97-4488. Notice of Application for Approval of Discontinuance or Modification of a Railroad Signal System or Relief From the Requirements of 49 CFR Part 236  

  • [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]
    
    
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    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
    
    
    

Document Information

Published:
02/24/1997
Department:
Transportation Department
Entry Type:
Notice
Document Number:
97-4488
Pages:
8307-8307 (1 pages)
PDF File:
97-4488.pdf