[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 22 (Wednesday, February 2, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-2272]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: February 2, 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. 3274
    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 modification of the traffic control system, on the single main 
track, near Gentry, Arkansas, milepost 225.19, on the Second 
Subdivision; consisting of the discontinuance and removal of automatic 
block signal No. 2252.
    The reason given for the proposed changes is to improve train 
operation and avoid unnecessary blocking of highway traffic at Flint 
Creek Road.
BS-AP-No. 3275
    Applicant: CSX Transportation, Mr. W. J. Scheerer, Chief Engineer--
Train Control, 500 Water Street, Jacksonville, Florida 32202.
    CSX Transportation seeks approval of the proposed modification of 
the signal system, on all main tracks and No. 1 and No. 2 tracks, 
between CP 43, milepost PLE43.4, near New Castle, Pennsylvania, and CP 
17Y, milepost PLY16.8, near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on the Cumberland 
Division, Pittsburgh Subdivision, consisting of the following:
    1. The discontinuance and removal of 52 controlled signals, 20 
automatic signals, and 2 power-operated derails;
    2. The relocation of 45 controlled signals and 12 automatic 
signals; and
    3. The conversion of 10 power-operated switches to hand operation.
    The reason given for the proposed changes is the installation of 
new signal equipment to replace inadequate and deteriorated signal 
facilities.
BS-AP-No. 3276
    Applicant: Union Pacific Railroad Company, Mr. P. M. Abaray, Chief 
Engineer--Signals & Construction, 1416 Dodge Street, room 1000, Omaha, 
Nebraska 68179.
    The Union Pacific Railroad Company seeks approval of the proposed 
modification of the traffic control system, on the two main tracks and 
siding, near Browder, Texas, milepost 216.6, Ft. Worth Division, Dallas 
Subdivision, consisting of the following:
    1. The discontinuance and removal of CPT217, including six 
controlled signals, 45L, 47L, 49L, 45R, 47R, and 49R; and
    2. The installation of four automatic signals, 2179-1, 2179-2, 
2178-1, and 2178-2 near milepost 218.96.
    The reason given for the proposed changes is that the signals at 
CPT217 are no longer necessary because the power-operated crossovers 
have been removed.
BS-AP-No. 3277
    Applicant: Union Pacific Railroad Company, Mr. P.M. Abaray, Chief 
Engineer--Signals & Construction, 1416 Dodge Street, room 1000, Omaha, 
Nebraska 68179.
    The Union Pacific Railroad Company seeks approval of the proposed 
discontinuance and removal of signal 2889-3 and 2889-4 at milepost 
288.8, and the discontinuance and removal of the associated coded cab 
signal track circuits, on yard tracks 289 and 290, from milepost 288.8 
to CP B288 at milepost 287.2, in the North Platte Terminal, North 
Platte, Nebraska.
    The reason given for the proposed changes is that due to 
operational changes, tracks 289 and 290 are no longer used to bypass 
the classification yard. Tracks 289 and 290 have been incorporated into 
a nine track westbound coal yard used for the staging and inspection of 
empty coal trains, making the signals and coded cab track circuits 
unnecessary.
BS-AP-No. 3278
Applicants:

    Mid-Michigan Railroad, Inc., Mr. Dale W. Carlstrom, General 
Manager, 432 East Grove Street, Greenville, Michigan 48838.
    Grand Rapids and Eastern Railroad Company, Mr. Dennis Kling, 
General Manager, 430 East Grove Street, Greenville, Michigan 48838.

