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Railroad Newsline for Tuesday, May 01, 2007

Compiled by Larry W. Grant

In Memory of Rob Carlson, 1952 – 2006

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RAIL NEWS

GRAIN TRAIN SLAMS INTO 18-WHEELER, DRIVER ESCAPES INJURY

Video here:

[www.cnn.com]

(Video from CNN, courtesy Laura Kennedy of Richmond, TX who witnessed the collision while driving along U.S. 90.)

RICHMOND, TX -- A Union Pacific locomotive slammed into an 18-wheel tractor-trailer Friday afternoon at U.S. 90A and Harlem Road near Richmond, but the driver of the truck escaped injuries, law enforcement officials said.

“The train hit the 18-wheeler and split it in half,” said a spokeswoman for the Texas Department of Public Safety, which is investigating the accident. “There were no injuries, no derailment.
The train is still drivable,” although glass in the locomotive windshield was smashed.

The accident occurred at about 15:30 hours, said Fort Bend County Sheriff’s spokeswoman Terriann Carlson. After impact, the driver of the tractor-trailer “got out of the truck and was shaken” but apparently uninjured, as police officers on the scene did not request an ambulance.

It was unclear why the 18-wheeler was straddling the tracks when the train approached. No further details of the incident were immediately available from DPS or the sheriff’s department.

Union Pacific spokesman Joe Arbano said the 148-car train was carrying grain westbound from Beaumont to Robstown, and also reported no serious injuries from the accident.

Arbano said crews were on the scene working to make sure the train didn’t block roadways any longer than necessary. However, he added, railroad officials are required to download information from a locomotive’s “black box” after any accident -- before the locomotive can be moved.

Such information includes train speed and the number of times the horn was blown, he said. - Bob Dunn, FortBendNow.com

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ENGINE'S RUNNING OUT OF STEAM

PROVO, UT -- After 100 years of riding the rails and traveling some 250,000 miles since its last overhaul, engine No. 618 is ready to be upgraded -- or head straight toward an early retirement.

Photo here:

[deseretnews.com]

Caption reads: Shop foreman Jim Breeden sits in the fire box of Engine 618 as he works to repair the flue sheet on the century-old steam locomotive at the Heber Valley Historic Railroad in Heber. The foundation that runs the railroad is asking Wasatch and Utah counties and surrounding communities to help fund the $750,000 restoration of the aging locomotive. (Jason Olson, Deseret Morning News)

Heber Valley Historic Railroad Executive Director Craig Lacey has asked the Utah County Commission to help contribute funds toward restoring the aging locomotive, which was built in 1907.

Lacey is looking for $5,000 from the county, but the whole project is estimated to cost about $750,000 -- and it's worth every penny, Lacey says.

"This is the first time we've gone to these communities and asked for specific help," Lacey said. "The reason is (an overhaul) of this magnitude is more than we can do in our regular operation budget. ... ($5,000) is not a large amount of money, but it's more to demonstrate that we do have local support."

So far, Lacey has gained financial support from Midway, Heber, Wasatch County and several organizations within those communities.

If Utah County also agrees to pitch in, Lacey will garner about $30,000 from the railroad's neighboring communities.

The railroad has agreed to raise $100,000 on its own and will receive about $500,000 from a federal grant through the transportation enhancement program.

The remaining cost of labor will be donated by the railroad in in-kind services.

Photo here:

[deseretnews.com]

Caption reads: Engine 618 has hauled lots of tourists since becoming part of the Heber Valley historic railroad in 1970. (Jason Olson, Deseret Morning News)

As part of the overhaul, Lacey says the engine will be remodeled to look as it did 100 years ago when it was built. But more importantly, the machine will gain another 30 years of life.

"If we did not do the overhaul, we would no longer be able to operate the engine," Lacey says. "A lot of this work is mandated by federal safety standards. On a steam locomotive boiler, we are very closely governed by federal standards. We're only allowed to operate the engine for a certain period of time before it has to be overhauled, and we've arrived at the end of that time."

The estimated 2 1/2-year overhaul is expected to begin in March 2008 after No. 618 attends its birthday anniversary celebration on July 7.

The locomotive was originally built in Pennsylvania in July 1907. It ran for the Union Pacific railroad pulling pig iron carts between Ironton and Vineyard until 1957 when the engine was retired to the Utah State Fairgrounds.

