THE NATIONAL FORUM you have helped work on the car, when you are on the National by MARTI ANN DRAPER, EXCURSION DIRECTOR Forum at speed in a real , you will experience a As you all know, PRS owns several railroad cars. Many of you thrill that is like no other. People who work on the car will be remember the high point of private car operation by PRS, which afforded the chance to work on the excursions using the occurred in 1977 when we operated seven cars on a special train National Forum. Unlike most private car owners, you don't have through Mexico. PRS was one of the founding members of to carry the whole burden of maintenance on your own AAPRCO, the American Association of Private Car Owners. I shoulders. You can have complete pride of ownership and have always felt extremely proud that in spite of continual and craftsmanship by working side by side with your fellow railfans. increasing challenges, PRS has remained as one of the very few You can also involve your family and friends who are interested non-profit membership organizations which has maintained and in historic passenger equipment. Contact me today! operated its own cars. The standards for operating private cars have become more CALTRAIN NEWS by MIKE GONDRON and more stringent, so that now PRS has only two cars which On July 21, Caltrain began upgrading the public address have the required modifications to be used in Amtrak service. In systems at its San Francisco 22nd Street, South San Francisco, recent years, the always small number of PRS volunteers who Sunnyvale, and San Jose Diridon stations. In addition, it is have turned out to regularly work on our cars at Saunders Yard installing Visual Message Signs at the 22nd Street station. The has dwindled to one or two a week. In face of this lack of work began at the 22nd Street station and will take about six support, enthusiasm of the Rolling Stock Committee is at its months to complete, finishing at San Jose Diridon. lowest ebb. Those four stations were chosen for the upgrade because their We have one car, the National Forum, which we have current public address systems were identified as unreliable and continued to maintain in accordance with Amtrak's standards so inadequate in a 2009 report. The upgraded systems will provide it can be used on excursions. As your Excursion Director, I am clearer messages to riders regarding service and safety eager to continue to use this historically important car on information. excursions so that we and younger generations can experience On August 2, the first event was held at the San Francisco what it was like to ride in a typical sleeping car of the 1950's. 49ers new Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara. Instead of a football This is not impossible; other private owners operate vintage cars, game, it was a soccer match between the San Jose Earthquakes and right now Amtrak is willing to cooperate with them so it is and Seattle Sounders. The stadium is located adjacent to the still possible to have the experience of riding historic equipment /ACE Great America station and not directly on on the high iron. the Caltrain line. However, Caltrain ran two special for the In light of this, the PRS Board has vested the Excursion event anyway. The trains left San Francisco at 4:35 p.m. and Committee with the responsibility for keeping the National 4:55 p.m. for the 7:30 p.m. start time. Fans got off Caltrain at Forum running. Mountain View and transferred to Valley Transit Authority light This means that the Excursion Committee now has to rally rail trains to the stadium. For the return trip, the first special those who agree that the National Forum should continue departed Mountain View 40 minutes after the match ended. The operating on Amtrak so that we can undertake necessary periodic second train left one hour after the match ended. maintenance and all of the various jobs which have to be done On October 5, Caltrain will issue a new time table to address when a car goes on the road. today's operational challenges, including a 25% increase in PRS needs you! Whether you have a particular mechanical ridership over the past two years, as well as upcoming skill, don't mind doing a dirty job now and again, or would like construction projects. Changes being considered include adding to participate in some hands-on historic preservation, now is the time to all trains, adding time to the busiest trains, re-scheduling time to make yourself known! We will be putting together work some mid-day trains up to ten minutes earlier, and adding a 22nd parties at Amtrak's facilities in Los Angeles during the next Street stop to five trains. The new timetable will be available on couple of months with the aim of operating the Forum again as line in early September. soon as possible. Wonder what kinds of work are needed? The Caltrain Board recently honored Arthur Lloyd who retired Contact me at prsexcursion corn or at (626) 570-0033 and from the Board in March after a railroad career of over 60 years. I'll invite you down at a time that's convenient for you to be at The Board passed a resolution thanking him for his service and the car. You don't have to commit to any regular schedule for presented him with a plaque. vonr narticination. We will work with you. I promise that after Page 2

