[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 34 (Tuesday, February 20, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6408-6409]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-3730]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration


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 49 CFR Part 236 as 
detailed below.

Block Signal Application (BS-AP)--No. 3380
    Applicant: Twin Cities and Western Railroad Company, Mr. William F. 
Drusch, President, 2925--12th Street East, Glencoe, Minnesota 55336

    The Twin Cities and Western Railroad Company (TCW) seeks approval 
of the proposed discontinuance and removal of the traffic control 
signal system (TCS), on the single main track, between Glencoe, 
Minnesota, milepost 466.9 and Tower E-14, near Hopkins, Minnesota, 
milepost 435.0, a distance of approximately 32 miles, and operate 
trains by track warrant control.
    The reason given for the proposed changes is that the character of 
the former Milwaukee Road trackage has changed substantially since the 
installation of the TCS, with the present traffic density and 30 mph 
maximum authorized speed, TCS is no longer required for safe operation.

BS-AP-No. 3381
    Applicant: Central Oregon and Pacific Railroad, Mr. George 
LaValley, General Manager, P.O. Box 10831416 Dodge Street, Room 1000, 
Roseburg, Oregon 68179-0001

    The Central Oregon and Pacific Railroad seeks approval of the 
proposed discontinuance and removal of the automatic block signal 
system, on the single main track, between Ashland, Oregon, milepost 
429.1 and Glendale, Oregon, milepost 510, on the Siskiyou Line, a 
distance of approximately 81 miles.
    The reason given for the proposed changes is that current traffic 
and the maximum authorized speed of 25 mph do not justify continuation 
of the automatic block signal system.

BS-AP--No. 3382
    Applicant: Central Oregon and Pacific Railroad, Mr. George 
LaValley, General Manager, P.O. Box 10831416 Dodge Street, Room 1000, 
Roseburg, Oregon 68179-0001

    The Central Oregon and Pacific Railroad seeks approval of the 
proposed discontinuance and removal of the automatic block 4 signal 
system, on the single main track, between Cornutt, Oregon, milepost 
538.8 and Springfield Junction, Oregon, milepost 644.3, on the Siskiyou 
Line, a distance of approximately 105.5 miles.
    The reason given for the proposed changes is that current traffic 
and the maximum authorized speed of 25 mph do not justify continuation 
of the automatic block signal system.

BS-AP-No. 3383
    Applicant: Consolidated Rail Corporation, Mr. J. F. Noffsinger, 
Chief Engineer--C&S, 2001 Market Street, P.O. Box 41410, Philadelphia, 
Pennsylvania 19101-1410

    Consolidated Rail Corporation (Conrail), seeks approval of the 
proposed discontinuance and removal of the traffic control signal 
system, on the single main track Carman Branch, between Conrail's 
Chicago Line, ``CP-156'', milepost 0.0, near Carman, New York and 
Conrail's Selkirk Branch, ``CP-SH'', milepost 3.7, near Schenectady, 
New York, Albany Division. The proposed changes consist of the removal 
of intermediate signals 18E and 18W, and redesignation of the track to 
the Carman Running Track.
    The reason given for the proposed changes is to retire facilities 
no longer required for present operation.

BS-AP-No. 3384
    Applicant: Montana Rail Link, Incorporated, Mr. Richard L. Keller, 
Chief Engineer, P. O. Box 8779, Missoula, Montana 59807

    The Montana Rail Link, Incorporated seeks approval of the proposed 
modification of the traffic control signal system, on the single main 
track, 

[[Page 6409]]
between East Hope, milepost 102.7 and West Kootenai, milepost 118.04, 
Idaho, on the Fourth Subdivision; consisting of the discontinuance and 
removal of 10 automatic intermediate block signals and installation of 
8 automatic intermediate block signals, associated with the 
installation of electronic coded track circuits and pole line 
elimination.
    The reason given for the proposed changes is to upgrade the signal 
system and improve train operations.

BS-AP-No. 3385
    Applicant: Chesapeake and Albemarle Railroad Company, Mr. Jeff 
Forster, General Manager, 214 N. Railroad Street, Ahoskie, North 
Carolina 27910

    The Chesapeake and Albemarle Railroad Company seeks approval of the 
proposed discontinuance and removal of the interlocking signals at the 
A & C Canal Draw Bridge, milepost 9.5, near Chesapeake, Virginia and at 
the Pasquotank River Swing Bridge, milepost 41.5, near Camden, North 
Carolina, replacing the absolute signals with stop signs.
    The reason given for the proposed changes is that the railroad has 
experienced much vandalism on a regular basis.

