[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 242 (Wednesday, December 17, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66174-66175]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-32909]


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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. 3440

    Applicant: Union Pacific Railroad Company, Mr. P.M. Abaray, Chief 
Engineer-Signals/Quality, 1416 Dodge Street, Room 1000, Omaha, Nebraska 
68179-1000.
    The Union Pacific Railroad Company seeks approval of the proposed 
discontinuance and removal of the automatic block signal system, on the 
single main track, between Wellton, milepost 770.8 and Arlington, 
milepost 861.6, Arizona, on the Gila Subdivision, Phoenix Line, former 
Southern Pacific Lines, a distance of approximately 91 miles. The 
proposed changes include removal of signals; switch point, and fouling 
protection; conversion of Signals 7719 and 8608 to inoperative D 
signals; conversion of Signals 40RA and 38RB at Wellington to red-lunar 
aspects; and conversion of Signal 8617 at Arlington to a lunar aspect.
    The reason given for the proposed changes is that this portion of 
the Phoenix Line has been shut down for a period of time and does not 
have any more rail traffic; the trackage will no longer be a main 
track, but will be used as a storage track.

BS-AP-No. 3441

    Applicant: Union Pacific Railroad Company, Mr. P.M. Abaray, Chief 
Engineer-Signals/Quality, 1416 Dodge Street, Room 1000, Omaha, Nebraska 
68179-1000.
    The Union Pacific Railroad Company seeks approval of the proposed 
discontinuance and removal of the automatic block signal system, on the 
single main track, between Port Chicago, milepost 40.9 and Tracy, 
milepost 78.7, California, on the Martinez Subdivision, Mococo Line, 
former Southern Pacific Lines, a distance of approximately 38 miles. 
The proposed changes include removal of signals, switch point, and 
fouling protection; conversion of Signal 433 to an operative D signal; 
conversion of Signal FA at Port Chicago to red-green aspect; and 
designation of the trackage to DTC operations.
    The reason given for the proposed changes is that this portion of 
the Mococo Line does not have rail traffic to warrant the signal 
system.

BS-AP-No. 3442

    Applicant: Union Pacific Railroad Company, Mr. P.M. Abaray, Chief 
Engineer-Signals/Quality, 1416 Dodge

[[Page 66175]]

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 Barge Canal Bridge, milepost 216.1, 
near Bloomington, Texas, on the Brownsville Subdivision.
    The reason given for the proposed changes is to modernize the 
operation of the Barge Canal Bridge.

BS-AP-No. 3443

Applicants:
    Arkansas and Missouri Railroad, Mr. G. B. McCready, Vice President 
and General Manager, 306 East Emma, Springdale, Arkansas 72764
    Union Pacific Railroad Company, Mr. P.M. Abaray, Chief Engineer-
Signals/Quality, 1416 Dodge Street, Room 1000, Omaha, Nebraska 68179-
1000

    The Arkansas and Missouri Railroad and Union Pacific Railroad 
Company jointly seek approval of the proposed discontinuance and 
removal of the traffic control system on the single main track, from 
the Arkansas River Bridge, milepost 410.6 to North Fort Smith, 
Arkansas, milepost 412.1, First Subdivision. The proposed changes 
include the discontinuance and removal of the North Fort Smith Control 
Point and the three controlled signals, conversion of the power-
operated switch to hand operation, installation of an approach signal 
near milepost 411.3, and conversion of the remotely controlled lift 
span bridge to local control utilizing radio signals to activate the 
automatic bridge lowering sequence.
    The reason given for the proposed changes is that the current 
traffic levels do not warrant the complexity, expense, and occasional 
delays of the existing CTC system controlled by the BNSF dispatcher in 
Ft. Worth, Texas.

BS-AP-No. 3444

    Applicant: CSX Transportation, Incorporated, Mr. R.M. Kadlick, 
Chief Engineer Train Control, 500 Water Street (S/C J-350), 
Jacksonville, Florida 32202.
    CSX Transportation, Incorporated seeks approval of the proposed 
modification of the signal system, on the single main track, near 
Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, Shenandoah Subdivision, Baltimore Service 
Lane, consisting of the replacement of Automatic Block Signal System 
Rules 243-247, between milepost BAD-1.0 and milepost BAD-0.0, with Yard 
Limit Rule 93, and conversion of the 5R automatic block signal to an 
inoperative approach signal.
    The reason given for the proposed changes is to enhance switching 
operations and increase efficiency.

BS-AP-No. 3445

    Applicant: Buffalo and Pittsburgh Railroad, Incorporated, Mr. David 
C. Baer, Chief Engineer, 201 North Penn Street, Punxsutawney, 
Pennsylvania 15767.
    The Buffalo and Pittsburgh Railroad, Incorporated seeks approval of 
the proposed discontinuance and removal of the traffic control and 
automatic block signal system, on the main tracks, between Ashford 
Junction, New York, milepost 43.3 and Riker, Pennsylvania, milepost 
223.5, on the Main Line Subdivision, a distance of approximately 180.2 
miles, consisting of the removal of all governing signals, 16 power-
operated switches, and 3 electric switch locks within the above 
milepost limits.
    The reason given for the proposed changes is to retire facilities 
no longer required for present operation.
    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.
    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 December 10, 1997.
Grady C. Cothen, Jr.,
Deputy Associate Administrator for Safety Standards and Program 
Development.
[FR Doc. 97-32909 Filed 12-16-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P