In 1970, the engine was taken to Heber Valley as the first locomotive to join the historic railroad -- and it has been hauling tourist trains ever since.

For Mike Manwiller, chief mechanical officer for the historic railroad, the engine is well worth preserving, both as a historical relic and an old friend.

"There's an emotional attachment with a steam locomotive that doesn't happen with any other type of power because a steam locomotive is very much alive," Manwiller said. "To anyone who has stood close to a steam locomotive, it breathes ... and it takes on a life of its own. ... (There) is an extension of personality that comes forth with a locomotive and that breeds a deep love and affection that people have for the machinery."

Photo here:

[deseretnews.com]

Caption reads: Engine 618 will be remodeled to look as it did in 1907 -- and will gain another 30 years of life. (Jason Olson, Deseret Morning News)

According to Lacey, about 13 percent of the railroad's ridership from 2006 -- 94,000 passengers -- originated from Utah County.

The Utah County Commission is expected to make a decision on whether they will contribute funds to the restoration on May 8. - Amy Choate-Nielsen, The Deseret Morning News

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KATHRYN McQUADE JOINS CP FROM NORFOLK SOUTHERN

Fred Green, President and Chief Executive Officer of Canadian Pacific, announced Monday the appointment of Kathryn McQuade to the position of Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. Ms. McQuade will join the Company June 1st.

Ms. McQuade, is with Norfolk Southern Corporation of Norfolk, Virginia, where she is Executive Vice President Planning and Chief Information Officer. She has a diverse background and more than 26 years of senior managerial experience in the North American railway industry.

In her new position with Canadian Pacific, Ms. McQuade will be responsible for providing the strategic leadership and integration between CP's railway operations, information technology and strategic sourcing groups.

"The rail industry is becoming increasingly continental and Kathryn's proven skills, her US experience and strategic relationships are a strong complement to our experienced leadership team at CP" said Fred Green. "The insight she has gained from exposure to best practices at NS will add momentum to CP's vision to becoming the safest and most fluid railway in North America. We look forward to her joining the team".

Reporting to Kathryn will be Brock Winter, Senior Vice President Operations, who is responsible for CP's operations and led our step-function improvements in productivity and safety. Effective immediately, Brock will take on the added responsibilities of CP's intermodal operations across North America. - Leslie Pidcock, CP News Release

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UNION PACIFIC AND NORFOLK SOUTHERN TO OFFER FASTEST SERVICE BETWEEN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AND SOUTHEAST

OMAHA, NE AND NORFOLK, VA -- Union Pacific Railroad and Norfolk Southern Railway will significantly improve eastbound domestic transcontinental service from Los Angeles to the Southeast on May 21. The service improvement in this important high-volume lane will result from shifting traffic from the Memphis gateway to the new Shreveport, Louisiana, gateway.

This new route, combining Union Pacific’s Sunset Route between Los Angeles and Texas with Norfolk Southern’s and Kansas City Southern’s joint venture line between Shreveport and Meridian, Mississippi, is nearly 150 miles shorter than the current route, making it the shortest, fastest and most reliable intermodal route between Los Angeles and the Southeast. This change will result in the following improvements:

· Standard service to Atlanta will improve by one day to fifth-morning availability.

· BlueStreak premium service to Atlanta now will be available on the fourth afternoon, providing truck-competitive transit speeds of 600 miles per day.

· Cut-off times in Los Angeles have been moved to later in the day to allow more shipments to depart on that evening’s train. All eastbound domestic shipments will originate at Union Pacific’s LATC Intermodal Terminal in Los Angeles.

· There also will be improvements to other Southeast destinations.

Since expanding service and capacity in this lane in February, Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern BlueStreak has been running 100 percent on time. Both railroads continue to make major investments to expand capacity and enhance service performance on this route. Westbound domestic service is expected to be shifted to the faster Shreveport gateway during the third quarter of 2007. International shipments will remain routed via the Memphis gateway, and customers can expect improvements to this service in the months ahead.

Service details are available on both railroads’ web sites at [www.uprr.com] and [www.nscorp.com]. - James Barnes, UP and Robin C. Chapman, NS Joint News Release

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CN PURSUES ALTERNATIVE FUELS GROWTH STRATEGY

MONTREAL, QC -- The Canadian National Railway announced Monday its alternative fuels strategy focused on generating new business from the transportation of ethanol and ethanol feedstock, wood pellets, and biodiesel fuel.

