[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