94-8171. 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 59, Number 66 (Wednesday, April 6, 1994)]
    [Unknown Section]
    [Page 0]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 94-8171]
    
    
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    [Federal Register: April 6, 1994]
    
    
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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 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. 3283
    
        Applicant: Kansas City Southern Railway Company, Mr. M.W. Hahn, 
    Vice President-Transportation, 4601 Blanchard Road, Shreveport, 
    Louisiana 71107.
        The Kansas City Southern Railway Company seeks approval of the 
    proposed discontinuance and removal of the traffic control system, on 
    the single main track, between Zacha Junction, milepost 62.6 and 
    proposed Union Pacific Railroad Company connection, milepost 56.95, 
    near Garland, Texas, on the former Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe 
    Railway Company, Dallas Subdivision; including the discontinuance and 
    removal of two power-operated switches and associated signals at Zacha 
    Junction.
        The reason given for the proposed changes is to enhance the safety 
    of train operations by placing control of all train movements under the 
    direction of a local person, because the area will change to typical 
    yard operations.
    
    BS-AP-No. 3284
    
        Applicant: Consolidated Rail Corporation, Mr. J.F. Noffsinger, 
    Chief Engineer--C&S, 2001 Market Street, P.O. Box 41410, Philadelphia, 
    Pennsylvania 19101-1410.
        The Consolidated Rail Corporation seeks approval of the proposed 
    modification of the automatic block signal system, on Track No. 2, 
    between CP95, milepost 95.7 and Marion Interlocking, milepost 101.5, 
    near Marion, Ohio, on the Indianapolis Line, Indianapolis Division; 
    consisting of the discontinuance and removal of automatic signals 972 
    and 992, and the installation of automatic signal 982.
        The reason given for the proposed changes is to retire facilities 
    no longer required and improve train handling.
    
    BS-AP-No. 3285
    
    Applicants
    
    Norfolk Southern Corporation, Mr. J.W. Smith, Chief Engineer--C&S, 
    Communication and Signal Department, 99 Spring Street, SW., Atlanta, 
    Georgia 30303.
    
    CSX Transportation, Incorporated, Mr. W.J. Scheerer, Chief Engineer--
    Train Control, 500 Water Street, Jacksonville, Florida 32202.
    
        Norfolk Southern Corporation (NS) and CSX Transportation, 
    Incorporated (CSX) jointly seek approval of the proposed modification 
    of the limits to D&S Interlocking, milepost 57.4, near East Durham, 
    North Carolina, Piedmont Division, Goldsboro to Greensboro Line, where 
    a single main track of CSX crosses at grade two main tracks of the NS. 
    The proposal includes the discontinuance and removal of signal 1LA and 
    the relocation of signal 1R.
        The reason given for the proposed changes is to allow for increased 
    speed through the interlocking.
    
    BS-AP-No. 3286
    
        Applicant: Illinois Central Railroad, Mr. John T. Sharkey, 
    Engineer--Signals, 455 N. Cityfront Plaza Drive, Chicago, Illinois 
    60611.
        The Illinois Central Railroad seeks approval of the proposed 
    modification of the Pass Manchac Bridge Interlocking, milepost 874.6, 
    near Manchac, Louisiana, Southern Region, McComb District; consisting 
    of the automated lowering of the bridge upon the approach detection of 
    a train.
        The reason given for the proposed changes is an ongoing schedule of 
    modernization of facilities to provide a higher level of efficiency.
    
    BS-AP-No. 3287
    
        Applicant: Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Company, Mr. W.S. 
    Seery, Director Signal Systems, Communications and Signal, 4515 Kansas 
    Avenue, Kansas City, Kansas 66106-1199.
        The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Company seeks approval of 
    the proposed discontinuance and removal of the traffic control system, 
    on the auxiliary main tracks, between milepost 6.0 and milepost 8.0, 
    near Argentine, Kansas, Eastern Region, Emporia Subdivision; consisting 
    of the conversion of all auxiliary main tracks to yard tracks, the 
    conversion of the existing power-operated switches to NA-15 pneumatic 
    switches, and removal of all controlled signals.
        The reason given for the proposed changes is that due to 
    operational changes the Auxiliary Main Line will be converted to yard 
    tracks.
    
    BS-AP-No. 3288
    
        Applicant: Soo Line Railroad Company, Mr. G.M. Short, Director 
    Signals HH-US, 105 South 5th Street, Box 530, Minneapolis, Minnesota 
    55440.
        The Soo Line Railroad Company seeks approval of the proposed 
    discontinuance and removal of the signal system, on the single main 
    track, between Merriam Park, milepost 416.0, Minneapolis, Minnesota and 
    E14, milepost 435.0, Hopkins, Minnesota, a distance of approximately 19 
    miles, on the Heartland Division, Merriam Park Subdivision.
        The reason given for the proposed changes is to reduce maintenance 
    costs associated with maintaining the signal system, which is no longer 
    needed, due to the removal of trackage and current train operations.
    
    BS-AP-No. 3289
    
        Applicant: Southern Pacific Lines, Mr. J.A. Turner, Engineer--
    Signals, Southern Pacific Building, One Market Plaza, San Francisco, 
    California 94105.
        The Southern Pacific Lines seeks approval of the proposed 
    discontinuance and removal of the automatic block signal system, on the 
    single main track, between Ashland, milepost C-429 and Glendale, 
    milepost C-510, Oregon, on the Siskiyou District, Pacific Region, a 
    distance of approximately 81 miles.
        The reason given for the proposed changes is that the traffic on 
    the route is such that the signal system is no longer required and the 
    changes will reduce costs and improve train operations.
    
