FIBER OPTIC FOCUS A Union Pacific Railroad Publication Volume 26 • Number 3 • December 2011 New Fiber For Northern Nevada In August 2011, Union Pacific embarked on a Communications. “The willingness of the UPRR to new fiber construction project with CC work with us to place this needed cable is much Communications along its rail corridor. The project appreciated. The UPRR has been outstanding to follows the Truckee River through northern Nevada continued on page 7 as it winds its way eastward from Reno toward Pyramid Lake. Partnering with the railroad, CC Communications, one of Union Pacific’s new fiber customers, began its project along the Nevada Subdivision westward from Hazen to Reno, Nevada. As the former Southern Pacific Transportation Company track nears the Reno area, the Truckee River Canyon pro- vides more than a few narrow areas with limited access along the rail corridor which made it more challenging due to the rocky terrain and multiple river crossings. “The new fiber optic cable being installed along the rail line will provide the bandwidth needed to allow CC Communications to offer state of the art services to their customers in Churchill County”, said Robert (Bob) Adams, General Manager, CC Hydraulic impact hammer “Hoe-Ram” breaking rock in prepartion of installing conduit CC Communication’s plow crew installing conduit and cable warning tape 2 • FIBER OPTIC FOCUS Colonel’s Inspection Trip Through the Feather River Canyon The sky's the limit for a U.S. Air Force officer, activities related to specific fiber optic customer’s Colonel Mike Greiner, who joined Union Pacific cable routes located generally between Salt Lake on an 11-month assignment Aug. 15 as a member City, Utah, and Hayward, California. of the Secretary of Defense Corporate Fellows This over the rail inspection of the territory pro- Program (SDCFP). vided for an excellent opportunity for Col Greiner Col. Greiner's work at UP will focus primarily to gain insight on a typical day along the rail cor- on Information Technology and processes that ridor for the region. Fortunately for that day, support core business-user departments. He also Detector Car-22 (DC-22) was also performing will observe various inner workings of a large work in the territory. Dave Smith-Chief Detector corporation, including organizational structure, Car Operator and Russell Stewart-Detector Car business practices and operations. Greiner's mis- Operator provided an excellent overview of rail sion will be mutually beneficial for the railroad detection operations and its capabilities. A culvert and the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD). being installed in an area only accessible by rail at While Col. Greiner provides insight from his Milepost 253.96 demonstrated the types of equip- military experience, he and 13 other officers ment and the track protection process needed to selected to train with American corporations dur- complete such a project. Finally, a small rock slide ing their nearly yearlong assignments are expected was encountered at Milepost 252.3 near Tobin, to glean best practices that will enhance the DoD's California that was cleared by the hyrail inspec- efficiency. tion team to continue the journey to Keddie. On November 30, 2011, Regional Construction Following the trip, Col. Greiner reflected, “The Coordinator Ron Christensen, conducted a hyrail hyrail trip provided a thorough overview of how trip through the Feather River Canyon from James trains and other departments within the UP system to Keddie, California, along the Canyon coordinate to ensure strong rail velocities while Subdivision with Col. Greiner, Ed Kemp – AVP maintaining the highest level of safety. The com- Telecommunications and Craig Johnston – plexity of railroad operations and the IT network Director, Fiber Optics & Asset Utilization. Ron is needed to support these operations have been a responsible for fiber optic construction coordina- real eye-opener during my Fellowship. Throw in tion between UP and commercial telecommunica- the scenery of the Feather River Canyon and great tion customers along the Feather River Canyon. weather, and this will be an experience I will He is also responsible for the safe and effective remember for the rest of my career.” Colonel Mike Greiner standing in front of hyrail vehicle DECEMBER 2011 • 3 Working on the Railroad Colton Yard With the approach of 2012 Union Pacific forces are Alhambra Subdivision, construction work continues preparing for the largest Engineering Department on the Colton “Fly Over.” The flyover is a 1.5 mile budget ever to be allocated. long elevated structure crossing 26 feet above a BNSF Across the system, miles of new sidings are to be track to avoid crossing conflict with up to 70 trains constructed with additional miles of length added to per day. When completed the flyover will improve existing sidings. New bridges will be built. Yard traffic congestion in the Los Angeles Basin and upgrades from Oregon to Texas and