Union Pacific – Page 21 – Railfanning.org

Union Pacific Moves Its 200,000th Loaded Coal Train From Wyoming’s Southern Powder River Basin

May 20, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

OMAHA, Neb. – Union Pacific Railroad moved its 200,000th loaded coal train out of Wyoming’s Southern Powder River Basin (SPRB) coal field since Union Pacific and the former Chicago & North Western completed a 107-mile rail line to the region in August 1984. The Chicago & North Western merged with Union Pacific in 1995. One rail car of coal provides the energy togenerate enough electricity for more than 20 homes for a year. Union Pacific’s 200,000 trains out of the SPRB have carried enough coal to power all the homes in the United States for 5 years. Approximately 50 percent

CSXT Employee Named Rail Industry’s Top Environmentalist

April 29, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — A CSX Transportation employee from Jacksonville, Fla., was recently named the railroad industry’s top environmentalist. Michael E. O’Malley, who is assistant chief engineer, facilities, for CSX Transportation in Jacksonville, was one of five railroaders who were nominated to receive the John H. Chafee Environmental Excellence Award, named after the late Senator from Rhode Island, a strong environmentalist who understood and promoted the environmental advantages of rail transportation. Also honored at the reception was Delaware Senator Thomas Carper, who received the Congressional Chafee Award which annually goes to a member of Congress who, like Senator Chafee, is dedicated to

Hear That Train A Comin’: Historic Steam Locomotive To Visit the West on Heritage Tour

April 7, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

OMAHA, Neb. — Thousands of people will have the chance to see this “living legend” in person when Union Pacific’s historic steam locomotive, No. 844, travels from its base in Wyoming, to California on a 32-day, four-state tour. The “Western Heritage Tour” will be rolling from April 11 through May 12, heading through many cities and towns that witnessed the birth of the railroad. The 844 will make special stops in eight cities across Nevada, California and Utah for the public to experience this once in a lifetime opportunity, the No. 844 Western Heritage Tour. The Steam Locomotive will help

Labor Department Orders Union Pacific to Reassign Worker to Former Position Following Whistleblower Investigation

April 2, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

OMAHA, Neb. — The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has ordered Union Pacific Railroad Co. to reassign a Beverly, Iowa, welder to his former position, reimburse him for travel expenses and pay compensatory damages associated with personal hardship following a whistleblower investigation. OSHA investigated the employee’s allegation that Union Pacific retaliated against him for requesting a lookout while performing work on adjacent railroad tracks and asking for tools to make the field weld process safer. The investigation found that the track maintenance manager illegally abolished the welder position in Beverly, forcing the worker to accept

UP Recognizes Chemical Customers for Safety Excellence

March 27, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

OMAHA, Neb. — Union Pacific recently announced the recipients of the railroad’s 13th annual Pinnacle Award for chemical transportation safety. The award annually recognizes companies that have successful prevention and corrective plans as well as a rate of zero non-accident releases (NARs) for shipments of regulated hazardous materials. “The Pinnacle Award gives Union Pacific the chance to acknowledge and thank our customers for their continuing efforts to eliminate chemical releases from rail cars,” said Diane Duren, vice president and general manager – chemicals. “We work closely with all customers to help prevent an accidental release during transit of chemical shipments

UP: Rail Cars at Border Crossings Are in Government Control

March 23, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

OMAHA, Neb. — The federal government, not a private railroad, is responsible for rail cars entering the country from Mexico, Union Pacific said in response to a lawsuit the federal government filed. “As Union Pacific explained in its lawsuit filed against the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in July 2008, it is Customs and Border Protection (CBP), not Union Pacific that takes initial control over rail cars entering the U.S. from Mexico,” the railroad said in a statement. “Union Pacific believes DHS is punishing Union Pacific for drug smuggling when it has no control over what occurs in Mexico. Union

Kansas Officials Learn About Crossing and Pedestrian Safety Onboard Special Train

March 23, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

A special passenger train is making stops this week in several Kansas communities over Union Pacific Railroad lines to promote highway-railroad crossing and pedestrian safety through a program called Operation Lifesaver.”Operation Lifesaver” is the nationwide, non-profit public safety education and outreach program designed to eliminate collisions, deaths and injuries where streets and roads cross railroad tracks at grade and on railroad rights-of-way. Hundreds of community leaders, law enforcement officers and education officials are learning about highway-railroad grade crossing safety and the consequences of trespassing on railroad property. “This special train is just one way we can work to educate and

DOJ Sues Union Pacific for Allegedly Failing to Prevent Use of Rail Cars to Smuggle Narcotics Across Border

March 20, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON – The government has filed two lawsuits against the Union Pacific Railroad Co. for allegedly failing to prevent the use of its rail cars to smuggle large quantities of narcotics into the United States, the Justice Department announced. The complaints, filed in San Diego and Houston, seek more than $37 million in monetary penalties. The government alleges the rail cars were brought across the border at the ports of entry at Calexico, Calif., and Brownsville, Texas. According to the complaints, Union Pacific Railroad, the largest provider of rail transportation services in North America, has substantial Mexico rail operations, serving

Union Pacific Announces Annual Distribution of Interest on Certain Bonds and Debentures

March 19, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

OMAHA, Neb. — Union Pacific Railroad Co. announced that it has determined the contingent interest and sinking fund payments due in respect of Available Net Income for 2008 under the terms of certain bonds and debentures originally issued by the Missouri Pacific Railroad Co. (MPRR). Union Pacific Railroad Company is required to publicly announce such annual determination. The bonds and debentures were assumed by Union Pacific Railroad Company as a result of the merger of MPRR with and into Union Pacific Railroad Company on Jan. 1, 1997. On April 1, 2009, Union Pacific Railroad Company will pay contingent interest ($4.75

Improved Train Flow, Enhanced Safety and Reduced Environmental Footprint Highlight Metra Union Pacific West Line Improvements

March 13, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

OMAHA, Neb. — Improved passenger and freight train flow, an enhanced safety design, and a reduced environmental footprint are among the benefits of the Metra Union Pacific west line improvement project. Work at the stations is scheduled to begin in March and conclude near the end of 2010. Metra service will not be disrupted while the project is under way. “These improvements will help create a more fluid railroad operation, decrease commuter and freight delays, and reduce motorist wait time at grade crossings,” said Phil Pagano, Metra executive director. “These upgrades address today’s west line rail traffic congestion issues and