Union Pacific's crew change point is Yermo, a few miles east of Barstow. "There's times I'll go a week without seeing my kids [for] more than 10 to 15 minutes just because it's such a brutal policy.". Plus a new pool might be in place to handle the New Baltimore intermodal terminal. TEXAS, USA On Tuesday, a federal judge in Fort Worth granted BNSF, one of the nation's largest freight companies, a temporary restraining order, blocking nearly 17,000 employees from striking. If I had not already packed my 1893 Guide in preparation for moving, I could give you the name of each road. Getting people and freight between Southern California and Chicago once took months, weeks or even years. We see this very often here. BNSF triple- and quadruple-track projects to improve Southern - Trains Transcon Crew Change Points - Trainorders.com Discussion Zug, you guys must have really been tired. The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota. They needed the people because they didn't have them.". Things changed since Sept 11, 2001. Note that the Puget Sound Extension and the WP were built in the 1905-1910 time frame and train speeds were up significantly from 30 to 40 years earlier. Considering that input, BNSF will make additional modifications to the program effective June 1 to provide additional clarity and flexibility to employees. Yermo isn't much more than a wide spot in the road that the I-15 bypassed. They seem to use the Williard crews for the long distance intermodals (from east coast) and Williards for the manifests and commodity trains. The 100 mile day was based on how far you would travel in 8 hours at a speed of 12.5 mph. I can remember when the "featherbedding" talk began, about needing to keep crews in the trains longer because the trains were faster and did they really need three men in the cab and two in the rear. I find it ironic that the MILW expandend some of their districts just as deferredmaintenance caused speeds to drop. Some crew change points were simply the points at which one railroad had a junction with another. I'm a teetotaler, so that thought is never on my mind. I'm sure that longer crew districts in other places are coming Our community is FREE to join. OK, LION knows that tey went from 100 mile runs to 200 mile runs some time about 10 years ago. - Erik. If anybody could help me out, that would be awesome. These stories highlight some of our favorite examples of how we apply innovation to railroading. Frisco always changed freight crews at Newburg, MO but my grandpa as passenger conductor changed at Monett, MO, which was farther down the line. If this is your first visit, welcome to TrainSim.Com! No, I think Rawlins is still very much used for everything but"shooters" (hotshots), which go all the way to Green River without achange. Also Portal, ND and Noyes, MN, but that is because thay are also Country change points(Canada/US border). In order to get a minimum speed of 12 or so MPH on the 0.5% ruling grades, the locomotives should have been able to maintain 25 or more MPH on level track, hence my wondering about 200 mile crew changes. Paul MN. "The cutoff made traversing New Mexico with freight easier by eliminating the steep grades of the Raton Pass from the route and the use of extra locomotive power to make the trip.". Some railroads do have expanded crew districts. Why Sign In? Would this be in the ballpark for the Hi Line? The last time we were in Albany, werode back to the station with a road crew in the van, and I engaged in some conversation with them. National Rail Contract Archives - SMART Union All Rights Reserved. If I recall correctly, the Miles City to Harlowtown run was one crew district which works out to 215 miles. Check this site for information about benefits and retirement plans. This year alone, BNSF is investing approximately $1 billion into the 2,200-mile Southern Transcon route. So shovel the coal, let this rattler roll. (While not directly owned, supposedly the ownership has ties to the UP.) Information about the railroad through Flagstaff, Arizona The rail line through Flagstaff is operated by the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway (BNSF). Since 2001, BNSF has eliminated districts running to Eugene, Ore., Helena, Mont., Quanah, Texas, Mobile, Ala., and International Falls, Minn. All were on lines sold off, embargoed, or substituted with haulage agreements on another railroad. Raton, NM??? The unions were able to get the UP to agree to leave Boone as home terminal for the Rochelle - Boone pools, but shortly thereafter the railroad dropped the whole idea. Since crews are usually pooled on a first-in, first-out basis, everyone still has the same opportunity to rack up miles and thus pay. This doesn't mean that runs were only 100 miles then or 130 miles now. Members enjoy 15% off any purchase in our store. BNSF Crew Change Locations In order to set up activities for the BNSF and other railroads, I can't recall anyone putting out any kind of a list for where crew changes take place. Can someone in road service choosewhich pool to work in? BNSFs Public Projects team is the point of contact for the communities we serve when they desire to deliver infrastructure projects that cross, intersect, or parallel BNSFs network in some way. Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) Seligman Sub: Winslow, AZ to > anything I'm missing. * Denver northeast: Sterling, CO? Back when there were foru passenger trains each way on the division,except for the City of New Orleans, passenger train crews changed southbound (the City train crews changed northbound), ran to New Orleans (Canton), then ran through McComb to Canton (New Orleans), and then back to McComb, covering 400 miles in 24 hours (and then had 24 hours off). Each employee would be given 30 points for the rest of their career but would be docked points for taking off weekdays (two points), weekends (four points), and holidays (ten points). (Some of these are the same ones who always complained about the long pool because the LP crewsusually get priority to get over the road, no matter what type of train they are on, so they usually go around you.). Re: BNSF Crew Change Points Author: BN7149 The railroad is run as an East-West route. BNSF Crew Change Locations At the time we were having trouble going from Boone to Clinton in 12 hours. Get updates and special offers via email from Trains.com brands! Thanks again,everyone! BNSF Crew Change Points (Transcon and Hi Line). CSXTHS - Rail Fanning - BNSF/UP - Barstow and Yermo, CA - 10-27-2017 We see this very often here. Under the new policy, which is slated to. Usually though, a long pool crew on trains that normally go to the short pool will still change out at Boone and theLP crew will continue on to the other end in a van. Railroad systems are divided into subdivisions, usually between crew change points. About 50/50 on one crewactually making it. "We think those things are critical to protect the velocity and safety of our network," she says. BNSF said more than 50 percent of train crew employees work less than 40 hours on average. Here is what I think I know about some of the crew districts andhelper districts in and around Colorado. The Super 8 was their lodging and it was set up with a computer terminal for employees to "see" the railroad and determine what their near future entailed. Othello, WA to Tacoma, WA, running thru Cle Elum was also instituted. The reason why so many (former complainers included) drive to workit, it's set up to work about 8 round trips per month and pays good. Anything north of Cheyenne WYor south of Pueblo, CO, I don't know much about. Crew Change Points - Trains Magazine - Trains News Wire, Railroad News A minor correction to Agentkid's posting. It has brought morale down to an all-time low.". "I would love to get whoever made this policy happen or said okay to it to come and join us for a week on how it is day to day," she urged. They also handle (normally) the salad shooters. Tribal Relations. This was indicated by a bold type stripe across the page for every train at Bassano. From then to now trains on this subdivision are crewed by running trades employees whose home terminals are at Toronto and Smiths Falls. Here we highlight stories centered on our safety culture and why it is ingrained in everything we do. But when the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway established what became known as the Southern Transcon route in the 1880s, parts of the Southwest were now accessible with relative ease. At the time we were having trouble going from Boone to Clinton in 12 hours. All in all, it is an interesting aspect to the industry. Or, did they get rid of it because there was too much congestion / delays east of Clinton? I spent quite a few summers in Miles City (my dad's home town) during the 1970's and heard Harlowton mentioned quite a few times, but don't recall hearing about Melstone. Allan_Love_Jr TrainBoard Member. BNSF crews frequently change crews here at Eola yard in Aurora, IL. I guess you're right. Most of those are of a standard BNSF design; the center piece, providing 23 feet, 6 inches of clearance over the lower main line, is an 87 four-girden deck-plate steel span. Since crews are usually pooled on a first-in, first-out basis, everyone still has the same opportunity to rack up miles and thus pay. Here there be cats. The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of. BNSF crews frequently change crews here at Eola yard in Aurora, IL. Also Geographically the Twin Cities would be north of La Crosse what does BNSF consider it (are trains from Chicago to the twin Cities northbound or westbound?) I'm sure that longer crew districts in other places are coming Our community is FREE to join. The project required the company to move about 3.6 million tons of rock, lay 5 miles of new track, and build nine new bridges with a combined length of about 3,000 feet. Highlighting our commitment to safety, service, communities and our heritage. Crew change points on the old Santa Fe Transcon? Now, nearly 100 percent of the route is double-tracked; only two bridges remain single-tracked along the route. Many times after the adoptionof the 130 mile day, the terminals didn't change. * Denver south: Pueblo* Pueblo south: Trinidad? BNSF crew changes: * Denver east: used to be in Akron, CO, but I think they moved it all the way out to McCook, NE. Lately, they are alsohandling most of the auto racks and one Q manifest. Some were/are longer, some were/are shorter. 