Western Railroad Discussion > BNSF buys UP track in Colorado

No, it's not Tennessee Pass. From today's Federal Register:
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Surface Transportation Board

[STB Finance Docket No. 34863]


BNSF Railway Company--Acquisition and Operation Exemption--Union
Pacific Railroad Company

AGENCY: Surface Transportation Board, DoT.

ACTION: Notice of Exemption.

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SUMMARY: Under 49 U.S.C. 10502, the Board is granting a petition for
exemption from the prior approval requirements of 49 U.S.C. 11323, et
seq., for BNSF Railway Company, a Class I carrier, to acquire and
operate approximately 25 miles of rail line of Union Pacific Railroad
Company (UP), a Class I carrier, extending from UP milepost 81.1 at
Union, CO, to UP milepost 56.1 at Sterling, CO.

DATES: The exemption will be effective on July 13, 2006. Petitions to
stay must be filed by June 23, 2006. Petitions to reopen must be filed
by July 3, 2006.

ADDRESSES: An original and 10 copies of all pleadings referring to STB
Finance Docket No. 34863 must be filed with the Surface Transportation
Board, 1925 K Street, NW., Washington, DC 20423-0001. In addition, one
copy of all pleadings must be served on petitioner's representative:
Sidney L. Strickland, Jr., 3050 K Street, NW., Suite 101, Washington,
DC 20007.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joseph H. Dettmar, (202) 565-1600.
[Assistance for the hearing impaired is available through the Federal
Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339.]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Additional information is contained in the
Board's decision. To purchase a copy of the full decision, write to, e-
mail, or call: ASAP Document Solutions, 9332 Annapolis Rd., Suite 103,
Lanham, MD 20706; e-mail: asapdc@verizon.net; telephone: (202) 306-
4004. [Assistance for the hearing impaired is available through FIRS at
1-800-877-8339.]
Board decisions and notices are available on our Web site at http://www.stb.dot.gov
.


Decided: June 7, 2006.

By the Board, Chairman Buttrey and Vice Chairman Mulvey.
Vernon A. Williams,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E6-9203 Filed 6-12-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-01-P

lowwater Wrote:
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> No, it's not Tennessee Pass.

Damn.

TME

This is a portion of the Julesburg cutoff on which BNSF had trackage rights. The line was stubbed at Union in the early-1990's when the remainder of the track between Union and Kersey near LaSalle was removed.

It is my understanding that this sale is tied to BNSF selling to UP, 23 miles of their former Frisco line between Rockview Jct (near Chaffee) and Sikeston, MO. This will enable UP to run southbound from Rockview Jct to Sikeston thence on a former MP branch to Dexter Jct. This will eliminate the single track bi-directional running on the former SSW between Dexter Jct and Rockview Jct. which sees more than 40 trains per day.

Anyone have an update on this project?

Mexrail

mexrail Wrote:
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> It is my understanding that this sale is tied to
> BNSF selling to UP, 43 miles of their former
> Frisco line between Rockview Jct (near Chaffee)
> and Sikeston, MO. This will enable UP to run
> southbound from Rockview Jct to Sikeston thence on
> a former MP branch to Dexter Jct. This will
> eliminate the single track bi-directional running
> on the former SSW between Dexter Jct and Rockview
> Jct. which sees more than 40 trains per day.
>
> Anyone have an update on this project?
>
> Mexrail

I understand there is alot of public backlash from the increased train traffic after directional running in Southeast Missouri starts. UP has put a hold on changing its traffic patterns as a result of this.

Midwest

midwest Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> mexrail Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > It is my understanding that this sale is tied
> to
> > BNSF selling to UP, 43 miles of their former
> > Frisco line between Rockview Jct (near Chaffee)
> > and Sikeston, MO. This will enable UP to run
> > southbound from Rockview Jct to Sikeston thence
> on
> > a former MP branch to Dexter Jct. This will
> > eliminate the single track bi-directional
> running
> > on the former SSW between Dexter Jct and
> Rockview
> > Jct. which sees more than 40 trains per day.
> >
> > Anyone have an update on this project?
> >
> > Mexrail
>
> I understand there is alot of public backlash from
> the increased train traffic after directional
> running in Southeast Missouri starts. UP has put a
> hold on changing its traffic patterns as a result
> of this.
>
> Midwest

Wondered why I hadn't heard anything. In my message (since corrected) I stated the BNSFline involved was 43 miles long, but it is actually about 23 miles.

Thanks,

Mexrail

Some of my UP buddies (in Omaha) tell me that many in UP really regret the abandonment of the LaSalle-Union trackage in light of the traffic patterns on the UP that have since emerged. Supposedly, this "premature" abandonment was one of ones that led the UP to leave Tennessee Pass in place--they didn't want to get burned again.

Anything about UP operating any more trains thru Sterling?

dan Wrote:
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> Anything about UP operating any more trains thru
> Sterling?

The issue is completely dead by what I've heard.

I was in Rockview, MO over the weekend. Grading for the replacement connection between UP and BNSF is complete, welded rail has been laid on the r/w, and there's a big stack of concrete ties there along with new panel turnouts. The existing connection is still in use, it's pretty ratty looking to be running coal trains on it (New Madrid coal trains are already using trackage rights between Rockview and Lilbourn). The new connection appears that it will break out of the Quarry siding, instead of the main line.

MAB Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I was in Rockview, MO over the weekend. Grading
> for the replacement connection between UP and BNSF
> is complete, welded rail has been laid on the r/w,
> and there's a big stack of concrete ties there
> along with new panel turnouts. The existing
> connection is still in use, it's pretty ratty
> looking to be running coal trains on it (New
> Madrid coal trains are already using trackage
> rights between Rockview and Lilbourn). The new
> connection appears that it will break out of the
> Quarry siding, instead of the main line.

Thanks for the update. Any idea if UP has already upgraded the 20 miles of the ex-MP Sikeston sub between Dexter Jct and Sikeston? Looking at Google Map it appears some buildings may have to be removed in Sikeston to make the connection from the BNSF to the UP.

Mexrail

Before the sale, UP invested a lot of materials to the Sterling line. Its a lot better shape than it used to be (a 25 mile slow order). It will be interesting to see if BNSF does any other changes to the line. The lone siding on the line (messex) is not long enough to park a coal train on. The little line is a real bottleneck. Another siding closer to Sterling would be great. Also, its ABS over the entire line. Maybe BNSF will put in CTC.