FLORIDA EAST COAST NEWS

The company has recently authorized the purchase of four locomotives which have been under lease for some time (444-447) and authorized the purchase of two more used locomotives for rebuild into upgraded GP40-3 units. The two additional units are reportedly of Conrail heritage. -J.L. Holahan

CONRAIL  NEWS

Conrail has continued the trend of OCS trips on a weekly basis.  Last night, the train departed Altoona for Philadelphia, PA.  A cross-state trip will conclude tomorrow when the train is returned to Altoona.  For the complete OCS schedules, check the top of the page.

DERAILMENT ON HUDSON SECONDARY

NYS&W train 258 had derailed today at Greycourt, N.Y. Eight general freight cars on the head-end of the train derailed. This included a tankcar leaking vegetable oil. Several of these freight cars are on their sides. The CSX intermodal cars were behind the general freight cars. None of the intermodal cars had derailed. Motive power was reportedly a NYSW B40-8, NS GP38AC, and GE Super-7 2000. -Carl Perelman

SD70MAC TRACK

Here is where they line up:

EMPLOYEE SPECIAL

On May 27, the CPR passenger special will continue to move over D&H rails.  The Employee Special will depart Albany-Kenwood Yard at 08:00 ET bound for Binghamton, NY.  Train is scheduled to arrive at 13:00 ET and will be tied down at East Binghamton Yard for an early morning departure on May 28.  Motive power continues to be the Guilded Rat SD40-2 5647 and D&H GP38-2 7309.

GHOST TRAINS

The St. Lawrence & Hudson currently is host to several test train sets of the Iron Highway between Montreal and Toronto.  The Iron Highway was constructed to be a self contained intermodal unit train, complete with its own power cars on either end. The platforms that the intermodal equipment rides on are supported by a single axle between each "car". The sets in service on the St.L&H lack the power cars but are spaced by "dummy" units.  St.L&H has assigned five CP Rail System-painted GP38-2's to these trains.  GP38-2 3024, 3038, 3057, 3072, and 3111 are the only GP38-2's assigned to the St.L&H and all hold down assignment on the Iron Highway.  These trains operate with symbols 121, 122, 123, and 124.  On Sundays, all four trains operate, making photography of at least two of the sets very easy.  121 and 122 are the daylight moves, generally meeting just west of Smiths Falls near 14:15 ET.  The other two sets depart their terminals late in the evening.  These trains are considered the "Ghost Trains" of CPR, as they are not reported on the system computer and are treated as an external operation.  Recent reports have also surfaced that four former Amtrak F40PH's may be acquired to power these trains. -Gary Zuters

EXECUTIVE F7'S IN CALGARY

The former Nebkota Rail trio of F7's (A-B-A) arrived in Calgary to be prepared for service on CPR in executive train service.  CPR, continuing the trend of many Class 1 railroads, acquired "classic" units to power their fleet of business cars.  The units undergo several modifications at Calagary and then receive a new coat of paint - rumored to be a maroon and grey scheme, reminiscent of the original Canadian Pacific. -CPR

FALLEN FLAG WITHIN CPR

As we told you last month, the St. Lawrence & Hudson paint scheme is now history.  The newest units emerging from Calgary are adorned with the Golden Beaver Logo.  A recap of some of the STLH painted units reveals that only five GP9R's received the STLH scheme.  This past weekend, three of the five units were assigned to Smiths Falls.  The five GP9R's wearing the STLH paint are 8212, 8223, 8225, 8226, and 8245.  8212, 8223 and 8226 were assigned to "the Falls" over the weekend, 8212 and 8223 being a matched set. -Kevin Burkholder

MORE CONTRACTS RATIFIED

 Canadian Pacific Railway and two unions representing clerical employees and signal system and communication workers in Canada reached tentative settlements for two-year contract extensions through
to the end of 2000.

``We are pleased to have reached these agreements well before the end of this year when the current contracts expire,'' said Rob Ritchie, CPR President and CEO. ``We continue to make significant progress in building a stronger relationship with our unions and bringing increased labour stability to the railway.''

The contract extensions with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), representing 485 signal system and communication workers, and the Transportation-Communications International Union (TCU), representing 1,450 clerical employees, are subject to ratification. They provide for a two-per-cent wage increase each year, continuing pay for performance programs and a number of benefit improvements.

``Not only do these tentative settlements include wage increases but they also will allow employees to augment their earnings through a gainshare program,'' said Tony Cunningham, IBEW Senior System General Chairman.

TCU National President Don Bujold said: ``The settlements will modify the structure of employee pension contributions and improve our program for extended health, dental and vision care.''