15. Update: Judge decides on BNSF new attendance policy | kcentv.com ), > * Cheyenne east: North Platte> * Cheyenne west: Rawlins (Green River for hotshots? Sign-up for email today! "The Belen cutoff was established in 1908 and that was really the first major enhancement," explained Craig Rasmussen, assistant vice president, Engineering Services and Structures. Dickinson crews still run locals between New Salem and Beach including the ever growing rail hub of RICHARDTON ND. She said the policy isn't compassionate toward employees. "The attendance policy we had in the past, it would allow basically any person to take two weekend days and five weekdays per month off," he explained. How a BNSF policy could impact families and supply chain Knutson said he thinks the policy was implemented for several reasons. "It is important to note that there has been no change in how much time off an employee receives. I know OTR truckers are only to work so many hours before they have to sign out and rest. It just affects the waythe train crew's pay is calculated. At times they will change within minutes of stopping at the "crosswalk" where employees cross the mainline, and at other times the incoming crew will "tie down" their train on the main-line and the train will wait for literally hours on the main for the outgoing (new) crew. The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota. At BNSF, we are proud and honored to receive recognitions from various organizations. Here aresome places I know they run helpers at least occassionally: * BNSF/UP: Denver to Palmer Lake* BNSF/UP: Denver to Winter Park (Does BNSF use helpers? erikem In Iowa, they started running Atkins, IA on the Council Bluffs main and Nahant (Davenport) on the KC line. Not every crew change point has one (Mason City, IA may be getting one in the future) but except for the few in the eastern US, all are UP crew change points. 546 posts BNSF Crew Change Points (Transcon and Hi Line) Posted by Doublestack on Monday, June 4, 2007 10:39 PM Good evening, Someone recently asked me how many crew changes it takes to get from Chicago to LA vs. Chicago to Seattle. LION *knows* that Mandan is a crew change point, but Dickinson is so no longer, and the next crew change point is Glendive, MT. For some reason, I always thought crew change points were determined by how long it took to get there. Stay current with what BNSF is doing to operate a safe rail network, on our network, in the communities through which we operate and the services we offer. Remember, in the time when the basic crew agreements and the 100 mile day were originated,when after the implementation of the Hours of Service laws - those laws had a maximum on duty time of 16 hours - 16 hours for a 100 mile run equals 6.25 MPH. Vancouver, WA or Pasco, WA-Wishram, WA-Bend, OR-Klamath Falls, OR-Keddie, CA-Stockton, CA? The heart of the yard is visible from a hill about midway . If I had not already packed my 1893 Guide in preparation for moving, I could give you the name of each road. Many times after the adoptionof the 130 mile day, the terminals didn't change. In order to get a minimum speed of 12 or so MPH on the 0.5% ruling grades, the locomotives should have been able to maintain 25 or more MPH on level track, hence my wondering about 200 mile crew changes. Serving Carrier Reciprocal Switch Inquiry. Railfan | Flagstaff Model Railroad Club This is part one of a video I made on my tour 8 across the country 2018 stopping in Needles California at the BNSF train yard to catch one of the many trains. Then in 1972 (after the HOS was changed to 14 hours, Dec. 26, 1970) the company decided to open up an inter-divisional run fromLA to San Luis Obispo), and have us do it in 14 hours, which really worked good. Since trains are stopping to give one crew rest and to pick up fresh conductors and engineers, adding another "lane" allows trains that have completed their crew change to get moving again and for faster traffic to pass slower traffic more readily. This BNSF rail division sees some of the highest tonnage freight traffic in the world (over 100 million tons annually. BNSF at Edgemont Home The unions were able to get the UP to agree to leave Boone as home terminal for the Rochelle - Boone pools, but shortly thereafter the railroad dropped the whole idea. This month BNSF placed in service 5 miles of fourth main track on the Hereford Subdivision through Amarillo, Texas. The Milwaukee Road in the 1970s combined orchanged some crew districts, both on the Puget Sound extension and elsewhere. Usually though, a long pool crew on trains that normally go to the short pool will still change out at Boone and theLP crew will continue on to the other end in a van. There are quite a few who live in central Iowa and drive 200 miles to work the pool. BNSF, like other Class I railroads, operates around the clock, seven days a week, every day of the year, and in all weather conditions. More than 50% of train crew employees work less than 40 hours a week on average. (At least it was when I was there last week), Sharon Springs, Kansas (It used to be Oakley), > * Denver south: Pueblo> * Denver west: Bond, then Grand Junction> * Denver north: Cheyenne> * Pueblo south: same as BNSF, presumably. Rail Network Maps | BNSF "A Train is a Place Going Somewhere" CP Rail Public Timetable. Would this be the