    BS-AP-No. 3290
    
        Applicants: National Railroad Passenger Corporation, Mr. P.A. 
    Cannito, Vice President Engineering, 30th and Market Streets, 
    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104.
        Consolidated Rail Corporation, Mr. J.F. Noffsinger, Chief 
    Engineer--C&S, 2001 Market Street, P.O. Box 41410, Philadelphia, 
    Pennsylvania 19101-1410.
        Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, Mr. J.W. 
    Palmer, Assistant General Manager Railroad Division, 1515 Market 
    Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19102.
        The National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak), Consolidated 
    Rail Corporation (Conrail), and Southeastern Pennsylvania 
    Transportation Authority, jointly seek approval of the proposed 
    discontinuance of Park Interlocking, milepost 43.9, Parkesburg, 
    Pennsylvania, on Amtrak's Harrisburg Line, Philadelphia Division, 
    consisting of the following:
        1. Conversion of the No. 15 power-operated crossover to hand 
    operation equipped with a center lever electric lock;
        2. Installation of a new hand-operated crossover equipped with a 
    center lever electric lock between Track No. 4 and the Industrial 
    Track;
        3. Conversion of interlocked signals 10R and 18L to automatic 
    signals 442 and 439 respectively; and
        4. Removal of all other tracks, signals, and switches.
        The reason given for the proposed changes is to enable Conrail to 
    perform switching by hand at Parkesburg from No. 1 and No. 4 main 
    tracks to the industrial track without affecting other tracks.
    
    BS-AP-No. 3291
    
        Applicant: Chicago and North Western Transportation Company, Mr. 
    D.E. Waller, Vice President Engineering and Materials, 165 N. Canal 
    Street, Chicago, Illinois 60606.
        The Chicago and North Western Transportation Company seeks approval 
    of the proposed modification of the automatic block signal system on 
    the single main track between Marcy Junction, milepost 18.0 and 
    Northlake, milepost 28.8, Wisconsin, on the Adams Subdivision; 
    consisting of the relocation of six and discontinuance and removal of 
    two automatic block signals.
        The reason given for the proposed changes is to maximize efficiency 
    and safety of train operations by replacing aging pole line with modern 
    solid state coded track circuitry.
    
    BS-AP-No. 3292
    
        Applicants: Springfield Terminal Railway Company and Maine Central 
    Railroad Company, Mr. S.F. Nevero, Vice President Engineering, Iron 
    Horse Park, North Billerica, Massachusetts 19104.
        The Springfield Terminal Railway Company and Maine Central Railroad 
    Company, jointly seek approval of the proposed modification of the 
    traffic control system, on the single main track, between CPF-113, 
    milepost 113.7 and CPF-112, milepost 112.81, near Waterville, Maine; 
    consisting of the following:
        1. The discontinuance and removal of 14 controlled signals;
        2. The conversion of power-operated switches Nos. 41, 43, 45, 49, 
    and 51 to hand operation; and
        3. The conversion of No. 39 power-operated crossover to hand 
    operation, equipped with an electric lock.
        The reason given for the proposed changes is that reconfiguration 
    of the existing track and signal facility is required for present needs 
    and the power switching facility is no longer required.
    
    BS-AP-No. 3293
    
        Applicant: Burlington Northern Railroad Company, Mr. William G. 
    Peterson, Director Signal Engineering, 9401 Indian Creek Parkway, 
    Overland Park, Kansas 66210-2007.
        The Burlington Northern Railroad Company seeks approval of the 
    proposed modification of the traffic control system, on the single main 
    track, between Zulch, Texas, milepost 158.0 and Newby, Texas, milepost 
    185.0, Southern Corridor, Fort Worth Division, Houston Subdivision; 
    consisting of the discontinuance and removal of 10 automatic signals 
    and the installation of 20 automatic signals.
        The reason given for the proposed changes is to respace and 
    relocate signals at the time of a pole line elimination project.
    
    Rules Standards & Instructions Application (RS&I-AP) No. 1092
    
        Applicant: Southern Pacific Lines, Mr. E.P. Reilly, Vice President 
    and Chief Engineer, Southern Pacific Building, One Market Plaza, San 
    Francisco, California 94105.
        The Southern Pacific Lines (SP) seeks relief from the requirements 
    of the Rules, Standard and Instructions, 49 CFR, Part 236, 
    Sec. 236.307, to the extent that the carrier not be required to install 
    indication locking for approximately 224 signal locations on the SP, 
    the aspects of which are not controlled by line circuits so arranged 
    that a single fault will not permit a more favorable aspect than 
    intended to be displayed.
        The applicant's justification for relief is that the estimated cost 
    of a program to achieve compliance is in excess of $700,000 and would 
    take several years to complete the required work.
        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, SW., Washington, DC 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 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, DC, on March 30, 1994.
    Phil Olekszyk,
    Acting Deputy Associate Administrator for Safety Compliance and Program 
    Implementation.
    [FR Doc. 94-8171 Filed 4-5-94; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 4910-06-P
    
    
    

Document Information

Published:
04/06/1994
Department:
Federal Railroad Administration
Entry Type:
Uncategorized Document
Document Number:
94-8171
Pages:
0-0 (1 pages)
Docket Numbers:
Federal Register: April 6, 1994