James Foote, CN’s executive vice-president, Sales and Marketing, said: “Industries and consumers throughout North America and overseas are increasingly looking to alternative fuels to reduce energy costs, fuel-related emissions and greenhouse gases.”

Foote said CN’s geographic franchise in Canada and the United States is particularly well positioned to take advantage of growing markets for:

Ethanol

CN’s rail network has extensive access to the U.S. Midwest Corn Belt, source of much of the ethanol produced in the United States. From the Midwest, CN also offers corn farmers direct access to ethanol producers in Ontario, while in Western Canada CN is positioned to transport wheat for use as feedstock for ethanol production.

More than 30 per cent of gasoline in the U.S. is blended with ethanol, with the blended product used in 28 states. In Eastern Canada, the Ontario government on Jan. 1, 2007, mandated a five per cent blend of ethanol with gasoline.

Wood Pellets

Major power plants in North America, Europe and Asia are turning to wood pellets as an alternative to fuel oil, gas or electricity to heat homes. CN’s North American network and direct access to export terminals on the Pacific, Atlantic and Gulf coasts position the company perfectly to serve growing markets for wood pellets, which do not contribute to global warming because they emit the lowest greenhouse gases of any fuel burned. In addition, because wood pellets are made from scrap wood, they are a natural fuel that is completely recycled.

Biodiesel

Biodiesel is a clean burning fuel produced from renewable resources such as vegetable oil, animal fats or waste greases, and in its pure form is commonly blended with petroleum diesel or heating oil, resulting in an alternative fuel that is biodegradable, non-toxic and essentially free of sulphur and aromatics. CN serves two biodiesel facilities in Iowa and will serve further facilities that are planned for development in the U.S. Midwest. - Mark Hallman, CN News Release

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TCU ANNOUNCES MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR GIFT FROM BNSF FOR UNIVERSITY PROGRAMS

Last week, Texas Christian University (TCU) announced a multi-million dollar gift from BNSF to benefit two programs at TCU, Fort Worth, Texas -- the Next Generation Leadership Program in the Neeley School of Business and the University Career Services Center. TCU lists BNSF’s donation as the single largest gift from a corporate sponsor in its history.

"This very generous gift will help TCU more effectively fulfill its mission of educating ethical leaders and responsible citizens in the global community," said TCU Chancellor Victor Boschini. "We are honored that our business leadership and career services programs will bear the BNSF name."

"We want to partner with TCU to help develop and invest in leadership programs that apply both to BNSF and to other businesses and organizations within the region," said Matt Rose, BNSF chairman, president and CEO.

The BNSF Next Generation Leadership Program emphasizes the development of exceptional business students into tomorrow’s leaders. Chosen by application, business undergraduates participate in a comprehensive two-year leadership development experience that includes innovative academic curriculum, as well as speakers series, team training, forums and workshops about the skills and practices of leaders.

Students from the program also meet executives in area companies to experience leadership firsthand in a business world context. In April, the inaugural class of BNSF Next Generation Leadership students visited the BNSF facilities for their first corporate site visit.

Several senior executives discussed BNSF’s strategic business model and leadership philosophy, as well as provided advice on early career challenges and transitions.

In recognition of BNSF Foundation gift, the University Career Services will be named the BNSF Career Services Center. - BNSF Today

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BNSF ENGINEERING COVERS THE TRACKS

Do you know what the BNSF Railway Company's Engineering department does? Every year, Engineering, which includes 10,500 employees, is responsible for maintaining the structure of BNSF so that we can deliver products to our customers.

Engineering is accountable for a very complex business environment, especially considering the scope of the railroad, the diversity of BNSF's assets, and all of the "stress state" dynamics affecting the track. So, consider these other facts highlighting what is accomplished every day across the BNSF system:

· Maintain 128 million ties in 32,000 miles of track,

· Ensure 14,000 bridges are operational,

· Maintain 35 miles of tunnels,

· Ensure that 20,338 miles of train control signals (CTC, ABS) are operable,

· Upkeep 17,730 public highway crossings, and

· Upkeep 7,675 grade crossings with active warnings.

