[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 245 (Thursday, December 21, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66339-66340]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-31114]



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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 Title 49 CFR Part 236

    Pursuant to Title 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 Title 49 CFR Part 236 
as detailed below.

Block Signal Application BS-AP-No. 3370
Applicant: Portland and Western Railroad, Incorporated, Mr. A.W. 
Mogytych, President and General Manager, P.O. Box 942, Albany, Oregon 
97321

    The Portland and Western Railroad, Incorporated (PNWR) seeks 
approval of the proposed discontinuance and removal of the traffic 
control system, on the single main track and controlled siding, between 
Greton, milepost 757.0 and St. Marys, milepost 751.8, Oregon, a 
distance of approximately 5 miles, and operate trains by track warrant 
control.
    The reason given for the proposed changes is that of the 106 miles 
of main line track that PNWR operates, only 5 miles of trackage is 
controlled by CTC. The maintenance of the CTC imposes a unnecessary 
cost burden upon PNWR, and frequent and costly train delays are 
experienced because of difficulties in establishing communications with 
the SP dispatching personnel in Denver. PNWR is the only operating 
carrier within the CTC limits and the carrier's track warrant system 
utilized on 83.2 miles of other trackage, is adequate to safely handle 
PNWR traffic in lieu of CTC. Acquisition and installation of CTC 
controls to operate from PNWR's Albany, Oregon, dispatching office 
would be prohibitively expensive.

BS-AP-No. 3371
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 
modification of the automatic block signal system, on the single main 
track, at North End of Travis, milepost 253.9, near San Antonio, Texas, 
Austin Subdivision; consisting of the discontinuance and removal of 
automatic block signal 2539-2 and absolute signal 2540-2, conversion of 
absolute signal 2545-2 to automatic operation, and relocation of 
automatic signal 2546-2.
    The reason given for the proposed changes is that Travis siding is 
no longer used for the meeting and passing of trains.

BS-AP-No. 3372
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 the rail locks and associated power-
operated switch machines, on the two main track Baring Cross Bridge, 
milepost 345.4, near North Little Rock, Arkansas, Little Rock 
Subdivision.
    The reason given for the proposed changes is to modernize the 
operation of the Baring Cross Bridge.

BS-AP-No. 3373
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 the automatic block signal system, on the 
single main track, between Montana Junction, Idaho, milepost 136.7 and 
Idaho Falls, Idaho, milepost 189.4, Montana Subdivision, approximately 
53 miles; consisting of the discontinuance and removal of 81 automatic 
block signals and conversion of signals 1382 and ``BW Hold'' to 
operative distant signals.
    The reason given for the proposed changes is that traffic density 
does not warrant an automatic block signal system.
BS-AP-No. 3374
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 
No. 2 main track, between Valley Blvd X-Overs, milepost B-485.5 and 
Taylor Junction B-482.8, California, Los Angeles Division, Basin 
Subdivision, West Line; consisting of the discontinuance and removal of 
automatic block signal 4846 and designation of the No. 2 main track to 
a yard track.
    The reason given for the proposed changes is that due to minimum 
track usage, the automatic block signal system is no longer required.
BS-AP-No. 3375
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 
conversion of the manual interlocking system to a traffic control 
system, between Polk, milepost 131.8 and Elvas, milepost 92.1, 
California, Roseville Division, San Joaquin Subdivision.
    The reason given for the proposed changes is to enhance safety by 
having the operator use the same operating rules as the dispatchers on 
joining territories.

BS-AP-No. 3376
Applicant: Southern Pacific Lines, Mr. J. A. Turner, Engineer--Signals, 
Southern Pacific Building, One Market Plaza, San Francisco, California 
94105

    The Southern Pacific Lines (SP) seeks approval of the proposed 
discontinuance and removal of the barricade detectors and installation 
of 

[[Page 66340]]
Krail, in the SP Western Region, at the following dead end street 
locations:

Roseville Division

Brooklyn Subdivision, Valley Line, County Road Milepost C-737.8
Valley Subdivision, East Valley Line, Road Milepost C-183.0
Roseville Subdivision, No.1 Track, Forest Street Milepost A-124.7
Martinez Subdivision, Sacramento Line, Road Milepost A-9.4
Coast Subdivision, Coast Line, Road Milepost E-79.7
San Joaquin Subdivision, Fresno Line, Road Milepost B-109.5
San Joaquin Subdivision, Fresno Line, Road Milepost B-204.6
San Joaquin Subdivision, Sacramento Line, Road Milepost A-99.9

Los Angeles Division

Salinas Subdivision, Coast Line, Harris Road Milepost E-121.8
Santa Barbara Subdivision, Coast Line, Road Milepost E-403.2
Santa Barbara Subdivision, Coast Line, Road Milepost E-422.6