PRS MEMBER MEETINGS September 1, PRM Open Monday, 12:00 a.m. – 5.00 p.m. 8, 15, 22, 29 210 W. Bonita Ave,. San Dimas. CA 91773 September 3, PRM Open Wednesday. 12:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. 10, 17, 24 210 W. Bonita Ave., San Dimas, CA 91773 September 5 PRS Board Meeting, 7:30 p.m. Valencia Room Friday Joslyn Center, 210 W. Chapel Ave., Alhambra September 6, PRM Open Saturday. 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. 13, 20, 27 210 W. Bonita Ave.. San Dimas, CA 91773 September 6, Saunders Yard Open Saturday, 8:30 a.in. – '? 13, 20, 27 Noakes St. & Herbert Ave.. Commerce September 12 PRS Membership Meeting. 7:00 p.m.. Alhambra WHEEL CLICKS Friday Joslyn Center, 210 W. Chapel Ave., Alhambra VOLUME 78, NO. 9 September 24 October Wheel Clicks Mailing, 10:00 a.m. SEPTEMBER 2014 Wednesday 1240 Dominion Ave., Pasadena. 626-794-0783 DICK FINLEY EDITOR PROGRAM by Russ DAVIES CHARLES VARNES TECHNICAL EDITOR September 12: Southern Pacific Steam night! On this evening JOHN STALLKAMP MAILER we"11 see two outstanding 'Store Bought (Commercial) Opinions expressed in unsigned articles are those of the editorial board, and videos from the PRS Collection, selected by your Museum do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Society, its officers or Committee. Be there, and bring Digital briefs! directors. Opinions in signed articles are those of the author only. All rights reserved. ISSN: 0043-4744. FOUR METRO RAIL PROJECTS CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION Published monthly by PACIFIC RAILROAD SOCIETY, INC. Address and telephone are the same as for Pacific Railroad Museum. There are now four Metro Rail projects currently under construction after the Metro earlier this week gave its contractors PARTICIPATING MEMBER $45.00 per year — the Regional Connector Constructors. Joint Venture — the SUSTAINING MEMBER $60.00 per year official "notice to proceed" on building the line. Until recently. CORPORATE MEMBER $110.00 per year LIFE MEMBER $500.00 Metro never had more than two rail projects underway at the same time. PACIFIC RAILROAD MUSEUM is operated by Pacific Railroad Society at 210 The Regional Connector will be a 1.9-mile underground light W. Bonita Ave. , San Dimas, CA 91773. Telephone: (909) 394-0616. Museum rail line that will connect the Gold Line to the Blue Line and e-mail: [email protected] Open Mondays: 12-5 p.m.; Wednesdays: 12-5 p.m.; Saturdays: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Expo Line in downtown Los Angeles. With a scheduled opening MUSEUM CURATOR DAVID HOUSH of 2020, the Regional Connector will allow trains to run directly EXCURSION DIRECTOR MARTI ANN DRAPER between Santa Monica and East Los Angeles on an east-west WEBMASTER RUSSELL HOMAN line and between Azusa and Long Beach on a north-south line. INTERNET Home Page: http://www. pacificrailroadsociety.org That should pass along several benefits to Metro Rail riders: Pacific Railroad Society, Inc. is a non-profit 501 (e)(3) social organization faster and more frequent trains through downtown Los Angeles; staffed by volunteers. The Society supports rail car preservation and restoration; fewer transfers for most riders: three new stations in Little railroad excursions; a museum which preserves and displays railroad literature, photos, artifacts and a resource library; railroad related education; social events;; Tokyo, Civic Center and 2nd/Hope, and; eliminating the need to and publications. The public is welcome to participate in the Society's events, turn around every Blue Line and Expo Line train at 7th/Metro operations, and facilities. The Society is funded by membership, donations, Center, where both lines currently dead end. wants, and fundraising activities. Utility relocations and other advance work on the project BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF PACIFIC RAILROAD SOCIETY, INC. began last year. PRESIDENT VIRGINIA GRUPP The three other Metro Rail lines under construction are a VICE-PRESIDENT WILL WALTERS 6-mile extension of the Expo Line between Culver City and SECRETARY RICK REYES downtown Santa Monica, an 11.5-mile extension of the Gold TREASURER RICHARD WEIGLE Line between eastern Pasadena and the Azusa/Glendora border DIRECTOR (2012-2015) DAVID ABBOTT DIRECTOR (2014-2017) STEVE CRISE and the 8.5-mile Crenshaw/LAX Line that will run between the DIRECTOR (2012-2015) MARTI ANN DRAPER Expo Line and connect to the Green Line south of the airport. DIRECTOR (2013-2016) ANDY NOVAK The Expo Line and Gold Line Foothill Extension projects are ED SAALIG DIRECTOR (2014-2017) currently scheduled to open in early 2016. The Crenshaw/LAX Starting October 1, 2014, the meeting s of the PRS Board of Line is scheduled to open in 2019; it will eventually connect to Directors will be moved to the Pacific Railroad Museum in San a people mover to be built by Los Angeles World Airports to Dimas, California. The time and date are the same: 7:30 p.m. on connect the Crenshaw/LAX Line and Green Line to terminals at the first Friday of each month, unless otherwise notified. the airport. The Metro Board awarded awarded a construction contract on July 24 for the 3.9-mile first phase