Replacing all these structures would cost about $64 billion! - BNSF Today

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BILL TRIES TO STEM METAL THEFTS THAT HIT CENTRAL VALLEY FARMERS

SACRAMENTO, CA -- California State Assemblyman Tom Berryhill, R-Modesto, is hoping to stem a rash of metal thefts that have hit the Central Valley particularly hard. Even some of his fellow legislators haven't been immune.

State Sen. Mike Machado, a Linden farmer, lost about $1,500 worth of irrigation equipment last fall.

Berryhill's bill would require scrap metal dealers to pay anyone bringing in metal with a check instead of cash. The checks would be payable 10 days after the transaction.

The bill also would require dealers to hold the scrap metal for 10 days or get a photograph of the person who brought in the metal.

The measure is intended to stop quick cash sales of stolen copper, aluminum and other high-priced metal and give investigators a way to trace the thefts.

The bill is a response to a rising number of thefts. Thieves' targets have included copper wiring from irrigation pumps, light poles, traffic signals, railroad communication systems even copper-rich bronze cemetery vases.

A Sacramento softball complex was forced to shut down for the night earlier in April after thieves stole copper wiring from its lighting system.

Catalytic converters in cars and trucks are another target. They contain tiny amounts of three precious metals platinum, palladium and rhodium.

Thefts of wiring from irrigation pumps can be particularly costly. The pumps contain less than $100 worth of copper, but taking the wiring destroys the pump.

Thieves have hit Merced farmer Kole Upton's pumps 11 times in the last 10 years, including once last month.

"I thought of putting a sign up that says, 'I'll give you $100 if you don't mess with my pumps,'" he said. - The Associated Press, The Riverside Press-Enterprise

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ANY PORT IN A STORM

SEATTLE, WA -- Just offshore of the messy and internecine Port of Seattle squabbles is the world around us, a churning place where ports and maritime industries compete with the ruthless ardor of combatants.

Let's drift our eyes north, about halfway between here and Anchorage, to Prince Rupert, B.C., where the Canadian and provincial governments are working to create a significant cargo terminal in the wilderness. Prince Rupert, now a town of about 18,000 people, mostly working in the timber industry, is the site of Western Canada's ambitious initiative. CBC News reported the following:

• Canada's federal government, plus the province, are putting up $30 million of a total of $120 million in expansion of a cargo terminal at Prince Rupert, expected to be operational by 2009.

• New Jersey-based Maher Terminals, the port operator, will add $60 million to the project. That company was just sold to a German firm.

• The B.C. hamlet is the closest land-sea terminal to Asia, and Canada is promising a "seamless" shipment of goods to rail from the new port. That would come with a large truck-transfer point 500 rail miles east of Port Rupert.

Had enough? B.C. highway, rail and border systems already have $3 billion committed to improvements. Combined with the ongoing commitment of its federal government, Prince Rupert will be yet another competitor to Pacific ports -- from B.C. to Baja.

Map here:

[seattletimes.nwsource.com]

To a packed audience before City Club Thursday, new Seattle Port CEO Tay Yoshitani said the new Port Rupert terminal "will definitely have an impact on us" -- less so with a potential new port at Lazaro Cadenas, Mexico, which would probably not compete with shipment through northern ports to Chicago and the Midwest.

Wishful thinking, I say. That big empty parking lot near Piers 90 and 91 that used to be covered with imported cars now sits empty. Port Commissioner John Creighton hinted a tenant is negotiating with the Port and the city for one of the best sites along the coast for light industry.

The Port's wooing of the cruise industry now puts about 830,000 people through Seattle every cruise season. That's great, although in Alaska and other locations the reputation of the Port of Seattle is that it engages in a significant giveaway (also known as accommodation) to the shipping lines. That's amid a strong revenue base across King County. The Port's levy for 2007 is $68.8 million in property taxes, a rate of 23.25 cents per $1,000 valuation.

All this suggests that while Port salaries and Port machinations are titillating, they are largely symbolic -- and trivial -- to the larger questions about who will direct Port policy and in what direction with both the property tax and the competition from abroad.

Yoshitani on Thursday said he could not think of "a business model that might work for both Tacoma and the Port of Seattle" -- although you would have to start with the easy equation that Seattle has the brand name and Tacoma has the land.

