[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 25 (Friday, February 6, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6254-6255]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-2980]


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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 Code of Federal Regulations Part 236

    Pursuant to Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations (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. 3454

Applicant: Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway, Mr. William G. 
Peterson, Director Signal Engineering, 4515 Kansas Avenue, Kansas 
City, Kansas 66106.

    The Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway seeks approval of the 
proposed reduction of the traffic control system limits, on Main Track 
No. 2, at North Tennessee Yard, near Memphis, Tennessee, on the Thayer 
Subdivision, Southeastern Division, consisting of the relocation of 
Signal 180R and the associated Begin and End CTC limits, from milepost 
494.6 to milepost 492.9.
    The reason given for the proposed changes is that the planned 
installation of a new run through track (Third Quarter 1998), will 
allow straight through movements for the majority of freight trains on 
Main Track No. 1, and will eliminate unnecessary delays for the switch 
engine assignments that works customers on Main Track No. 2 between 
North Tennessee Yard and milepost 492.9.

BS-AP-No. 3455

Applicant: Union Pacific Railroad Company, Mr. P.M. Abaray, Chief 
Engineer--Signals 1416 Dodge Street, Room 1000, Omaha, Nebraska 
68179-1000.

    The Union Pacific Railroad Company seeks approval of the proposed 
modification of the traffic control system, on the two main tracks, 
mileposts' 566.7 and 566.8, near Laramie, Wyoming, Laramie Subdivision, 
consisting of the discontinuance and removal of Signal 566.7 on Track 
No. 1 and Signal 566.8 on Track No. 2.
    The reason given for the proposed changes is that the signals are 
no longer required and train operations will be improved by the 
increased signal spacing.

BS-AP-No. 3456

Applicant: Union Pacific Railroad Company, Mr. P.M. Abaray, Chief 
Engineer--Signals 1416 Dodge Street, Room 1000, Omaha, Nebraska 
68179-1000.

    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 Rock Street Industrial Lead track, 
Junction Bridge, milepost 345.0, near Little Rock, Arkansas.
    The reason given for the proposed changes is to modernize the 
operation of the Junction Bridge.

BS-AP-No. 3457

Applicant: Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, Mr. 
John LaForce, P.E., Deputy Chief Engineer, Operations, 1234 Market 
Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107-3780.

    The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) 
seeks approval of the proposed modification of Chestnut Hill West 
Interlocking, milepost 6.6, on the Chestnut Hill West Line, in 
Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, consisting of the conversion of 
Chestnut Hill West Interlocking from manual control to automatic 
operation. The proposed conversion includes the retirement of the 
manually controlled electro-mechanical interlocking machine for 
directing train movements; installation of vital microprocessor 
technology and revision of interlocking control logic to provide for 
the automatic routing of train movements; installation of a local 
control panel for manual manipulation in a central instrument housing; 
and revision of interlocking control logic to provide for existing 
split point derails and respective home signals to be operated by push 
button panels, to be located adjacent to the engineer's cab of a train 
ready for departure from the Chestnut Hill West Terminal, on each 
respective track.
    The reason given for the proposed changes is to retire obsolete 
facilities no longer required for present operation thereby reducing 
costs associated operating the 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., Mail Stop 25, Washington, D.C. 20590 
within 45 calendar days of the date of publication of this notice. 
Additionally, one copy of the protest shall be furnished to the 
applicant at the address listed above.

[[Page 6255]]

    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 2, 1998.
Grady C. Cothen, Jr.,
Deputy Associate Administrator for Safety Standards and Program 
Development.
[FR Doc. 98-2980 Filed 2-5-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P