of the Purple Line Extension WHEEL CLICKS SEPTEMBER 2014 Page 3 subway between the existing Wilshire/Western station and Transportation Authority board voted 9 to 3 to award the $1.6- Wilshire/La Cienega. When work begins, there will be five billion Purple Line extension contract to a joint venture led by Metro Rail projects under construction. Skanska USA, citing the firm's experience in local transit — All five of these projects are receiving funding from Measure including building three other Metro rail projects — and its R, the half-cent sales tax increase approved by two million Los ambitious schedule that calls for finishing the project 10 months Angeles County voters in Nov. 2008. Measure R included funds early. for 12 transit projects and a number of highway projects, as well When the Westside subway opens, scheduled for 2023, the as money for operations and funds for smaller transportation 3.9-mile, $2.7-billion tunnel will link downtown Los Angeles to projects in cities in Los Angeles County. the Miracle Mile . Heavy construction is slated to begin by the [Info. from Metro via Charles Varnes] end of the year. The project's budget is now $288million more than Metro's original estimate. ORANGE LINE LIGHT RAIL TRAIN IS POSSIBLE Skanska also is the lead builder on the second phase of the A dsy after the Metropolitan Transportation Authority Expo Line , which will connect Santa Monica to downtown Los approved a study on expanding the Orange Line busway into a Angeles and is expected to open in 2016. Additionally, the firm light-rail system, many people were giddy about a potential boon was recently selected as a construction partner on the $1.46- to the San Fernando Valley. On a blistering hot curb at the North billion Regional Connector, designed to close the two-mile rail Hollywood Station on July 25, elected officials joined business gap between Union Station and downtown's Financial District. leaders and transit advocates to trumpet how new Orange Line [Info. from Los Angeles Times] trains could speed commuters, increase riders, spur development and ease traffic on the 101 Freeway. METRO BOARD APPROVES PURPLE LINE SUBWAY "This is an important day, because it's a look forward, a look EXTENSION CONTRACT into the future — of what transportation must get built," said After a long discussion , the Metro Board of Directors — on Supervisor Zev Yaroslayslcy, considered the godfather of the July 24 — voted 0 to 3 to approve a 1.6-billion contract with Orange Line busway because he'd once penned the idea on a Skanska, Taylor and Shea, a Joint Venture (STS), to construct napkin. For many, it meant rebuilding a railroad that was built, the 3.9-mile first phase of the Purple Line Extension subway. then ripped out during the 20th Century car craze. The first phase — with a total budget of $2.7 billion — is currently What doesn't work, according to officials and transit forecast to open in 2023. No votes were from Metro Board advocates. are freeways now clogged with cars. The 18-mile Members Michael Antonovich, Don Knabe and Mark Ridley- Orange Line bus system from North Hollywood to Chatsworth Thomas. Board Member Gloria Molina was absent for the vote. has peaked at up to 33,000 riders a day. The San Fernando The contract approval was a key step forward for one of the with one out of five residents in Los Angeles, has only cornerstone projects to be funded in part by Measure R, the half- two of its 80 railroad stations. With as many as 40,000 new jobs cent sales tax increase approved by Los Angeles County voters expected as a result of commercial growth of the Warner Center in 2008. A $1.25-billion federal New Starts grant is.also paying in Woodland Hills, a light-rail system that could handle up to for the project. 60,000 riders a day is needed. Despite their enthusiasm for mass The extension will push the subway from its current terminus transit, when asked how many took it to the news conference, at Wilshire Boulevard and Western Avenue to Wilshire and La only two of 25 hands went-up. Cienega Boulevard in Beverly Hills. Three new stations will be The transit feasibility study approved by the MTA was made constructed at Wilshire/La urea, Wilshire/Fairfax and Wilshire/ possible by a state bill by Assemblyman Adrin Nazarian, (D) La Cienega. Van Nuys, to overturn a 23-year ban on above-ground rain in the The procurement process began in June 2013. Three firms bid southeast valley. It would look into options such as light-rail for on the contract. Proposals were evaluated based on project whether to extend the Orange Line to Bob Hope Airport in management, technical approach and price. There was Burbank, where it could connect with a newly created Gold Line considerable discussion by the Metro Board on the issue of how extension from Pasadena linking the San Fernando and San the bids were evaluated and the weight that should — or should Gabriel Valleys. not — be given to price. The two firms that did not win the The study, while getting a few potential projects on the books, contract have filed protests with Metro. The Board is allowed to would open the doors to putting a funding measure before the award the contract pending the timely resolution of the protests. voters in 2016, officials