Western Railroad Discussion > BNSF Capital projects for 2019

On 2-13-2019, BNSF announced their capital plans.  In the press release, they stated, "Approximately $760 million of this year’s capital plan has been allocated for expansion and efficiency projects. A majority of the expansion projects are planned on the Northern and Southern Transcom routes, connecting Southern California with Chicago and the Pacific Northwest to Upper Midwest respectively". I would guess that some of the projects could be such items that might have already begun such as additional main tracks at Kingman Arizona on the Southern Trancom or some of the permitting and other work for the Lake Pend Oreille bridge in Idaho on the Northern Transcom. Does anyone yet have specific firm details on what else is planned and ready for 2019?

stevef Wrote:
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> On 2-13-2019, BNSF announced their capital plans.
>  In the press release, they stated,
> "Approximately $760 million of this year’s
> capital plan has been allocated for expansion and
> efficiency projects. A majority of the expansion
> projects are planned on the Northern and Southern
> Transcom routes, connecting Southern California
> with Chicago and the Pacific Northwest to Upper
> Midwest respectively". I would guess that some of
> the projects could be such items that might have
> already begun such as additional main tracks at
> Kingman Arizona on the Southern Trancom or some of
> the permitting and other work for the Lake Pend
> Oreille bridge in Idaho on the Northern Transcom.
> Does anyone yet have specific firm details on what
> else is planned and ready for 2019?

It's "transcon", with an "n"...short for "transcontinental".

Start construction of the second main on the Emporia sub from Ellinor to Mulvane, should be a 3 year project so long they keep it in the budget

Posted from iPhone

These are good projects. What else is on the list?

Posted from Android

I’m sure if they could get the permitting process completed they’d start construction on SCIG down at the port of LA/LB.

Posted from iPhone

Haven’t heard of any additional mains in Kingman.  Where are you hearing this from?

Hello,

Think the OP may have meant Needles track expansion, not Kingman.

Troy

Posted from Android

SantaFe Wrote:
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> I’m sure if they could get the permitting
> process completed they’d start construction on
> SCIG down at the port of LA/LB.
>
> Posted from iPhone

The project is on life support. Even if they received all the necessary permits it would get tied up in court so long as to make it unattractive. It certainly helps UP/ICTF long term if it never gets built.

Allen

Posted from Android

Correct on Needless.

Out

Thanks for clarifying that it is Needles California and not Kingman Arizona.

It appears that there will be additional crew hires in Needles as well, need a third main to Goffs to help the nose to
tail thing some days. The crossing at Hwy 95 which is the main drag from Vegas to Needles really gets blocked at
times due to the rather lengthy and slow trains.

Out

Any chance for a 95 bypass bridge at Needles?

Posted from Android

It would be a major project including realigning Goffs Road, would say not in the budget and not likely to ever
be in the budget.

Out

I would think a hiway 95 project would be mostly funded by the state.

Additional main in Winslow and a "natural crossover" at Seligman are what I've heard.

Hoping for a breakdown on the expansion projects. Thinking the finishing of the Sandpoint to Spokane double tracking has got to be in there (bridges over the Spokane River and Lake Pend Orielle). Would be really good if they also started double tracking Lakeside Jct to East Cheney to solve a number of operational issues there. The other big bottleneck is the twisted Hatton-Connell trackage on the Lakeside Sub. The project should be kicking off in the near future.

Ted Curphey
Ontario, OR

funnelfan Wrote:
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> Hoping for a breakdown on the expansion projects.
> Thinking the finishing of the Sandpoint to Spokane
> double tracking has got to be in there (bridges
> over the Spokane River and Lake Pend Orielle).
> Would be really good if they also started double
> tracking Lakeside Jct to East Cheney to solve a
> number of operational issues there. The other big
> bottleneck is the twisted Hatton-Connell trackage
> on the Lakeside Sub. The project should be kicking
> off in the near future.

The last of the 1941 jointed rail and switches are being replaced with 136 lb. welded rail on the Yakima Valley Subdivision in eastern Washington state (Stampede Pass line). CTC still a few years out. Mother Nature hasn’t been kind this Feb. and so work has been delayed. This is part of the 2018 projects to upgrade the entire line between Auburn, WA and Pasco, WA.

stampedej Wrote:
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> The last of the 1941 jointed rail and switches are
> being replaced with 136 lb. welded rail on the
> Yakima Valley Subdivision in eastern Washington
> state (Stampede Pass line).

Later in the year, the Stampede Sub gets much of its remaining jointed mainline rail eliminated, too.  Though, not all of it.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/17/19 19:52 by MP555.

I thought BNSF decided a second main was not needed because of the directional running through Wichita for eastbounds and through El Dorado for westbounds? What prompted BNSF to change its mind?


SantaFe Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Start construction of the second main on the
> Emporia sub from Ellinor to Mulvane, should be a 3
> year project so long they keep it in the budget
>
> Posted from iPhone

stampedej Wrote:
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> The last of the 1941 jointed rail and switches are
> being replaced with 136 lb. welded rail on the
> Yakima Valley Subdivision in eastern Washington
> state (Stampede Pass line). CTC still a few years
> out. Mother Nature hasn’t been kind this Feb.
> and so work has been delayed. This is part of the
> 2018 projects to upgrade the entire line between
> Auburn, WA and Pasco, WA.

Wouldn't think CTC would be needed on this line.  Isn't it essentially directional running for the most part with the "Iron Triangle"?  The low clearances of the summit tunnel are always going to be a big problem on Stampede Pass, unless they are going to enlarge it.