While we debate the local and the obvious, the world is moving on significant new routes across the Pacific and would just love to eat our bacon. - James Vesely, Editorial Page Editor, The Seattle Times, courtesy Dick Seelye

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STEAMWORKS' STEAM ENGINE LAGER NOW IN 12-PACK CANS

DURANGO, CO -- Just in time for summer, Steamworks Brewing Co. is rolling out 12-pack boxes of the multi-award winning Steam Engine Lager. The product is being distributed throughout Colorado and New Mexico, and joins the growing family of Steam Engine products available, including six-pack cans and bottles.

"Now you can easily take 12 mini-kegs with you to the wilds of Colorado," said Brian McEachron, Steamworks director of marketing and sales, noting the compact box provides for convenient transport. "It's a perfect way to take that beer back home to your friends."

One of Steamworks' most popular beers, the Steam Engine Lager is an authentic American-style lager classic noted for its malt sweetness, hop spice and smooth, dry finish. The beer has won gold at the 1997, 2000 and 2006 Great American Beer Festival (GABF), silver at the 1998 World Beer Cup in Rio de Janeiro, silver at the 2005 GABF and bronze at the 2003 GABF.

The 12-pack box, as well as the can design, six-pack box and bottle label feature Durango's key tourism attraction, the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. Created from a photo by Durango photographer Scott Smith of one of the D&SNG's authentic coal-fired steam engines, the packaging and label were designed by graphic artist Justin Travis.

Steamworks has also taken "the look" a step further creating a vertical point of purchase display featuring the railroad and holding boxes of Steam Engine Lager. It is designed to hold eight cases.

"It's a fun display in that as you work your way through the product it reveals all the medals the Steam Engine Lager has won over the years," said McEachron, noting that the display will grow in height as the beer continues to amass awards. "Come fall/Christmas time we will incorporate a toy train into the promotion, furthering our partnership with the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad."

Steam Engine Lager in cans is sold on the D&SNG excursions, as well as on the Verde Canyon railroad outside of Clarksdale, Arizona.

"The Steam Engine Lager truly is our flagship beer - and it's gaining 'tracktion,' throughout our distribution region," said McEachron.

A variety of Steamworks beers, including Steam Engine Lager, Lizard Head Red and Third Eye PA, are available in fine establishments throughout Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona. For further information regarding off-premise distribution contact the brewery at (970) 884-7837.

Steamworks Brewing Co. - Durango's "2005 Business of the Year" - is located at 801 E. Second. Ave., Durango (970-259-9200), and 442 Wolverine Drive in Bayfield Center, Bayfield (970-884-7837). Both brewpubs are open from 11:00 hours, serving lunch and dinner.

For further information, visit [www.steamworksbrewing.com]. - The Farmington Daily Times

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DEPUTIES ENFORCE TRAIN SAFETY

GREELEY, CO -- The man was already under the railroad crossing gates by the time Weld Sheriff's Deputy Brent Flot and everyone else on the train saw him.

"Look, there he goes," said Flot, shaking his head and on the radio to other deputies in a split second.

The man was unharmed, but he was soon picked up by sheriff's deputies and told that he had just broken the law by passing under the flashing railroad gates with his bicycle. The man left with a ticket for disregarding train crossing barricades.

Sheriff's deputies rode along on the Union Pacific Railroad line Friday morning looking for people who violated laws by trying to beat a train off the tracks or who went around gates that were down. The train traveled from La Salle to Ault on the tracks adjacent to U.S. 85.

In all, deputies handed out four tickets and gave one warning.

According to Michael Meyer, Union Pacific Police Department special agent, 18 percent of all train accidents in Colorado in 2006 happened in Weld County.

"Our goal is to encourage drivers to make good decisions at crossings," Meyer said. "A train can't swerve."

Meyer added that he thinks Weld may be a bad place for train accidents because of the growing economy, all the industry in the area and the fact that a lot of the railroads sit near major highways.

According to Meyer, there were 45 train crashes in Colorado in 2006. Of the 10 train fatalities, four were in Weld County. Since 2001, Weld County has had 40 train crash deaths.

The Union Pacific group is part of Operation Life Saver, a group that tries to educate the public on the dangers of trying to beat the train at crossings.