say. At the moment, no funds have been Metro staff noted that while the Skanska, Taylor and Shea bid allocated for either railroad, though residents remain hopeful for was the most expensive bid by almost $193 million, Metro staff a change. also believes "this team offers best opportunity to deliver the [Info. from Pasadena Star-News] project on time and on budget" — a promise reiterated by the winning bidder's future project manager. The companies FIRM PICKED FOR WESTSIDE SUBWAY JOB involved have also worked on the second phase of the Expo Three construction firms with what officials called a track Line, the Gold Line Foothill Extension and the city of Los record of success on Los Angeles County transit projects should Angeles' North East interceptor Sewer tunnel. build the first phase of the Westside subway, officials said July Metro Board Member Don Knabe said that $192.5 million was 24, despite complaints from a competing bidder that it could do too much "to leave on the table" without getting more the job for nearly $200 million less. The Metropolitan information on the bids and the protests. Other Board Members Page 4 WHEEL CLICKS SEPTEMBER 2014

indicated that they had faith in the agency's technical evaluations was largely through his efforts that the car was equipped with and/or they did not want to potentially delay the project by electricity and water. Gotchy's creation of The Summit talking taking too long to approve a construction contract. Utility Telephone Company was a combination of needed function and relocations for the Purple Line Extension's have been underway a touch of whimsey. His hand-cranked telephones linked the since last year. The timeline assumes that the cities of Los Descanso to the depot, post office, and agent's home providing Angeles and Beverly Hills grant Metro the work hours that it real time train status reports to all concerned. He ran out of needs. money and wire for the last link to the post office but discovered Metro continues to explore ways to accelerate the second that one rail of the westbound siding worked just as well. His phase to Century City and third phase to Westwood via America frequent log entries were signed with another alias, SORX. Early Fast Forward, which would increase federal funding for transit in the 1960s PRS faced an organizational rift. Gotchy, dressed if Congress were to embrace the entire concept and fully fund it. in coat and tie (a rarity), addressed a PRS meeting with a Metro is also exploring a possible ballot measure in 2016 that statesman-like presentation of the issues and the alternatives that could potentially accelerate Measure R projects. Metro has four helped the general membership quickly move in a new direction. other projects receiving funding from Measure R. He was elected as a Director in 1962and 1963. In the 1970's [Info. from Metro via Charles Varnes] after the Descanso had been moved to OERM Gotchy continued to look after the car at Perris and to look after the Descanso L.T. GOTCHY 1922 - 2014 by DICK DONAT Plaza at Summit by watering trees and removing trash. Without With the passing of L.T. Gotchy in February, PRS lost one of Gotchy's efforts over the years the restoration of the Descanso its last links to the Railroad Booster years and one of its more in1990 would have been much more difficult. Gotchy was an colorful members. Born in Utah, he moved with his family to excellent photographer, referring to himself as a "documentary Los Angeles in the 1930s. Gotchy graduated from Belmont High photographer"who always carried a camera because "every day where he claimed to have majored in print shop and where he is a special occasion." He took as much delight in an image of a received the first of his many aliases, "Sotsdust O'Reilly." While Helms bakery wagon as he did of a PE weed burning train and pursuing his interest in photography, he met some teen-aged rail liked to record "things that, at the time, were common-place." fans and soon joined Railroad Boosters. Like most of his For years he provided roadside photos to the Auto Club as an generation, WW II caught up with Gotchy and by the end of informal part of his job. Outside the rail fan world Gotchy 1942 he found himself in the Army. Trained as a combat medic, supported organizations from E Clampus Vitus (a member Gotchy served in Europe with the 5th Armored Division for 45 years) to The Model T Club of America( whose Iowa including thebrutal battle of the Hurtgen Forest in the Fall of based Newsletter editor once referred to Gotchy as "My best 1944 and Winter of 1945. Returning to Southern California in friend I've never met"). Like most of us Gotchy was a October 1945, Gotchy went to work for the U.S. Forest Service personality paradox; many will recall him as a world class as a firefighter. In further pursuit of his photography interest, he grudge holder. Last time we met he was still mad 1) at his niece invested $600 in a 4x5 camera and accessories in 1947, for playing with his negatives in 1942, 2) at the PRS leadership significantly upgrading his equipment to continue as a that donated over $9000 to colleges in 1960 and 3) at my dad "documentary photographer." In the early 1950's Gotchy took a about moving the Descanso. But