CCTGUY Wrote:
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> I not sure why SMART ( oxymoron) and NCRA/NWP
> cannot come to agreement as ESPEE99 states a 4 day
> operating window would work based on the current
> volume of traffic or even the anticipated volume
> of traffic with a 3 day a week operation cut back
> to 2 trips during the construction.
> NWP will be operating at night once SMART starts
> anyway as temprol seperation is the best option
> along with the very costly PTC.
>
> Starting in September of 2004 and Ending in
> December of 2005 the CCT Main line was rebuilt
> from 70lb and 75lb rail and very poor ties with
> minamal ballast between Stockton and MP 14.2 at
> Guild ( Lodi)CA. Operations to the Customer
> continued during the entire recconstuction of the
> line. This line handles many more carloads than
> the New NWP for a long time.
>
> Every Thursday the line was removed from service
> after the Local went north to Lodi and a a 1/2
> mile of track was removed and right of way graded
> and filter fabric was placed down and ballast and
> ties placed and the heavier 130 to 136lb rail was
> put in place and the track was placed back in
> service at 1600 on Monday, the contactor then
> worked a window from 0600 to 1400 tuesday and
> Wednesday to tamp and dress the newly installed
> track. Almost every road crossing was replaced
> with new concrete crossings and ROW drainage was
> improved and vegitation was cleared.
>
> CCT would leave the a locomotive in Lodi on
> Thusday night and then take the crew to Lodi on
> Friday to switch the industries with car brought
> in during the week. This allowed the customers to
> have a switch 5 days a week and not effect the
> operations. Outreach was done with the customers
> and the cities and coutny. The customers bought
> into the program and CCT business actually
> increased over the year before due to good
> communication and better service.
>
> On Monday CCT would take another Locomotive and
> cars interchanged on Friday and Sunday to Lodi
> from Stockton and work the customers taking the
> loads pulled out on Friday and Monday back for
> interchange. Both Union Pacific and BNSF
> cooperated to expidiate the traffic that had been
> delayed on Friday.
>
> A rebuild can be done and still provide service to
> customers and as the Lodi line rebuild found out
> in most cases a delay of a day or two on a rail
> load is not the end of the world. CCT adhered to
> the constuction window during the whole process
> and in the end the cusotmers never had a complaint
> and now they have a a railroad serving them with
> FRA class 4 track (59 mph for passenger if there
> were any, 40 mph freight) CCT operates it as FRA
> class 2 track (25/30 mph) as the CCT does not need
> to rocket to Lodi at 40 mph when 25 mph saves fuel
> and track wear and only save about 16 minutes each
> day.
>
> After reading for the past few years about SMART
> and the NCRA I do not think there is anyone there
> who could switch there way out of a wet paper bag.
> The good folks at the New NWP are railroaders and
> if allowed by the fumbling, bumbling bureaucrats
> at NCRA and SMART to make a plan it might just
> work and still serve the few customers NWP now
> has.

Oregon Pacific is currently negotiating much the same arrangement with the TriMet Milwaukie Light Rail construction where our East Portland yard will be completely rebuilt under traffic which consists entirely of time sensitive inbound reefer traffic.

Existing track will be shifted around and the new trackage built in sections and then connected with a 4-day work window where we will not be able to operate through the area but be able to give daily switches with the cars on hand. In such a scenario, prior planning is paramount!

As with the CCT, we will have all new trackage with 115# rail, concrete panel crossings, ergonomic switch stands, two radio controlled power switches as well as an at-grade interlocker. As with the CCT; the customers patience will pay off in the long run.

We recently completed a similar upgrade of our main line at Golf Junction where we replaced three crossings with welded 115# rail and concrete panels as well as relaid several hundred feet of main track and rebuilt a turnout with a one-week work window. A similar project to do the same with two more crossings is scheduled for September along with surfacing additional track. This all being funded with public money in conjunction with the extension of a recreational trail alongside our track.

Many photos of the project on our website.

Dick Samuels
www.oregonpacificrr.com
Dick Samuels