    Mid-Michigan Railroad, Inc. (MMRR) and the Grand Rapids and Eastern 
Railroad Company (GRE) jointly seek approval of the proposed 
discontinuance and removal of the automatic interlocking, near Lowell, 
Michigan, MMRR milepost 104.9, where a single main track of the MMRR 
crosses at grade a single main track of the GRE; consisting of the 
discontinuance and removal of all interlocking and associated approach 
signals, and the installation of a swing gate.
    The reason given for the proposed changes is to eliminate 
facilities no longer required for present day operations.
BS-AP-No. 3279
    Applicant: Red River Valley and Western Railroad Company, Mr. Kent 
P. Shoemaker, Chairman and CEO, P.O. Box 608, Wahpeton, North Dakota 
58074.
    The Red River Valley and Western Railroad Company (RRVW) seeks 
approval of the proposed discontinuance and removal of the automatic 
block signal system, on the single main track, between Wahpeton 
Junction, milepost 1.4 and Casselton, milepost 55.0, North Dakota, on 
the Cass Line, Second Subdivision. RRVW proposes to operate the 
trackage under track warrant control rules.
    The reason given for the proposed changes is that the character and 
use of the trackage has changed substantially since the automatic block 
signal system (ABS) was originally installed and the ABS is no longer 
required for safe operations.
BS-AP-No. 3280
    Applicant: Burlington Northern Railroad Company, Mr. W. G. 
Peterson, Director, Signal Engineering, 373 Inverness Drive South, 
Englewood, Colorado 80112-5831.
    The Burlington Northern Railroad Company seeks approval of the 
proposed modification of the traffic control system, on the single main 
track, between Jonesboro, Arkansas, milepost 424.0 and Harvard, 
Arkansas, milepost 471.0, on the Springfield Division, Thayer 
Subdivision; consisting of the discontinuance and removal of 14 
automatic block signals and 2 controlled signals, and the installation 
of 26 automatic block signals and 2 controlled signals.
    The reason given for the proposed changes is to respace and 
relocate signals associated with a pole line elimination project and 
installation of solid-state coded track circuits.
BS-AP-No. 3281
    Applicant: Chicago and North Western Transportation Company, Mr. D. 
E. Waller, Vice President, Engineering and Materials, One North Western 
Center, Chicago, Illinois 60606.
    The Chicago and North Western Transportation Company (CNW) seeks 
approval of the proposed modification of the automatic block signal 
system, on the single main track, between Merriam, milepost 35.6 and 
Belle Plaine, milepost 46.4; and between Kasota, milepost 76.8 and 
Mankato, milepost 85.6, Minnesota, on the Merriam Subdivision, 
consisting of the relocation of 12 signals and the discontinuance and 
removal of two 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. 3282
    Applicant: CSX Transportation, Mr. W. J. Scheerer, Chief Engineer, 
Train Control, 500 Water Street, Jacksonville, Florida 32202.
    CSX Transportation seeks approval of the proposed modification of 
the signal system, on the single main track between Dalton, milepost 
WA98 and Tilton, milepost WA90, Georgia on the Corbin Division, W&A 
Subdivision, consisting of the discontinuance and removal of four 
automatic signals, 93.6, 93.5, 96.9, and 97.0; and the relocation of 
four automatic signals, 91.9, 92.0, 95.0, and 95.1.
    The reason given for the proposed changes is to improve operations 
and increase efficiency.
Rules Standards & Instructions Application (RS&I-AP)-No. 1091
Applicants:

    National Railroad Passenger Corporation, Mr. C. P. Wahmann, 
Assistant Vice President, Transportation, 30th and Market Streets, 
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104.
    CSX Transportation, Mr. R. H. Young, Jr., Assistant Vice President, 
Passenger Services, 500 Water Street, Jacksonville, Florida 32202.

    The National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) and CSX 
Transportation (CSX) jointly seek temporary relief from Sec. 236.566 of 
the Rules, Standards and Instructions (49 CFR part 236) to the extent 
that Amtrak be permitted to operate Passenger Train No. 50 with cab 
signals cut out between ``SY'' (Seminary), milepost 103.9 and ``RO'', 
milepost 110.0, a distance of 6.1 miles, on the RF&P Subdivision of 
CSX.
    The justification for relief is that it will be several months 
before a sufficient number of F-40 locomotives are retrofitted with 
``tuned-75 decoders'' to assure proper cab signal operation through the 
application area.
    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 January 26, 1994.
Phil Olekszyk,
Deputy Associate Administrator for Safety.
[FR Doc. 94-2272 Filed 2-1-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P