others will recall his temporary job with the Automobile Club of Southern California willingness to lend his possessions or his help to anyone or as a probationary sign poster; 37 years later he retired after a anything that he felt was in need, often saying his pappy taught career of patrolling desert roads and helping stranded motorists, him that "without the rain of generosity no friendship blooms." adding another alias, "The Desert Phantom," his Auto Club CB On balance I think generosity best describes his life. handle. Along the way he married Ann in 1964; she predeceased him in 2006. RIDERSHIP ESTIMATES EXCEED TICKET DATA It would be easy to dismiss Gotchy as that "90 year old 'desert Los Angeles transit officials point to growing ridership on the rat' up in Hesperia," but it is more relevant and certainly more county's light-rail and subway system, which last year saw a 5% appropriate for PRS to remember him as a man whose antics and increase in the number of passengers getting on trains. But efforts entertained and helped the club many times over the figuring out how many of those 115 million riders paid their years. As a photographer and a Model T Ford enthusiast in the fares and rode the trains legally has become a vexing question 1940's Gotchy would frequently motorcade Railroad Booster with important consequences. excursions in his Model T truck providing great photos for A Los Angeles Times analysis of agency data collected at rail himself and lots of laughs for the train's passengers. But he also stations found the Metropolitan Transportation Authority took the "T" on longer rambles including one to Owens Valley documented only 70 million legal rides last year. How much of and the SP Narrow Gauge. Noting that the regular SP rear that difference might be the result of fare evasion — or other makers on the narrow gauge combine were much too large for factors — is difficult to gauge. the car, Gotchy returned to L.A. and managed to "transfer" a Reducing fare jumping as much as possible has become smaller pair of PE makers to the narrow gauge. In the1950s increasingly important to Metro, which is under pressure to Gotchy spent the better part of three years living in the club's boost ticket revenue as its rail network rapidly expands. Income funeral car Descanso at Summit in Cajon Pass. The sad neglect from fares covers just 26% of Metro's bus and rail system of the war years gave way to bright yellow when Gotchy operating expenses, one of the lowest rates of any major world provided the Descanso with the first of many paint jobs and it city. That ratio must increase in the next few years or the agency Page 5 WHEEL CLICKS SEPTEMBER 2014 risks losing crucial federal funding needed to continue building Beginning on August 8, officials plan to close the intersection and operating the train network. of Huntington Drive and Second Avenue to refurbish an iconic Metro has responded by raising fares, starting in September, and decades-old railroad bridge over a four-day period. Metro with more hikes proposed for coming years. In addition to fare Gold Line Foothill Extension construction crews will work hikes, some elected officials are asking the agency to examine round-the-clock, but won't immediately complete the work. That other ways to bring in more revenue. And they are taking note of will be done during six weeks of night-time closures. the disparities between Metro's ridership estimates and the All-day closures will begin on the 8th at midnight and end the number of tickets being counted at rail stations. following 12th at 6 a.m. The next six weeks of night-time

- They owe it to you and to anybody else who's interested to closures will begin on that 12th night, and will run Sundays explain the difference," said Los Angeles County Supervisor through Thursdays, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Far from being angry Zev Yaroslaysky, a Metro board member, who says it's still to or upset, local business owners said they were excited. During easy to get on trains without paying. the closures , cars and pedestrians trying to cross the intersection Metro officials acknowledge they don't know how many rail will need to follow detours. passengers are failing to pay or how much money the agency This work is part of the 11.5-mile Metro Gold Line Foothill might be losing. But they stress that comparing ridership Extension light-rail project . The project seeks to extend the estimates to ticket counts doesn't provide answers. The gap Metro Gold Line from east Pasadena to Azusa, along the between the figures is probably a combination of factors. Some foothills. passengers buy multi-day passes and forget to scan them, or The first phase of construction will install the bridge girders don't realize they need to. Equipment can malfunction. , while phase two will install cross beams and deck steel. After Ridership estimates might be too rosy. And as some studies have construction of the bridge is complete, communications and suggested, fare evasion might be higher than Metro has other systems will be added. However, these installations are not indicated. expected to cause further closures, said Lisa Levy Buch, director Undercover sheriffs deputies working on the Blue