[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 36 (Monday, February 24, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 8307]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-4488]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Notice of Application for Approval of Discontinuance or
Modification of a Railroad Signal System or Relief From the
Requirements of 49 CFR Part 236
Pursuant to 49 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. 3415
Applicant: Union Pacific Railroad Company, Mr. P. M. Abaray, Chief
Engineer-Signals/Quality, 1416 Dodge Street, Room 1000, Omaha, Nebraska
68179-0001.
The Union Pacific Railroad Company seeks approval of the proposed
discontinuance and removal of signals 1636 and 1644, on the single main
track automatic block signal system, near Hampton, Iowa, milepost
164.0, on the Mason City Subdivision.
The reason given for the proposed change is that the two signals
are no longer needed.
BS-AP-No. 3416
Applicant: Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis, Mr. C. D. Trice,
Manager Signals and Communications, 1201 McKinley Street, Venice,
Illinois 62090.
The Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis seeks approval of
the proposed relocation of automatic signal 211, southward a distance
of 1,350 feet, near Brooklyn, Illinois, on the Illinois Transfer
District.
The reasons given for the proposed change are that the signal no
longer serves the purpose for which it was intended, the relocation
will improve functionality of the signal, make signal spacing more
uniform and less confusing to train crews, and increase braking
distance.
BS-AP-No. 3417
Applicant: Union Pacific Railroad, Mr. J. A. Turner, Engineer--Signals,
Southern Pacific Building, One Market Plaza, San Francisco, California
94105.
The Union Pacific Railroad (former Southern Pacific Lines, St.
Louis and Southwestern Railroad) seeks approval of the proposed
modification of the traffic control system, on the single main track
and siding, mileposts 339.9 and 340.9, near Herbert, Arkansas, Central
Region, Midwest Division, Pine Bluff Subdivision, consisting of the
following: discontinuance of East and West Herbert control points;
conversion of the power-operated switches to hand operation;
discontinuance and removal of controlled signals 62L, 62RA, and 60LA;
conversion of controlled signal 60R to back-to-back automatic signals;
and retention of the trailing siding signals in lieu of electric locks
at each end of the siding.
The reason given for the proposed changes is that Herbert siding is
no longer used to meet or pass trains, and is used as a storage track
no longer requiring the power-operated switches.
BS-AP-No. 3418
Applicant: Union Railroad Company, Mr. J. J. Lacey, Assistant Vice
President and General Manager, 135 Jamison Lane, P.O. Box 68,
Monroeville, Pennsylvania 15146.
The Union Railroad Company seeks approval of the proposed
discontinuance and removal of a portion of the automatic block signals
from the Munhall Branch, near West Mifflin, Pennsylvania, and govern
train movements by yard limit rules.
The reason given for the proposed changes is that traffic and train
movements have declined during recent years as a result of the retired
Homestead Works steel plant, and traffic presently averages between 30
and 35 movements per week.
BS-AP-No. 3419
Applicant: Bessemer and Lake Erie Railroad Company, Mr. J. J. Lacey,
Assistant Vice President and General Manager, 135 Jamison Lane, P.O.
Box 68, Monroeville, Pennsylvania 15146.
The Bessemer and Lake Erie Railroad Company seeks approval of the
proposed discontinuance and removal of the traffic control system, on
the single main track, between ``KO North End,'' milepost 93.5, near
Adamsville, Pennsylvania and ``RX Interlocking,'' milepost 123.8, near
Albion, Pennsylvania, a distance of approximately 30 miles; and the
associated installation of a Dispatcher Control Track Warrant System to
govern train movements.
The reason given for the proposed changes is that traffic and train
movements have declined during recent years with the vast reduction of
ore and coal movements associated with declining steel operations, and
traffic reductions do not support the expense to maintain the
centralized traffic control system.
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 proceeding. The original and two copies of the
protest shall be filed with the Associate Administrator for Safety,
FRA, 400 Seventh Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20590 within 45
calendar days of the date of issuance 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 February 19, 1997.
Phil Olekszyk,
Deputy Associate Administrator for Safety Compliance and Program
Implementation.
[FR Doc. 97-4488 Filed 2-21-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P