97-33554. Application for Approval of Discontinuance or Modification of a Railroad Signal System or Relief from the Requirements of Signal System Regulations  

  • [Federal Register Volume 62, Number 247 (Wednesday, December 24, 1997)]
    [Notices]
    [Pages 67429-67430]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 97-33554]
    
    
    
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    DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
    
    Federal Railroad Administration
    
    
    Application for Approval of Discontinuance or Modification of a 
    Railroad Signal System or Relief from the Requirements of Signal System 
    Regulations
    
        Pursuant to Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 235 and 
    49 U.S.C. App. 26, the following railroads have petitioned the Federal 
    Railroad Administration (FRA) seeking approval for the discontinuance 
    or modification of the signal system or relief from the requirements of 
    49 CFR Part 236 as detailed below.
    
    Block Signal Application (BS-AP)-No. 3446
    
    Applicant: SOO Line Railroad Company,
    Mr. Roscoe VanPelt,
    District Coordinator Signals & Communications,
    Canadian Pacific Railway,
    105 South 5th Street, Box 530,
    Minneapolis, Minnesota 55440
    
        The SOO Line Railroad Company seeks approval of the proposed 
    discontinuance and removal of the automatic block signals, on the 
    single main track, between milepost 12.27 and milepost 16.55, near St. 
    Paul, Minnesota, on the Paynesville Subdivision, consisting of the 
    removal of signals No. 2 and No. 3.
        The reason given for the proposed changes is that the facilities 
    are no longer needed for present operations and to reduce maintenance.
    
    BS-AP-No. 3447
    
    Applicant: Central Kansas Railway, L.L.C.,
    Mr. L. R. Mitchell,
    Superintendent,
    1825 West Harry Street,
    Wichita, Kansas 67213.
    
        The Central Kansas Railway, L.L.C. seeks approval of the proposed 
    discontinuance and removal of the automatic block signal (ABS) system, 
    on the single main track, between Bridgeport, Kansas, milepost 491.2 
    and Towner, Colorado, milepost 747.5.
        The reason given for the proposed changes is that the present train 
    traffic in the area does not warrant the need for the ABS system, and 
    the signal pole line is in fragile condition and will not survive the 
    first ice storm of the season.
    
    BS-AP-No. 3448
    
    Applicant: Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway,
    Mr. William G. Peterson,
    Director Signal Engineering,
    4515 Kansas Avenue,
    Kansas City, Kansas 66106.
    
        The Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway seeks approval of the 
    proposed modification of the traffic control system, on the No. 2 Main 
    Track, between 30th Street and Bravo, milepost 2.2 and milepost 5.6, 
    near Kansas City, Kansas, Fort Scott Subdivision, Kansas Division, 
    consisting of the discontinuance and removal of automatic absolute 
    signal 6RB, which is located on the elevator track and controlled by 
    the switch position of the Electric Lock 7.
        The reason given for the proposed changes is to improve train 
    operations in the area, and that the switch is electrically locked in 
    CTC territory, and does not require a signal.
    
    BS-AP-No. 3449
    
    Applicant: Union Pacific Railroad Company,
    Mr. P. M. Abaray,
    Chief Engineer-Signals/Quality,
    1416 Dodge Street, Room 1000,
    Omaha, Nebraska 68179-1000.
    
        The Union Pacific Railroad Company seeks approval of the proposed 
    discontinuance and removal of the rail locks and associated power-
    operated switch machines, on the single main track Morley Bridge, 
    milepost 95.0, near Morley, Louisiana, on the Alexandria Subdivision.
        The reason given for the proposed changes is to modernize the 
    operation of the Morley Bridge.
    
    BS-AP-No. 3450
    
    Applicant: Union Pacific Railroad Company,
    Mr. P. M. Abaray,
    Chief Engineer-Signals/Quality,
    1416 Dodge Street, Room 1000,
    Omaha, Nebraska 68179-1000.
    