Line found of public affairs for the Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension that more than one in four passengers at the 103rd Street/Watts Construction Authority. station had no valid ticket — four times Metro's systemwide rail According to Buch, the project is on-track for completion in fare evasion estimate of 5% to 6%. An additional 3% of riders September 2015. The extension project has taken four years to on the heavily used line, which links Long Beach to downtown complete, and more than $1 billion. The railroad bridge Los Angeles, were not scanning their tickets. For some completion will be the final step of construction. passengers, it's a simple risk assessment. In the five years of [Info. from Pasadena Star-News] riding the blue Line, a given passenger said he's only purchased a ticket when uniformed officers were present. He said he's APPEALS COURT UPHOLDS BULLET TRAIN ROUTE never received a citation. A fare evasion ticket , he pointed out, A state appeals court on July 24 upheld a proposed route for costs the same as a monthly pass: $75. California's high-speed rail line connecting the San, Francisco Six years ago, Metro began a shift from paper tickets to digital Bay Area to the Central Valley. The decision is a short-term win fare cards and installed ticket-reading equipment at stations. For for Gov. Jerry Brown, who has prioritized the $68-billion project the first time, riders were expected to scan their passes before that has become bogged down by legal and regulatory boarding trains . Turnstiles were placed at subway and some challenges. The Third District Court of Appeals in Sacramento light-rail stations, but passengers could still walk through heard an appeal from San Francisco Bay Area cities arguing that without tickets. To further encourage people to buy and scan a planned path through Pacheco Pass hurts the environment. The tickets, transit officials began locking the turnstiles last summer. state argued the project was exempt from the California However, half the system's 80 stations remain ungated, Many Environmental review but also said the project must still abide cannot accommodate barriers that would prevent free entry. by state environmental rules.

Overall, it was found that official ridership estimates for 2013 - Today's court ruling re-affirms our successful compliance exceeded the number of tickets scanned by nearly 40%. After with the California Environmental Quality Act ," Lisa Marie turnstiles were locked between riders, beginning last summer, Alley. a spokeswoman for the California High-Speed Rail the number of ticket holders being recorded increased on all six Authority, said in a written statement. of Metro's rail lines, records show. By April, the most recent Plaintiffs' attorney Stuart Flashman says it's not clear if his monthly data available, ticket counts were up from early last clients will appeal to the California Supreme Court. He noted year, although still 25% lower than Metro's ridership figures. that the ruling preserved a valuable tool for future challenges. Data analyzed by the Los Angeles Times shows that in "Just because they've gotten through this hurdle , doesn't mean January 2013, Metro's ridership figure was about 59% higher they've finished the race," Flashman said. than ticket scans along the Blue Line , where less than a third of The appeals court is also expected to rule on two other high- 22 stations have fare gates. The gap had decreased to about 37% speed challenges. Decisions by a lower court judge last by April of this year. November complicated efforts to begin construction by In conclusion: Los Angeles is not New York or , invalidating the sale of $8.6 billion in state bonds and requiring where you can't get through unless you pay. the state to write a new bonding plan. [Info. from Pasadena Star-News] RAILROAD TO CLOSE PART OF HUNTINGTON DR Page 6 WHEEL CLICKS SEPTEMBER 2014

PASSENGER TRAIN UPDATES by CHARLES VARNES Amtrak and the Department of transportation (Illinois AMTRAK DOT), on Aug. 11, added the Chicago-Champaign-Carbondale New Gulf Coast Connections route of the trains to a pilot project that allows An expanded partnership between Amtrak and two bus travelers to bring their pets along on trips to and from Chicago carriers can take passengers to and from the Gulf Coast of and Downstate Illinois. Small pets have been carried between Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama and Amtrak trains in Chicago and Quincy on Illinois Zephyr and Carl Sandburg trains Jackson, Miss., Tuscaloosa, Ala., and New Orleans. since April, with almost 20 small animals safely transported. Connections to Amtrak City of New Orleans, and Although the test was scheduled to end in November, Amtrak trains are now available on Amtrak. com and and Illinois jointly decided to give the idea an extended trial, other sales channels in a partnership with Greyhound Lines and through April 26, 2015. Ticketing and travel with pets can Capitol Trailways. Bus stop and station information is also on originate throughout the day in Chicago, Carbondale, Amtrak. com, Champaign and Galesburg, while the service is only available The new bus connections do not appear in the Amtrak during afternoon departures