BS-AP-No. 3386
    Applicants: CSX Transportation, Incorporated, Mr. D. G. Orr, Chief 
Engineer--Train Control, 500 Water Street (S/C J-350), Jacksonville, 
Florida 32202
    Soo Line Railroad Company, Mr. J. A. Inshaw, Chief Engineer, Soo 
Line Building, Box 530, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55440

    CSX Transportation, Incorporated and Soo Line Railroad Company 
jointly seek approval of the proposed discontinuance and removal of the 
automatic block signal system, on the single main track, between 
Bedford, Indiana, milepost Q245.8 and Mitchell, Indiana, milepost 
Q255.3, Louisville Division, Hoosier Subdivision. In addition the 
proposed changes include conversion of ``Bedford Interlocking'' from 
automatic to stop board operation, conversion of the power-operated 
switch at milepost Q245.91 to hand operation, and govern train 
operation under DTC Rules.
    The reason given for the proposed changes is that traffic density 
does not warrant retention of the signal system.
BS-AP-No. 3387
    Applicants: Norfolk Southern Corporation, Mr. C. M. Golias, Chief 
Engineer--S&E Engineering, Communication and Signal Department, 99 
Spring Street, S.W., Atlanta, Georgia 30303
    CSX Transportation, Incorporated, Mr. D. G. Orr, Chief Engineer--
Train Control, 500 Water Street (S/C J-350), Jacksonville, Florida 
32202

    The Norfolk Southern Corporation (NS) and CSX Transportation, 
Incorporated (CSX) jointly seek approval of the proposed reduction to 
the traffic control system limits, on the Winding Gulf Branch secondary 
track, Princeton Deepwater District, Pocahontas Division, near 
Stotesbury, West Virginia; consisting of the relocation of controlled 
holdout signal 66R from milepost WG-16.1 to milepost WG-12.2 and 
installation of an approach distance signal at milepost WG-14.2.
    The reason given for the proposed changes is to allow for control 
of traffic interchange between CSX and NS at Helen siding.

Rules Standards & Instructions Application (RS&I-AP)--No. 1099
    Applicant: Union Pacific Railroad Company, Mr. L.A. Roach, 
Director--Operating Practices/FRA, 1416 Dodge Street, Room 625, Omaha, 
Nebraska 68179

    The Union Pacific Railroad Company (UP) seeks relief from the 
requirements of Section 236.566 (49 CFR, 236.566) of the Rules, 
Standard and Instructions to the extent that UP be permitted to operate 
foreign or system, non-equipped automatic cab signal/automatic train 
stop (ACS/ATS) locomotives, involved in detour movements, in UP ACS/ATS 
territory as a result of derailments, natural disasters, etc., for a 
period of up to seven days subject to train operations under provisions 
of the General Code of Operating Rules, Rules 11.1 and 11.2, Absolute 
Block, and notification of the FRA within 24 hours of the beginning of 
each such movement.
    Applicant's justification for relief: To permit continued 
operations under such circumstances as natural disasters, derailments, 
or extraordinary service interruptions, for a limited length of time, 
without the need to obtain individual waivers or emergency provision, 
outside normal business hours, while relieving workload on both the UP 
and FRA in processing these repetitive waiver requests.

RS&I No. 1100
    Applicant: Consolidated Rail Corporation, Mr. J. F. Noffsinger, 
Chief Engineer--C&S, 2001 Market Street, P.O. Box 41410, Philadelphia, 
Pennsylvania 19101-1410

    Consolidated Rail Corporation (Conrail) seeks relief from the 
requirements of the Rules, Standard and Instructions to the extent that 
they be allowed to operate non-equipped locomotives in automatic cab 
signal territory, on the two main tracks between ``Rochester'' 
Interlocking, milepost 25.9, near Rochester, Pennsylvania and ``CP 
Alliance'', milepost 83.2, near Alliance, Ohio, on the Fort Wayne Line, 
Pittsburgh Division, for the following operations:
    1. Wire trains, work trains, wreck trains, and ballast cleaners to 
and from work;
    2. Engines and Rail diesel cars moving to and from shops; and
    3. Engines used in switching and transfer service, with or without 
cars, not exceeding 20 miles per hour.
    Applicant's justification for relief: Exemptions are already 
authorized for operation of non-equipped locomotives in cab signal 
territory at other locations on Conrail, and this relief request would 
be an extension of the already existing exemptions.
    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 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 14, 1996.
Phil Olekszyk,
Deputy Associate Administrator for Safety Compliance and Program 
Implementation.
[FR Doc. 96-3730 Filed 2-16-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P