[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 247 (Wednesday, December 24, 1997)] [Notices] [Pages 67429-67430] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 97-33554] [[Page 67429]] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Railroad Administration Application for Approval of Discontinuance or Modification of a Railroad Signal System or Relief from the Requirements of Signal System Regulations Pursuant to Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 235 and 49 U.S.C. App. 26, the following railroads have petitioned the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) seeking approval for the discontinuance or modification of the signal system or relief from the requirements of 49 CFR Part 236 as detailed below. Block Signal Application (BS-AP)-No. 3446 Applicant: SOO Line Railroad Company, Mr. Roscoe VanPelt, District Coordinator Signals & Communications, Canadian Pacific Railway, 105 South 5th Street, Box 530, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55440 The SOO Line Railroad Company seeks approval of the proposed discontinuance and removal of the automatic block signals, on the single main track, between milepost 12.27 and milepost 16.55, near St. Paul, Minnesota, on the Paynesville Subdivision, consisting of the removal of signals No. 2 and No. 3. The reason given for the proposed changes is that the facilities are no longer needed for present operations and to reduce maintenance. BS-AP-No. 3447 Applicant: Central Kansas Railway, L.L.C., Mr. L. R. Mitchell, Superintendent, 1825 West Harry Street, Wichita, Kansas 67213. The Central Kansas Railway, L.L.C. seeks approval of the proposed discontinuance and removal of the automatic block signal (ABS) system, on the single main track, between Bridgeport, Kansas, milepost 491.2 and Towner, Colorado, milepost 747.5. The reason given for the proposed changes is that the present train traffic in the area does not warrant the need for the ABS system, and the signal pole line is in fragile condition and will not survive the first ice storm of the season. BS-AP-No. 3448 Applicant: Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway, Mr. William G. Peterson, Director Signal Engineering, 4515 Kansas Avenue, Kansas City, Kansas 66106. The Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway seeks approval of the proposed modification of the traffic control system, on the No. 2 Main Track, between 30th Street and Bravo, milepost 2.2 and milepost 5.6, near Kansas City, Kansas, Fort Scott Subdivision, Kansas Division, consisting of the discontinuance and removal of automatic absolute signal 6RB, which is located on the elevator track and controlled by the switch position of the Electric Lock 7. The reason given for the proposed changes is to improve train operations in the area, and that the switch is electrically locked in CTC territory, and does not require a signal. BS-AP-No. 3449 Applicant: Union Pacific Railroad Company, Mr. P. M. Abaray, Chief Engineer-Signals/Quality, 1416 Dodge Street, Room 1000, Omaha, Nebraska 68179-1000. The Union Pacific Railroad Company seeks approval of the proposed discontinuance and removal of the rail locks and associated power- operated switch machines, on the single main track Morley Bridge, milepost 95.0, near Morley, Louisiana, on the Alexandria Subdivision. The reason given for the proposed changes is to modernize the operation of the Morley Bridge. BS-AP-No. 3450 Applicant: Union Pacific Railroad Company, Mr. P. M. Abaray, Chief Engineer-Signals/Quality, 1416 Dodge Street, Room 1000, Omaha, Nebraska 68179-1000. The Union Pacific Railroad Company seeks approval of the proposed discontinuance and removal of the rail locks and associated power- operated switch machines, on the single main track Melville Bridge, milepost 129.7, near Melville, Louisiana, on the Alexandria Subdivision. The reason given for the proposed changes is to modernize the operation of the Melville Bridge. BS-AP-No. 3451 Applicant: Union Pacific Railroad Company, Mr. P. M. Abaray, Chief Engineer-Signals/Quality, 1416 Dodge Street, Room 1000, Omaha, Nebraska 68179-1000. The Union Pacific Railroad Company seeks approval of the proposed discontinuance and removal of the hand-operated electric rail locks, on the single main track Ouachita River Bridge, milepost 528.2, approximately 27 miles south of Monroe, Louisiana, on the Monroe Subdivision. The reason given for the proposed changes is to modernize the operation of the Ouachita River Bridge. BS-AP-No. 3452 Applicant: Union Pacific Railroad Company, Mr. P. M. Abaray, Chief Engineer-Signals/Quality, 1416 Dodge Street, Room 1000, Omaha, Nebraska 68179-1000. The Union Pacific Railroad Company seeks approval of the proposed discontinuance and removal of the rail locks and associated power- operated switch machines, on the single main track Canal Bridge, milepost 6.2, near Port Allen, Louisiana, on the Avoyelles Branch. The reason given for the proposed changes is to modernize the operation of the Canal Bridge. BS-AP-No. 3453 Applicant: National Railroad Passenger Corporation, Mr. R. C. VanderClute, Vice President, Operations, 60 Massachusetts Avenue, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20002. The National Railroad Passenger Corporation seeks approval of the proposed conversion of a portion of ``R'' Interlocking, at Sunnyside Yard, milepost E3.7, Queens Borough, New York, on the Metropolitan Division of the Northeast Corridor, to a modern Yard Switching Center, with yard switches and route indicators to authorize non-passenger train movements to and from the yard. The proposed changes include reliable logic to protect against conflicting routes, yard switches locked for movements with non-vital logic, and route indicators which will not permit movements exceeding Restricted Speed. The reasons given for the proposed changes are that the original electro-pneumatic switches with mechanical locking bed at ``R'' Interlocking is 87 years old and in need of replacement, and maintenance of the interlocking in a yard area, where no train movements carry revenue passengers, can no longer be justified. Any interested party desiring to protest the granting of an application shall set forth specifically the grounds upon which the protest is made, and contain a concise statement of the interest of the protestant in the [[Page 67430]] proceeding. The original and two copies of the protest shall be filed with the Associate Administrator for Safety, FRA, 400 Seventh Street, S.W., Mail Stop 25, Washington, D.C. 20590 within 45 calendar days of the date of publication of this notice. Additionally, one copy of the protest shall be furnished to the applicant at the address listed above. FRA expects to be able to determine these matters without an oral hearing. However, if a specific request for an oral hearing is accompanied by a showing that the party is unable to adequately present his or her position by written statements, an application may be set for public hearing. Issued in Washington, D.C. on December 10, 1997. Grady C. Cothen, Jr., Deputy Associate Administrator, for Safety Standards and Program Development. [FR Doc. 97-33554 Filed 12-23-97; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-06-P