in Homewood and Naperville. timetables available on its web page, which are reproductions of Advance reservations are required and a surcharge of $25 will their printed timetables. The connections appear in the Tickets be assessed for travel. Dogs or cats up to 20-pounds each will be section in the upper left hand corner of the Amtrak web page. accepted in carriers such as those used in airplane cabins and When one searches for tickets between stations the new bus placed under the seat of each pet owner. connections display. Other provisions apply;. Amtrak routinely welcomes service Several of these Gulf Coast communities, including Biloxi animals on trains at no charge and that policy is unchanged. and Mobile, were served by Amtrak until 2005, when the service Trains 390-393, the Illini and Saluki, operate daily to and was suspended east of New Orleans following the landfall of from Chicago, Homewood, Kankakee, Gilman, Rantoul, Hurricane Katrina. Champaign, Mattoon, Effingham, Centralia, DuQuoin and Amtrak is analyzing its national network to identify more Carbondale. Trains 380-383, the Illinois Zephyr and Carl opportunities to form partnerships with other bus carriers to Sandburg, operate daily to and from Chicago, LaGrange, expand connectivity, increase ridership and provide Naperville, Plano, Mendota, Princeton, Kewanee, Galesburg, additional intercity travel options for more communities. Macomb and Quincy. Historical On-Time Performance DEPOT DOINGS The June 2014 historical on-time performance percentages Los Angeles Union Sation The Metro Board of Directors has approved a lease for selected routes were: May Last 12 agreement with Café Crepe to take over the former Union Bagel Route June 2014 2014 months space in Union Station. This is the space directly across from Sunset Limited 46.2% 46.2% 60.0% Traxx that has been vacant for quite some time. 36.7% 41.9% 45.0% There will be interior seating for bus and train travelers to 8.3% 27.4% 51.7% stop and grab a meal at reasonable prices. 56.7% 61.3% 67.1% Café Crepe already has locations in Santa Monica, Southwest 5.0% 17.7% 34.0% Vancouver (B.C.) and Toronto and the plan is to be open for 16.5% 26.4% 20.9% breakfast, lunch and dinner at the Union Station location. The 75.0% 88.7% 78.5% word 'crepe' may be in the name, but there's a variety of things 80.0% 83.9% 66.4% on the menu including burgers, salads, other sandwiches and City of New Orleans 82.8% 74.4% 78.9% desserts. 1 74.4% 61.2% 75.1% It will be some time until the Café opens. The space has to be San Joaquin Note Capitol Corridor 94.2% 96.2% 95.2% completely renovated and equipped - and all the necessary 71.3% permits must be obtained from the city of Los Angeles. Note 2 75.9% 74.2% Illinois Service Note 64.0% 65.5% 57.7% [Info. from Ken Ruben, Ed Von Nordeck] River Runner 60.8% 71.0% 77.2% Hiawatha 87.7% 92.5% 84.1% NEW SAFETY STANDARDS FOR OIL TRAINS Note' 31.6% 44.2% 36.0% The Transportation Department on July 23 issued proposed rules to upgrade the safety of trains carrying crude oil, following Express 72.9% 80.3% 74.0% 75.9% 78.5% 74.8% half a dozen explosions that occurred in the last year after Notes. Combined multiple route performance percentages. derailments in the and Canada. The proposal 1. Bakersfield-Oakland; Bakersfield-Sacramento would reduce the permitted speed of trains carrying crude, 2. Vancouver, B.C.-Seattle; Seattle-Eugene, Ore. improve braking systems, require better information about the 3. Chicago-Quincy.; Chicago-St. Louis; Mo.; Chicago- flammability of crude and improve tank cars, making them more Carbondale resistant to leaks after accidents. It is also likely to force the 4. Chicago-Pontiac, Chicago-Port Huron; Chicago-Grand retirement of tens of thousands of tank cars. Rapids The regulatory action generally reflects voluntary agreements MIDWEST ROUTES that the federal department made with the railroad industry in Illinois Service Pets Program February, but could go much further in calling for stricter rail WHEEL CLICKS SEPTEMBER 2014 Page 7

speeds and a higher number of tank cars that should be taken off RECORDS the railways because they would not meet the regulations, among Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE: UNP), on July 24, other issues. The department began drafting the new rules after reported 2014 second quarter net income of $1.3 billion, or the catastrophic accident a year ago in Lac-Megantic, Quebec, $1.43 per diluted share, compared to $1.1 billion, or $1.18 per in which a train carrying 72 tank cars of flammable crude diluted share, in the second quarter 2013. crashed into the small Canadian town's center and killed 47 All-Time Quarterly Records people. Other derailments and fires occurred in North Dakota, Diluted earnings per share of $1.43 improved 21 percent. Alabama, Virginia and elsewhere. Operating revenues totaled $6.0 billion, up 10 percent. The Transportation Department noted the growing public risk Operating income totaled $2.2 billion, up 17 percent. involved in crude movements, which it said had grown to Operating ratio of 63.5 percent improved 2.2 points. 