Miscellaneous

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Miscellaneous

Weather Impacts Rail Freight Traffic to Start September

September 13, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire
WASHINGTON — At least partly because of weather-related issues (Hurricane Gustav at the beginning of the week and Tropical Storm Hanna later in the week), freight traffic on U.S. railroads was off during the first week of September in comparison with the corresponding week last year, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported today. Both this year’s week and the comparison week from last year included the Labor Day holiday. Total volume was estimated 32.0 billion ton-miles, down 3.3 percent from the comparable week last year. Carload freight in the week totaled 306,340 cars, off 3.5 percent from last year.
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Miscellaneous

North Georgia Live Steamers at the GIHP

September 5, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire
CONYERS, Ga. — A new railroad will soon be laying track at the Georgia International Horse Park, the new home of the North Georgia Live Steamers. Formed in 1977, the North Georgia Live Steamers is a club composed of individuals interested in promoting the live steam hobby and assisting others interested in the construction of scale steam engines, diesel locomotives and railroad equipment. The group previously constructed and conducted “open run” weekends where the public was invited to ride on the 7.5 inch gauge, 1.5 inch scale railroad at their former location at the Southeastern Rail and Transportation Museum in
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Miscellaneous

Rail Reregulation Rejected by Eastern Region of Council of State Governments

August 17, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire
WASHINGTON — The Eastern Regional Conference of the Council of State Governments has come out against schemes to reregulate the nation’s freight railroads. In a resolution passed August 13 by the group’s executive committee, the Council warned that congressional proposals to reregulate the railroads “may significantly reduce income and in turn reduce the ability (of railroads) to raise capital needed for future infrastructure expansion.” The northeastern region of the U.S. “will require significant railroad corridor development through railroad company/state government partnerships to accommodate future goods and passenger movement,” according to the resolution. The resolution notes that expanding the capacity of
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Miscellaneous

Freight Railroads Seek to Allow Risk Sharing as Condition for Transport

August 16, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire
WASHINGTON — Calling the safety of the American public of paramount importance, the nation’s freight railroads today urged the country’s shippers of highly hazardous materials or toxic inhalation hazards (TIH) to become full partners with the railroads in safely transporting those dangerous commodities. “Nothing is more important than the safety of our employees and the communities through which we operate,” said Edward R. Hamberger, president and CEO of the Association of American Railroads (AAR) during a hearing at the Surface Transportation Board (STB) on the railroad industry’s common carrier obligation as it relates to hazardous materials. “It’s only reasonable that
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FRA

Alaska Railroad Receives FRA Grant for Rail/Highway Bridge to Military Training Area

August 2, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire
WASHINGTON — The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is awarding $44.2 million to the Alaska Railroad for a dual use railroad/highway bridge over the Tanana River to the U.S. military’s Joint Tanana Training Complex. The bridge, which is part of the Northern Rail Extension project, is part of the new 80-mile rail line from North Pole to Delta Junction. The grant funds are to be used to advance existing designs to contract-ready engineering documents; complete filings for all necessary permits; obtain required rights-of-way; build construction staging areas; and begin construction of the bridge and connecting roadways. However, no funds may be
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Miscellaneous

Portec Rail Products, Inc. Reports 2008 Second Quarter and Six Month Operating Results

August 1, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire
PITTSBURGH — Portec Rail Products Inc. announced record unaudited net income of $2,403,000 or $0.25 per share for the three months ended June 30, 2008, a 27 percent increase over second quarter 2007 net income of $1,887,000 or $0.20 per share. Average basic and diluted shares outstanding were 9.6 million for both periods. Net sales for the second quarter 2008 totaled $30.2 million, a 4 percent increase over second quarter 2007 net sales of $29.1 million. Net income for the six months ended June 30, 2008 grew to $3,747,000 or $0.39 per share, a 21 percent increase over net income
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Miscellaneous

STB Denies Nev.’s Request to Halt DOE Project

June 30, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire
WASHINGTON — The Surface Transportation Board has denied a request by the State of Nevada to reject the application of the United States Department of Energy for authority to construct and operate an approximately 300-mile railroad line in Nevada, in the Board proceeding entitled United States Department of Energy — Rail Construction and Operation — Caliente Rail Line in Lincoln, Nye, and Esmeralda counties. The Board found that DOE’s application was sufficiently complete for this stage of the proceeding. The proposed rail line, to be known as the Caliente Line, would connect an existing line near Caliente, Nev., to a
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Miscellaneous

Freight Railroads Using Technology to Boost Environmental Performance

June 18, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire
The nation’s freight railroads, already the most environmentally friendly form of ground transportation, are using innovative “green” technologies to further reduce their environmental footprint. New technologies such as hybrid-powered locomotives and on-board computers that read route terrains are helping railroads lower emissions by as much as 80 percent and reduce fuel consumption by 16 percent.

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FRA

STB to Hold Hazardous Materials Hearing

June 4, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire
WASHINGTON — The Surface Transportation Board will hold a public hearing next month to discuss “issues related to the common carrier obligation of railroads—the duty of railroads to provide transportation or service on reasonable request—with respect to the transportation of hazardous materials.” The hearing follows one held in April on the general topic of the common carrier obligation of railroads. The July 16 hearing “will provide a forum for a more detailed discussion of issues specifically pertaining to the railroads’ common carrier obligation regarding the movement of toxic by inhalation hazards and other hazardous materials,” the STB said in a