"People regularly run the stop signs, especially," said Rick Feit, a sheriff's deputy with the traffic unit, referring to the crossings that have only a stop sign and no gates protecting the cars. Four of the eight train crashes last year in Weld happened at crossings that only have stop signs.

The deputies teamed with Union Pacific police officers to chase the train and the violators around the tracks.

"A lot of times, they're sitting near the tracks and you're coming on the train, and they just blow through it," said Union Pacific Special Agent Mark Newton. Union Pacific has 221 of its own police officers, Newton said.

The conductor of the train, Dan Naylor, said he regularly sees violations in Greeley when taking a train through the city.

"Generally, we see someone run one of those every time we go through," Naylor said. "It's usually when (the gates) are activating -- that's when you see people slipping through there."

It's a dangerous game that people shouldn't play, said train engineer Craig Peters.

"People are in too much of a hurry. Unfortunately, their chances aren't too good," said Peters, who added that an engine can weigh as much as 200 tons.

"They lose," Peters said. - Andrew Villegas, The Greeley Tribune

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TAKE MOM FOR A FREE HISTORIC TRAIN RIDE THIS MOTHER'S DAY

CARSON CITY, NV -- Treat mom to a ride aboard historic Virginia & Trucked Railroad equipment during the Nevada State Railroad Museum's Mother's Day Steam Up on Saturday, May 12 and Sunday, May 13. Trains run every 40 minutes from 10:00 to 16:00 hours and MOMS RIDE FREE!

While at the museum with mom, enjoy an exhibit of model railroads showcasing northern Nevada and western railroads. Also, enjoy the interpretive display on railroads including the Southern Pacific, Western Pacific and the famous trains that ran along those routes. An operating model railroad brings the stories to life.

The Nevada State Railroad Museum operates steam-ups with historic Virginia & Truckee Railroad equipment on selected weekends throughout the year. The museum also participates in scholarly efforts, such as the annual V & T Railroad History Symposium held in Carson City each fall.

Open daily from 08:30 16:30 hours, the museum is located on Route 395 at the south end of Carson City at the intersection of Fairview Avenue. A yellow train station and red water tank at the entrance to the museum grounds are landmarks. For more information, please contact John Frink at (775) 687-6953.

The Nevada State Railroad Museum is one of seven museums of the Nevada Department of Cultural Affairs. The Department serves Nevada's citizens and visitors through cultural and information management, presentation and promotion of cultural resources, and education.

The Department also includes the State Historic Preservation Office, Nevada State Library and Archives and the Nevada Arts Council. For more information, please call Teresa Moiola at (775) 687-8323 or visit the department's website at [www.NevadaCulture.org]. - KRNV-TV4, Reno, NV

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A NEW STATION IN LIFE

Photos here:

[seattletimes.nwsource.com]

SEATTLE, WA -- For readers who recall last week's "Now and Then," this Sunday's scene is a little more than one block west and about 13 years later. Last week's photo looked north on Post Avenue (or street or alley) from Yesler Way through the grander ruins of the city's Great Fire of 1889. Here we look north again, this time from where, since 1953, Yesler Way has ducked below the Alaskan Way Viaduct.

Between 1887 and 1906, the long shed at the center of this ca. 1903 scene is what counted as Seattle's principal railroad station -- the Columbia Street station. About a year after the 1905 completion of the railroad tunnel beneath the central business district, Seattle was exalted with a new union depot, the King Street Station. Compared to this sprawling contraption, it was a palace, and with its present restoration, is again.

In 1903 nine sets of tracks crowded Railroad Avenue between the slanted awning seen here and Elliott Bay. The tracks and at least part of the station were supported on a timber quay above the tides. The seawalls came later. Rows upon rows of railroad stock, either parked or rolling, made it often impossible to reach the waterfront and always dangerous to try.

During World War I, Railroad Avenue started building a new life as a way for motorcars and trucks to get around the business district. This, of course, led to our now weakened viaduct. It may also lead to another tunnel, but not the one defeated in the recent election. Rather the new tunnel, like the railroad tunnel, would extend Highway 99 under the city. In the six years since our Nisqually earthquake, the machinery for this "deep-bore tunnel" option has been both engineered and used with success in Europe. - Paul Dorpat, The Seattle Times (Paul Dorpat specializes in historical photography and has published several books on early Seattle.)