West Colton Division

Mojave Subdivision, Bakersfield Line, Road Milepost B-384.6
Mojave Subdivision, Bakersfield Line, Road Milepost B-400.0
Mojave Subdivision, Bakersfield Line, Road Milepost B-402.0
Yuma Subdivision, East Line, Road Milepost B-574.3
Gila Subdivision, Phoenix Line, Road Milepost R-922.8

El Paso Division

Carrizozo Subdivision, Tucumcari Line, Road Milepost B-1298.2
Carrizozo Subdivision, Tucumcari Line, Road Milepost B-1300.2
Carrizozo Subdivision, Tucumcari Line, Road Milepost B-1300.4

    The reason given for the proposed changes is that due to the 
crossings being closed for a number of years, the barricade detectors 
are no longer required, and will eliminate unnecessary train delays 
associated with vandalism.

BS-AP-No. 3377
Applicant: National Railroad Passenger Corporation, Ms. Alison Conway-
Smith, Vice President/Chief Engineer, 30th and Market Streets, 
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104

    The National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) and the 
Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) jointly seek approval 
of the proposed modification of the traffic control system, between 
Hill Interlocking, milepost 219.1 and South Bay Interlocking, milepost 
227.0 near Boston, Massachusetts, Dorchester Branch, New England 
Division; associated with the installation of a new ``Park 
Interlocking'' near milepost 224.0, the discontinuance and removal of 
the intermediate wayside signals on the No. 1 and No. 2 main tracks 
between South Bay and Dana Interlocking in favor of operating by cab 
signals alone, and the installation of NORAC Rule 280(a) signals at 
South Bay, Park, and Dana interlockings.
    The reason given for the proposed changes is that the existing 
wayside signals are at the end of their useful life span and will 
require replacement within the next four years. The Dorchester Branch 
is an extremely high crime and vandalism area, and the elimination of 
the wayside signals would increase the realiablity of the signal 
system, increase the safety of maintenance personnel, and maintain the 
safety of railroad traffic.

BS-AP-No. 3378
Applicant: Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad Company, Mr. William 
G. Peterson, Director Signal Engineering, 1900 Continental Plaza, 777 
Main Street, Fort Worth, Texas 76102-5304

    The Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad Company seeks approval of 
the proposed discontinuance and removal of the traffic control system, 
on the single main track, between Appleton, Minnesota, milepost 578.93 
and Summit, South Dakota, milepost 633.2, Willmar Division, 12th 
Subdivision, a distance of approximately 54.3 miles; including 
conversion of Big Stone Control Point, milepost 602.2 to automatic 
switches, conversion of the remaining power-operated switches to hand 
operation, removal of all associated signals, and operate train 
movements by Track Warrant Control. The proposed changes also include 
the installation of an operative approach signal near milepost 579.5 
and installation of a proximity warning system on all locomotives 
between Appleton, Minnesota and Terry, Montana.
    The reasons given for the proposed changes are that reduced traffic 
patterns do not justify high cost to maintain an aging signal system; a 
late October snow storm broke miles of pole line, cross arms, and poles 
which to replace in kind is estimated at $110,000; large amounts of 
capital dollars will be required to replace pole line with electronic 
coded track circuits in the near future; and full radio coverage is 
reported.

BS-AP-No. 3379
Applicant: Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad Company, Mr. William 
G. Peterson, Director Signal Engineering, 1900 Continental Plaza, Fort 
Worth, Texas 76102-5304

    The Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad Company seeks approval of 
the proposed discontinuance and removal of the traffic control and 
automatic block signal systems, on the single main track, between 
Summit, South Dakota, milepost 633.2 and Terry, Montana, milepost 
1078.9, Willmar and Yellowstone Divisions, Appleton, Mobridge, and 
Hettinger Subdivisions, a distance of approximately 445.7 miles; 
including conversion of West End of Aberdeen Control Point, near 
milepost 709.1 to automatic switches, conversion of the remaining 
power-operated switches to hand operation, removal of all associated 
signals, and operate train movements by Track Warrant Control. The 
proposed changes also include the installation of a proximity warning 
system on all locomotives between Appleton, Minnesota and Terry, 
Montana.
    The reasons given for the proposed changes are that reduced traffic 
patterns do not justify high cost to maintain an aging signal system; 
large amounts of capital dollars will be required to replace pole line 
with electronic coded track circuits in the near future; and full radio 
coverage will be provided.
    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, 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 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 18, 1995.
Phil Olekszyk,
Deputy Associate Administrator for Safety Compliance and Program 
Implementation.
[FR Doc. 95-31114 Filed 12-20-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P