right list for the Transcon? BNSF Phoenix Sub Crew Change Points? - trainsim.com He said the policy is very stringent. It's a way to stay informed about the company, learn more about how freight rail contributes to our way of life, explore the company's rich history and connect with other BNSF supporters. Here we focus on topics that illustrate our commitment to where we live and work. > * Denver west (UP trackage rights): do they go all the way to Grand> Junction or do they change at Bond again like UP does? This change made two crew districts out of what were three, running thru the traditional terminals atAvery, ID and Malden, WA. LIONS with CAMERAS. CP never owned any of those ginormous tenders like the Santa Fe had to get across the arid areas they served. We enable our customers to participate in a wide range of markets in North America and around the world. Find the right person at BNSF to help you. Only the Clinton - Missouri Valley long pool. She apologized andI pardoned her and let her go on to wherever it was she needed to go quickly. The railroad said they made no changes to how much time off an employee receives. . Does the UP still have a Proviso to Boone long pool? Or, did they get rid of it because there was too much congestion / delays east of Clinton? UP on the east/westline crewbases or change points are: Proviso IL, West Chicago IL (some trains), Clinton IA,Boone IA (short pool), Missouri Valley IA (Clinton long pool), Fremont NE (short pool out of Boone) North Platte NE. That's in addition to the $3.3 billion we invested between 2013 and 2017. If an employee exhausts all of their points, they can be terminated. The BNSF classification yard looking east. Only the Clinton - Missouri Valley long pool. Crew Change Points : Needles, Winslow Yards: Needles, Winslow Junctions @ West Williams, Phoenix Sub (BNSF) MP 375.0 Highest point: 7,322 ft @ Arizona Divide. Goodson said that if employees work on the weekends, they can earn a single point to add to their total. from Calgary to Medicine Hat, AB, created in 1910. Melstone was almost certainly a crew change location in that it was almost exactly halfway between Harlow and Miles, along with being the only spot between Roundup and Miles City with more than two parallel tracks. "At any given time, there are about 300 trains running along the Transcon," added Rasmussen. Please have a look here to see what other groups are saying about BNSF Railway. Dickinson crews still run locals between New Salem and Beach including the ever growing rail hub of RICHARDTON ND. Crew Change Points, Belen to Barstow; Discussion related to BNSF operations. One thing to remember is there are some long and some short pools. > * Pueblo east: ?? I think the Miles City to Harlowton run was one of them. In order to get a minimum speed of 12 or so MPH on the 0.5% ruling grades, the locomotives should have been able to maintain 25 or more MPH on level track, hence my wondering about 200 mile crew changes. I'd wonder if the average speed of the slowest Milwaukee freights on the Trans-Missouri Division during the first generation diesel era would have been more like 25 MPH as opposed to 12.5 MPH. We offer a library of downloadable files, forums to exchanges messages, news and more. Courtney Goodson has been working as a BNSF conductor for about five years. I'd wonder if the average speed of the slowest Milwaukee freights on the Trans-Missouri Division during the first generation diesel era would have been more like 25 MPH as opposed to 12.5 MPH. Goodson said that if employees work on the weekends, they can earn a single point to add to their total. EDIT: To answer the original poster's question I checked with what limited ressources I have, and found the following CP (ex Soo Line) crew change points in his part of the world. There really are some Knowledgeable Fans out there. Nothing against the over-eager railfans, but the only thing we wanted to think about was sleep. Even a 25 MPH scheduled speed would result in an 8 hour trip. Originally theyhad the hot trains, with the lesser ones going to the short pool. Even a 25 MPH scheduled speed would result in an 8 hour trip. Otherwise there is a pool that runs straight through Savanna to Cicero and also a pool out of La Crosse to Galesburg. The Super 8 was their lodging and it was set up with a computer terminal for employees to "see" the railroad and determine what their near future entailed. Anyone on the seniority district can work the pool, assumingthey have the seniority. "I can't give you a name of anyone that likes the policy whatsoever," Knutson said. Melstone was almost certainly a crew change location in that it was almost exactly halfway between Harlow and Miles, along with being the only spot between Roundup and Miles City with more than two parallel tracks. CO/WY/NM crew change points? - Google Groups It is approximately 185 miles long, which was a huge accomplishment back then. We didn't linger too long for obvious reasons. Don't miss this look at the history of America's most influential builder of locomotives. I find it ironic that the MILW expandend some of their districts just as deferredmaintenance caused speeds to drop. Heres where one railroads train crews go to work, where they lay over, and the tangled routes in between.