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THOMAS THE TANK ENGINE COMING TO THE HEBER VALLEY RAILROAD IN MAY

A full size Thomas the Tank Engine is coming to the Heber Valley Railroad May 24-28 for the "Day Out With Thomas" All Aboard Tour.

The event will feature 25-minute rides aboard Thomas on the Heber Valley Railroad, meet and take a photo with Sir Topham Hatt™, The Imagination Station featuring hands-on activities, storytelling, Barnyard Bash, live music, magic shows and many more activities!

Thomas has been touring the country and this will be his once a year visit to Utah over Memorial Weekend, May 24th-28th. Trains Depart Every 45 Minutes with festivities continuing throughout the day. Tickets to ‘Day Out With Thomas’ are available at Smiths TIX, 800-888-TIXX, at the Heber Valley Railroad Depot, or online at [www.hebervalleyrailroad.org].

It is important to know that you must purchase tickets for a set time for the train ride. To get the day and time you want it is important to order early. Train times do sell out. - KTVX-ABC4, Salt Lake City, UT

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TRANSIT NEWS

RESIDENTS STAY HOME, USE TRANSIT TO AVOID COLLAPSED FREEWAY

OAKLAND, CA -- The promise of a nightmarish morning commute led many Bay Area residents to take advantage of free public transportation or work from home Monday, one day after a fiery tanker crash caused the collapse of a heavily trafficked section of freeway.

Westbound traffic into the city largely flowed as usual Monday morning, except for drivers slowing on interchange lanes headed to the Bay Bridge to look at the damage.

But officials warned the afternoon drive would bring bigger headaches as traffic leaving the city is diverted away from the collapsed eastbound segment.

An elevated section of highway that funnels traffic from the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge to a number of key freeways was destroyed early Sunday after flames from an overturned gasoline truck caused part of one overpass to collapse onto another.

Authorities predicted that overall the crash would cause the worst disruption for commuters since the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake damaged the Bay Bridge itself. The sight of the soaring freeway twisted into a fractured mass of steel and concrete was reminiscent of that quake's damage.

"The most worrisome thing is the afternoon commute coming out of San Francisco toward the maze," said Jeff Weiss, a spokesman for the California Department of Transportation, "because the traffic from the Bay Bridge fans out from across three freeways. Taking away two-thirds of the capacity is really going to cause a bottleneck."

Leo Kay, a spokesman for the Environmental Protection Agency, took a bus from the East Bay to his office in downtown San Francisco. Like other riders, he craned his neck to catch a view of the crumpled freeway as the bus approached the Bay Bridge.

"This is about the same as normal," he said of the traffic flow. "We'll see what the afternoon has in store."

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a state of emergency and authorized free transit on the Bay Area Rapid Transit rail system, ferries and buses.

Parking lots at outlying BART stations like El Cerrito and Pittsburg-Baypoint filled up earlier than usual as commuters tried to beat the rush they imagined was coming.

"I'm mad," said Crystal McSwain, who has a commuter pass for the trans-bay bus, but was taking BART - a more expensive option. "My life is upside down, and I don't know how long it's going to take."

Transit officials added trains and ferries for the morning commute, but while use appeared to be up, the accident didn't resulted in a crushing increase. It was hard to gauge exact numbers because no tickets were sold.

"I think a lot of people decided not to go in today," said Clarence Johnson, spokesman for AC Transit, one of several companies that runs buses between the East Bay to San Francisco. "It's not as heavy as what we thought it would be."

Many commuters avoided peak hours by leaving earlier or later than usual, BART spokesman Jim Allison said.

The City of Alameda, across the bay from San Francisco, increased its ferry fleet from two boats to five, but the number of passengers was only a little above normal, ferry manager Ernest Sanchez said.

Standing near the wreckage Sunday night, the governor said the state will respond quickly to rebuild the freeway.

Schwarzenegger said he hoped the state will "cut through all the red tape and all the bureaucracy ... so we can get the work done as quickly as possible."

But state transportation officials cautioned that it could take months to repair the damaged interchanges, and advised motorists to use public transportation. "This isn't going to be fixed in a matter of days," Weiss said.

The governor's emergency declaration will help streamline contracting and environmental codes to hasten cleanup and rebuilding efforts.

Though heat from the fire was intense enough to weaken the freeway and damage a stretch of highway hundreds of feet long, the truck's driver walked away from the scene to gas station, Officer Trent Cross of the California Highway Patrol said.