Minnesota are improve train speeds for both the Union Pacific and planned to increase efficiencies and speed train move- the BNSF. Three additional flyover tracks are ments and switching work. planned for Union Pacific lines in Nebraska in the Multiple Signal projects planned for the coming coming months. year will extend Centralized Traffic Control or “CTC” Union Pacific is considering the possibility of con- to subdivisions presently operated by other means. structing a new Mississippi River bridge to replace an Double main track construction projects will continue older structure on the railroad’s Midwest corridor. The along the Sunset Route and numerous other lines such new bridge would be a clear span with sufficient ele- as the El Paso to Memphis Route and subdivisions in vation to allow barge traffic to pass under the bridge Louisiana and Idaho. without affecting rail operations. The existing span is In Santa Teresa, New Mexico, construction continues currently unavailable to rail traffic for 4-6 hours a day on the new Strauss Yard facility, the largest construc- to allow barge traffic to pass. On the border with tion project in the state of New Mexico in a decade. Mexico another bridge near Brownsville, Texas, is When complete the new facility will be one of the planned, to eliminate traffic concerns and speed train largest yards on the Union Pacific system. interchange into and from Mexico. Near Los Angeles, California, on Union Pacific’s Working closely with U.P. Engineering, Amtrak is continued on page 4 4 • FIBER OPTIC FOCUS Working on the Railroad continued from page 3 Installation of continuous welded rail and concrete ties continuing with a multi-year passenger station and platform improvement effort along Union Pacific lines. In places such as Alpine, Texas, new platforms are presently under construction. Union Pacific has in recent years focused on improving its fleet of locomotives to increase dependability, fuel economy, and train speeds leading to increased customer satisfaction and stockholder value. With an eye to the future amid growing demand for its services, the railroad is planning well into the future to insure that its infrastructure will be ready for growth as Tunnel notching operations demand increases. As in the past, Union Pacific’s “Fiber Optic Group” will closely coordinate with its counterparts in Engineering to insure its fiber Getting the Focus? customers receive notification well in advance of Now available online at Telecom/Fiber Optic/SAFT under the “About Us” any planned work to be done where fiber optic section on www.up.com cables share the right of way with trains. Bill Wright/Editor [email protected] DECEMBER 2011 • 5 The Colorado One Call Center Union Pacific's SAFT group and team members of the Colorado 811 team are listed left to right: Tim Neumaier, Marty Mead, Paul Pino, Mike Shallow, Clarence Styvar, Don Tobias, Michael Heald, Ron Christensen, Mike Wallman, Steve Waits, Mike Argo, Bob Giery, Bill Wright, Brent Sumner, Phil Stevenson, Craig Johnston, J.D. Maniscalo, Sandy Samuelson, Jose Espino and Jeff Osthus. In addition to the annual staff operators with professional excava- resolution hearings known as meeting for Union Pacific’s Safety, tor representation. Colorado 811 Alternate Dispute Resolution to Asset Utilization and Fiber Optic issues an annual Damage Data any facility owner, operator, exca- Technology group during the end Report for the state of Colorado vator or other interested party for of October, a planned visit to the and makes recommendations that certain disputes arising from dam- Colorado 811 Center in Golden often become law. age to facilities from excavation. gave the group an “up close” Colorado 811 is also home to As an 811 call center, anyone view of the daily operations of a the Damage Information Reporting unsure of the local phone number dedicated damage prevention Tool “DIRT.” DIRT is a national for the state one call center may organization. database of utility damage closely call “811” and be automatically Colorado 811, under the leader- aligned with the Common Ground routed to the center. Colorado 811 ship of Executive Director J.D. Alliance, an organization promot- will process approximately five Maniscalo, is Colorado’s one call ing shared responsibility in utility hundred thousand “call before you (811) center dedicated to the pre- and pipeline damage prevention. dig” requests in 2011. The total vention of damage to property or All data reported to DIRT is on a number of outgoing notices to injury to persons by anyone per- voluntary basis. member facility owners and opera- forming excavation work . It is In addition to the daily “Call tors is expected to surpass two and governed by a board of directors Before You Dig “ operations, the a half million. comprised of facility owners & Colorado 811 also offers dispute 6 • FIBER OPTIC FOCUS Call 811 Before You Dig August 11 is the day for everyone to remember projects that need a call to 811 before starting.