415,000 rail cars last year from just 9,500 in 2009, often Second Quarter Summary traveling more than 1,000 miles from the new Bakken oil fields Operating revenue increased 10 percent in the second quarter in North Dakota. The tankers, known as T-111 cars, have 2014 to $6.0 billion, versus $5.5 billion in the second quarter become the focal point in demands for improved safety, thought 2013. Second quarter business volumes, as measured by total tank car owners and the oil industry have asserted that they are revenue carloads, increased 8 percent compared to 2013. not the cause of the accidents and have called on railroads to Volume increased in agricultural products, intermodal, industrial keep their cars in operation. products, automotive and coal. Chemicals volumes declined The proposal offers three potential options for improving slightly versus 2013 as a reduction in crude oil shipments more tank cars, including one that calls for thicker steel shells that than offset growth in base chemicals. In addition: could force the retirement of thousands of existing tank cars. > Quarterly freight revenue increased 10 percent compared to The proposal would phase out the most dated tank cars within the second quarter 2013, driven by volume growth and core two years. pricing gains. Under the least costly option, tank cars would have to comply > Union Pacific's operating ratio of 63.5 percent was an with 2011 industry standards. Under a second option, they would all-time quarterly record, 2.2 points better than the second be constructed under the earlier standards but would be required quarter 2013 and 1.3 points better than the previous all-time to have improved brakes and roll-over protection systems. quarterly record set in the third quarter 2013. The most far-reaching option calls for cars to be built with > The average quarterly diesel fuel price of $3.10 per gallon in 9/16-inch shells rather than the existing 7/16-inch shells. The the second quarter 2014 was--flat compared to the second thicker steel would add significant weight to each car, potentially quarter 2013. reducing the amount of crude the car could carry. > Quarterly train speed, as reported to the Association of In any case, the outcome is likely to force the retirement of American Railroads, was 23.9 mph, down 7 percent versus at least 35,000 of the nation's estimated 98,000 tank cars that the second quarter 2013. haul flammable liquids , according to Brigham McCown, former > The Company repurchased 8.3 million shares in. the second chief of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety quarter 2014 at an average share price of $96.84 and an Administration. aggregate cost of $806 million. In addition to the tank car standards, the regulations would Summary of Second Quarter Freight Revenues impose new speed restrictions on trains carrying crude. One Agricultural Products up 19 percent option would reduce oil train speeds to 40 mph nationwide, Intermodal up 16 percent while two others would impose limits only in certain urban Industrial Products up 16 percent areas. The speed limits could broadly affects all freight Chemicals up 3 percent movements because the oil trains would effectively hold back Automotive up 2 percent other traffic, rail experts have said. Coal up 1 percent The Transportation Department also released a report that [Jnfo. from Union Pacific via Charles Varnes] showed Bakken crude is more flammable than crude from other regions. The finding explains why the train derailments not only resulted in fires but massive explosions. The new rules will undoubtedly increase the cost of transporting crude, which is paid for by the oil and refining industry, which could mean higher prices on the products they sell. The Assn. of American Railroads, which had called on the government to require safer tank cars, generally applauded the proposed rules in a statement. The Railway Supply Institute, which represents vendors of rail equipment, issued a brief statement that did not immediately raise objections to the proposals, but said the trade group would closely study them. [Info. from Los Angeles Times]

UNION PACIFIC REPORTS ALL-TIME QUARTERLY Page 8 WHEEL CLICKS SEPTEMBER 2014

This image has Number 40 pulling a work train during a second The former Las Vegas and Tonopah Railroad depot in Rhyolite, photo run-by on June 7, 2014. Photo by Charles Varnes Nevada, is seen in this June 6, 2014 photograph. The depot is currently owned by the Bureau of Land Management and is being held in arrested decay. Photo by Charles Vames

Its day's work completed, NNRy Number 40 sits'quietly in its Nevada Northern Railway engine house in Ely, Nevada. Photo by Charles Varnes Nevada Northern Ry. Number 40, a 1910 product of the Baldwin Locomotive Works, is about to move forward with its train for a photo run-by on June 7, 2014. Photo by Charles Varnes

A special board meeting was held at Saunders Yard on July 18 to review and discuss the future of all PRS's rolling stock. Will Walters (center) led a 90-minute tour of all accessible rolling Nevada Northern Ry. Number 93, a 1910 product of the stock, while dwindling interest in the activities and maintenance American LocOmotive Company, poses with a work train before has greatly affected the condition of cars over the lastfew years. pulling forward for a photo run-by. Photo by Charles Varnes Photo by Steven Crise