        The Union Pacific Railroad Company seeks approval of the proposed 
    discontinuance and removal of the rail locks and associated power-
    operated switch machines, on the single main track Melville Bridge, 
    milepost 129.7, near Melville, Louisiana, on the Alexandria 
    Subdivision.
        The reason given for the proposed changes is to modernize the 
    operation of the Melville Bridge.
    
    BS-AP-No. 3451
    
    Applicant: Union Pacific Railroad Company,
    Mr. P. M. Abaray,
    Chief Engineer-Signals/Quality,
    1416 Dodge Street, Room 1000,
    Omaha, Nebraska 68179-1000.
    
        The Union Pacific Railroad Company seeks approval of the proposed 
    discontinuance and removal of the hand-operated electric rail locks, on 
    the single main track Ouachita River Bridge, milepost 528.2, 
    approximately 27 miles south of Monroe, Louisiana, on the Monroe 
    Subdivision.
        The reason given for the proposed changes is to modernize the 
    operation of the Ouachita River Bridge.
    
    BS-AP-No. 3452
    
    Applicant: Union Pacific Railroad Company,
    Mr. P. M. Abaray,
    Chief Engineer-Signals/Quality,
    1416 Dodge Street, Room 1000,
    Omaha, Nebraska 68179-1000.
    
        The Union Pacific Railroad Company seeks approval of the proposed 
    discontinuance and removal of the rail locks and associated power-
    operated switch machines, on the single main track Canal Bridge, 
    milepost 6.2, near Port Allen, Louisiana, on the Avoyelles Branch.
        The reason given for the proposed changes is to modernize the 
    operation of the Canal Bridge.
    
    BS-AP-No. 3453
    
    Applicant: National Railroad Passenger Corporation,
    Mr. R. C. VanderClute,
    Vice President, Operations,
    60 Massachusetts Avenue, N.E.,
    Washington, D.C. 20002.
    
        The National Railroad Passenger Corporation seeks approval of the 
    proposed conversion of a portion of ``R'' Interlocking, at Sunnyside 
    Yard, milepost E3.7, Queens Borough, New York, on the Metropolitan 
    Division of the Northeast Corridor, to a modern Yard Switching Center, 
    with yard switches and route indicators to authorize non-passenger 
    train movements to and from the yard. The proposed changes include 
    reliable logic to protect against conflicting routes, yard switches 
    locked for movements with non-vital logic, and route indicators which 
    will not permit movements exceeding Restricted Speed.
        The reasons given for the proposed changes are that the original 
    electro-pneumatic switches with mechanical locking bed at ``R'' 
    Interlocking is 87 years old and in need of replacement, and 
    maintenance of the interlocking in a yard area, where no train 
    movements carry revenue passengers, can no longer be justified.
        Any interested party desiring to protest the granting of an 
    application shall set forth specifically the grounds upon which the 
    protest is made, and contain a concise statement of the interest of the 
    protestant in the
    
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    proceeding. The original and two copies of the protest shall be filed 
    with the Associate Administrator for Safety, FRA, 400 Seventh Street, 
    S.W., Mail Stop 25, Washington, D.C. 20590 within 45 calendar days of 
    the date of publication of this notice. Additionally, one copy of the 
    protest shall be furnished to the applicant at the address listed 
    above.
        FRA expects to be able to determine these matters without an oral 
    hearing. However, if a specific request for an oral hearing is 
    accompanied by a showing that the party is unable to adequately present 
    his or her position by written statements, an application may be set 
    for public hearing.
    
        Issued in Washington, D.C. on December 10, 1997.
    Grady C. Cothen, Jr.,
    Deputy Associate Administrator,
    for Safety Standards and
    Program Development.
    [FR Doc. 97-33554 Filed 12-23-97; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 4910-06-P
    
    
    

Document Information

Published:
12/24/1997
Department:
Federal Railroad Administration
Entry Type:
Notice
Document Number:
97-33554
Pages:
67429-67430 (2 pages)
PDF File:
97-33554.pdf