CPR has ratified contracts with six of its seven unions representing more than 70 per cent of its unionized employees in Canada. Negotiations with the Canadian Auto Workers union, representing 3,500 mechanical shop employees, are ongoing. -Canadian Pacific Railway

CSX CORPORATION  NEWS

The former C&O yard at Clifton Forge, VA is undergoing a facelift.  A new turntable is in place and most of the tracks are in, but are not tamped.  The tracks to the main line from the turntable are in as well.  Word from CSX is that it will be in service by the end of June.  -Galen A. Wright

NORFOLK SOUTHERN   NEWS

TFM AC4400 DELIVERY

TFM AC4400CW's 2600 - 2607 were at the NS Norris Yard diesel shop at 12:30PM yesterday.  All were in-transit (Dead-in-tow with stacks capped) to KCS at Meridian, MS.  According to NS personnel, should move west today.-Frank Green

THOROUGHBRED AWARD PRESENTED

Norfolk Southern Corporation has presented its Thoroughbred Award, the highest honor given an employee, to James C. White of McDermott, Ohio, for his actions in containing a fire last June that threatened to destroy the Wheelersburg coal-loading facility where he works.

David R. Goode, chairman, president and chief executive officer, who presented the award during a luncheon held at Norfolk, said, "Mr. White embodies the dedication of our employees who continuously give Norfolk Southern the leading edge as the Thoroughbred of Transportation."

On June 28, 1997, White, a roadway equipment repairman, observed a conveyor belt burning. He alerted the operator, caused the local volunteer fire department to be called, and then began dousing the blaze using the facility's water tank truck.

The local firefighting squad withdrew its forces when it appeared the blaze would destroy the 1,400-foot conveyor structure. Saying, "I work here, we can't let this spread," White, himself a volunteer fireman, ascended a 48-foot-tall tower with a hose and attempted to extinguish the blaze single-handedly. Prompted by his action, the fire department renewed its efforts, containing the blaze and saving the facility from destruction.

The Thoroughbred Award recognizes outstanding, highly visible contributions that have significant, long-term impact on the success of Norfolk Southern.-Norfolk Southern

OTTAWA VALLEY RAILINK
Railink has unveiled a new paint scheme on Ottawa Valley GP38 2002.  The unit was released from the Ontario Northland shops in North Bay, ON yesterday.  For more information and images of the 2002, go to TrainWeb.US/ovr

SEPTA ROUTE EXTENSIONS
Beginning today, SEPTA will be further increasing service between Philadelphia and Delaware in response to the partial closure of Interstate 95.

A series of actions are being taken by SEPTA to help commuters avoid the projected long delays along I-95 through Chester.  They are as follows:
 

• Today and Monday, Memorial Day, SEPTA will operate special hourly service on its R2 line between Wilmington Station and Center City Philadelplia's three Regional Rail Stations (30th Street, Suburban, and  Market East).  The last train departing Wilmington will be 8:30 p.m., and the last Philadelphia R2 train bound for Wilmington leaves 30th Street Station at 7:25 p.m.

• Beginning Tuesday, SEPTA will extend all off-peak R2-Marcus Hook trains  into Wilmington (bringing the number of daily Philadelphia-Wilmington trains to 23).

• Cars will be added to all peak-hour Philadelphia-Newark trains, creating nearly 2,000 additional passenger seats.

• SEPTA is working with Pennsylvania and Delaware transportation officials to try and increase parking capacity at stations along the R2-Wilmington line, particularly at Marcus Hook, Claymont, Wilmington, and Newark, Newark Station already has significant available parking spaces.

GENERAL MOTORS  LOCOMOTIVE GROUP

Wisconsin Central subsidiary English Welsh & Scottish Railway Class 66 diesel 66002 is reportedly going to the AAR test facility in Pueblo, CO.  These units are being constructed for EW&S at the London, Ontario plant and being shipped to Albany, NY for overseas delivery. These units are six-axle units geared for 75-mph operations and are the equivilant to the North American SD70, generating 4000 horsepower.  The 250-unit order is just underway, with several units already being sent overseas.  The Class 66 units wear the Wisconsin Central maroon and gold with a lightning stripe on the side.  The letters EWS with the number are contained within the stripe.  There has been some speculation as to the reasoning behind shipping any of these units to the test facility in Pueblo.  Wisconsin Central will not comment on whether any units in this order will stay in the United States or be converted to a straight SD70 order.  For now, all units continue to be destined to the EW&S. (Ed note: TRAINS magazine features the EW&S in the July 1998 issue)

JAMES STRATES   CARNIVAL TRAIN   1998 TOUR

• May 22 - May 31 Gaithersburg City Youth Festival, Gaithersburg, MD
• June 18 - July 5 Meadowlands Fair, East Rutherford, NJ
• July 10 - July 18 Essington Firefighters' Fair Essington, PA
• July 23 - August 1 Delaware State Fair Harrington, DE
• August 12 - August 23 Erie County Fair Hamburg, New York
• August 27 - September 7 New York State Fair Syracuse, NY
• September 17 - September 26 Anderson County Fair Anderson, SC
• October 2 - October 11 Dixie Classic Fair Winston-Salem, NC
• October 16 - October 25 North Carolina State Fair Raleigh, NC
• November 3 - November 7 Exchange Club Fair Albany, GA