Western Railroad Discussion > BNSF Topeka Sub Question

The BNSF is installing CTC on the Topeka Sub. This makes no sense unless they plan to extend some sidings. I'm trying to figure out which ones they might extend. My November 5, 1978 Santa Fe Eastern Division ETT shows 12 sidings on the then First District. Most are between 2000 and 4000 feet in length with these exceptions, DeSoto 5350 feet, Lawrence 6500 feet, Topeka 7900 feet, Osage City 5000 feet. As route56 pointed out the siding at Lawrence is still there, but I have to doubt that it’s over a mile in length. I was wondering if anyone knew which sidings have been taken up on the Topeka Sub. DeSoto and Lawrence might be candidates for extension, but what about south of Topeka? Thanks for your help.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/13/17 09:59 by WichitaJct.

It makes plenty of sense to install CTC even without any siding extensions if trains are only run in one direction. The CTC eliminates the need to copy Track Warrants for every train to authorize main track movement. It's much easier for the dispatcher to click a mouse. BSB

No sidings are being extended at this time. Desoto is 8,600 ft, Lawrence is 6,500 ft, Tecumseh is 7,900 ft, and Osage City is 5,000 ft. The sidings at Lakeview and Pauline are both ~2,500 ft but neither will become controlled sidings. CTC gives the railroad greater flexibility to run Amtrak and the Topeka based locals in and out of rerouted traffic and, as BigSkyBlue mentioned, lowers the dispatchers work load. PTC is also being installed and will be in operation after CTC is complete.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/13/17 11:18 by Milw_E70.

From an operational perspective this seems like lots of $$$$ for little additional benefit. They do directional running on the Topeka sub now with TWC. I just don't see how the money spent is justified by the dispatcher's job being a bit easier and maybe slightly more efficient. Lawrence is the staging area for equipment and materials for this project and it looks to me like it's costing plenty.

BigSkyBlue Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> It makes plenty of sense to install CTC even
> without any siding extensions if trains are only
> run in one direction. The CTC eliminates the need
> to copy Track Warrants for every train to
> authorize main track movement. It's much easier
> for the dispatcher to click a mouse. BSB

Job consolidation. Convert more TWC trackage to CTC and they will give the dispatchers bigger territories. More work with less people.

Posted from iPhone

It kind of reminds me of UP turning some rather long subdivisions of the SP in the Los Angeles area into "industrial leads" where multiple trains can run around without track warrant protection and just have to operate at restricted speed to protect against themselves.

The line to Anaheim and Santa Ana comes to mind.

Less work for the dispatcher.

Ahh, but this will surely allow for higher capacity along the line, as these days, and can generally run no more than about three or four trains on the line at any given time in one direction, due to the Warrant situation. This will certainly increase the number of trains they can run along the line in its capacity as the Emporia Sub's Main 3.

- Jeff Carlson

WichitaJct Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> From an operational perspective this seems like
> lots of $$$$ for little additional benefit. They
> do directional running on the Topeka sub now with
> TWC. I just don't see how the money spent is
> justified by the dispatcher's job being a bit
> easier and maybe slightly more efficient. Lawrence
> is the staging area for equipment and materials
> for this project and it looks to me like it's
> costing plenty.
>
> BigSkyBlue Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > It makes plenty of sense to install CTC even
> > without any siding extensions if trains are
> only
> > run in one direction. The CTC eliminates the
> need
> > to copy Track Warrants for every train to
> > authorize main track movement. It's much
> easier
> > for the dispatcher to click a mouse. BSB

WichitaJct Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> From an operational perspective this seems like
> lots of $$$$ for little additional benefit. They
> do directional running on the Topeka sub now with
> TWC. I just don't see how the money spent is
> justified by the dispatcher's job being a bit
> easier and maybe slightly more efficient. Lawrence
> is the staging area for equipment and materials
> for this project and it looks to me like it's
> costing plenty.
>
> BigSkyBlue Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > It makes plenty of sense to install CTC even
> > without any siding extensions if trains are
> only
> > run in one direction. The CTC eliminates the
> need
> > to copy Track Warrants for every train to
> > authorize main track movement. It's much
> easier
> > for the dispatcher to click a mouse. BSB

If you are using a secondary route as a primary reroute line,
then it makes sense as the secondary route, in this case the
Topeka Sub, can handle sudden increases when traffic is
rerouted off the Emporia Sub between Holliday and Emporia.
(Sorry, Lance, can't remember the junction name at Emporia,
NR I think, off the top of my head.) Since this is a
regular occurance, the addition of CTC makes a great deal
of operational sense and cost benefits. Plus the other
stuff that got mentioned.

Nick Tharalson,
Marion, IA

ntharalson Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> (Sorry, Lance, can't remember the junction name at Emporia,
> NR I think, off the top of my head.)

I'm not Lance/199, but I can confirm that your first instinct is correct. The west end of the Topeka sub is at NR Junction.

Last Friday, while waiting for the Amtrak special at Lawrence, I heard the dispatcher clear a warrant for a manifest with limits of "CTC Reading" and "CTC West Desoto" Somewhat odd for me to hear, when I've become accustomed to "CTC NR Junction" and "CTC Holliday"

Richie Kennedy
Lawrence, KS
route56.com