James Mosqueda, 51, of Woodland, called a taxi that took him to a nearby hospital with second-degree burns, Cross said. The CHP believes Mosqueda may have lost control because he was speeding, but the investigation is ongoing. Investigators were examining scrape marks and other physical evidence from the accident scene to determine what caused the collision and whether the driver was at fault, CHP Officer Les Bishop said.

Drugs and alcohol were not suspected as factors in the crash, he said.

Mosqueda was headed from a refinery in Benicia to a gas station near the Oakland airport when the accident occurred, according to the CHP.

"We are relieved that James is alive and in stable condition," Mosqueda's family said in a statement issued through Saint Francis Memorial Hospital in San Francisco, where he was being treated. "We are grateful that no one else was hurt and thank God that James is on the road to recovery."

The crash occurred around 03:45 hours on the MacArthur Maze, a network of ramps and interchanges at the edge of downtown Oakland and about a half-mile from the Bay Bridge toll plaza. About 80,000 drivers travel the closed connectors each day, according to transportation officials, with 280,000 commuters taking the Bay Bridge in and out of San Francisco daily.

California Department of Transportation director Will Kempton said intense heat from the flames caused the steel beams holding up the roadway to buckle and bolts holding the structure together to melt. The cost of repairs would likely run into the tens of millions of dollars, and the agency was seeking federal disaster aid, Kempton said.

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom said the fiery crash showed how vulnerable the Bay Area's transportation network is, whether to an earthquake or terrorist attack. Sunday's freeway collapse also has the potential to have a major economic effect on the city, he said.

"It's another giant wake up call," Newsom said. - Marcus Wohlsen, The Associated Press, The Sacramento Bee

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UTA, BYU ENGINEERING STUDENTS LOOK AT ADDING TRANSIT WIRELESS INTERNET

PROVO, UT -- Utah Transit Authority is figuring out how to add varying wireless Internet connections to its mass transit systems.

And the bus and train operation is getting some help from engineering students from Brigham Young University.

Calling themselves "Meshnet," 10 BYU students have been working on the project, earning school credit as they completed real-world research for UTA.

That's taught UTA something valuable, said engineer Abraham Kololli.

"In the last 10 years or so, we haven't tapped into higher education," Kololli said. "On the Wasatch Front, there are a lot of smart students, so if we tap into that, I think it will benefit both UTA and the community."

Students conducted their research over about four months, trying to establish a "mesh" network so that TRAX trains can connect to wireless portals as they move.

UTA gave the students free bus passes and Parvus, a communications company that specializes in mobile Internet connections, loaned them some equipment in exchange for rights to study findings.

The students - who said they were bored with their BYU engineering homework - tested their system over a one-mile segment of track in Salt Lake City.

Providing Internet service to TRAX riders isn't a high priority for UTAH, but engineer Kyle Brimley said the information is valuable.

"These students did a bang-up job of finding out what has to happen to have Wi-Fi (on TRAX)," Brimley said. "It's a good base to see how all of this technology can happen." - The Associated Press, The Salt Lake Tribune

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LIRR REVISES THIRD TRACK PLAN

NEW YORK, NY -- The Long Island Rail Road has changed its Third Track project plan, reducing its physical footprint and the number of properties affected, the LIRR said.

The LIRR had planned to seize small portions of up to 80 properties along the corridor in permanent or temporary easements to build a third track on an 11.5-mile stretch of the main line between Queens Village and Hicksville.

The amended plan now calls for a project stretching 10 miles and affecting 72 properties.

"Fifty-two of those 72 will be impacted by 5 feet or less," LIRR spokeswoman Susan McGowan said.

The Third Track plan calls for no full property takings. But a related project to eliminate five grade crossings in New Hyde Park and Westbury does call for full seizures.

The LIRR previously expected the grade crossing plan to affect 27 properties, including up to 19 full acquisitions. Now, the railroad expects the project to affect 22 properties, including between nine and 18 full seizures, McGowan said.

McGowan said the railroad changed its plans in response to input from local elected officials.

"As we work with the communities, we're trying to reduce the number of property impacts," she said. "And we're discussing options with them. ... We don't have our pencils down yet on the plan." - Jennifer Maloney, Newsday

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