All engine crews changed in McComb; thus all passenger engine crews ran 100 miles from start to finish. Paul MN. Here there be cats. It just affects the waythe train crew's pay is calculated. 237 0 14. By signing up you may also receive occasional reader surveys and special offers from Trains magazine.Please view our, Get our weekly newsletter delivered to your inbox. Some trains that go into LPC or to the connecting roads like the CSX, IHB, BRC, and NS change out at Savanna. But she added that incentive ultimately rewards those who take little, if any, time off and who don't need the points anyway. 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. 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. They can be added if employees work during periods that are more in demand. I though I saw articles in the mainstream press in the '80's that they were extending crew districts from east of Spokane, WA, across the Idaho panhandle, and over onto the flatland's of Montana. Jeff:Thanks for the explanations. (I've heard about helpers living in Tabernash but don't know if that's a permanent thing or not. This doesn't mean that runs were only 100 miles then or 130 miles now. "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.". The Clinton-Mo Valleylong poolhandles mostly intermodal trains. The satellite view clearly shows impressions of a turntable and roundhouse across the highway from the town. BNSF said that they're aggressively hiring but Goodson said the situation on the ground is that more employees are leaving than can be hired on. Every scheduled train from First Class passenger trains to Fourth Class freights had a scheduled stop for water at Bassano. I was wondering about crewchangepoints along the UP and BNSF in the Midwest. In 1992, Santa Fe began a decades-long project to double-track the 512 miles of the route that remained single-tracked. I guess you're right. The hotel provides transportation for thecrews and for passengers who come in or go out of the station in Renssalaer, and it is possible to ride in a van with the railroad employees. Anyone on the seniority district can work the pool, assumingthey have the seniority. 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. BNSF modified their policy on June 1. UP on the east/west line crew bases 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. For instance, if I took off every other Sunday, no other days, I would be dismissed by the end of the year.". Same with RR'ers in TEY service. The 100 mile day was based on how far you would travel in 8 hours at a speed of 12.5 mph. This Map of the Month appeared in theMay 2004 issue of Trains magazine. Use this page to find the right person at BNSF to answer your supplier questions. Official site: BNSF.COM Crew districts are not static. In the early 1970's the law was changed to 14 hours and subsequently todays 12 hours. Or, did they get rid of it because there was too much congestion / delays east of Clinton? For pay purposes,a basic day is 130 miles, up from the original 100 mile day for freight. 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. I'm a teetotaler, so that thought is never on my mind. I doubt many trains could've made the extra 70 or so miles to Rochelle on their hours. A decline in coal traffic, fewer employees when rail traffic began to rise, and the desire to operate the railroad with fewer employees are all contributing factors, he says. ), > * Cheyenne east: North Platte> * Cheyenne west: Rawlins (Green River for hotshots? Some were/are longer, some were/are shorter. Need to talk with someone at BNSF about a news report youre putting together? Harvey and Enderlin, ND; Glenwood, Thief River Falls, and Minneapolis/St. ), then Ogden?> > Helper Districts:> > Between the closing of Tennessee Pass and the use of remote units, I'm> not sure there are any permanent helper districts anymore. Years ago while overnighting in the Super 8 in Ft Madison, Iowa I had the pleasure to talk to a BNSF (ex Santa Fe) crewman. 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. To participate you must either login or register for an account. Usually, the two crew districts that abutted became one double-ended district. Intermodal traffic ships in containers or trailers and is, in many cases, high-priority. I thought they also did a UPcrew district map too, but I may be thinking about a map on the UP company website. In these stories you'll meet some of the thousands of diverse, talented, and dedicated employees who do their part to keep freight moving for our customers. Within these districts there are pools that work to/from intermediate terminals, such as Clinton to Marshalltown. We enable our customers to participate in a wide range of markets in North America and around the world. Enjoy moving trains in breathtaking scenes across the country, all year long. With only one curve sharper than 3 degrees between the two points, the track alignment was well suited for 50 to 60 MPH freight running - though track maintenance may have been another story. BNSF is a critical link that connects consumers with the global marketplace. > * Cheyenne west: Rawlins (Green River for hotshots? The satellite view clearly shows impressions of a turntable and roundhouse across the highway from the town. A fourth-generation Northeast Wyoming native, Hugh joined Wyoming Public Media in October 2021 after studying and working abroad and in Washington, D.C. for the late Senator Mike Enzi. The contents of those containers and trailers range from everyday items like clothes, appliances and TVs to the special gift you ordered online for your mother's birthday. 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. No, they never had aProviso- Boone long pool. About 50/50 on one crewactually making it. Tell your friend that all trainsstop in Rawlins, as the Main Line Fuel Rack is located there. "However, just last week, I sat down in Guernsey for 27 hours in the hotel waiting to come home.". jeffhergert While they have been built to provide lodging for AFHT crews, they are open to the public as well. From the materials that help create products people use every day to the actual finished products, our consistent and cost-effective service takes products of any size to customers when and where they need them. Then Alliance, NE? But apart from the policy, she said she loves her job. The only BNSF jobs @ Kingman is a daytime rd swtchr followed by a afternoon one. In the early 1970's the law was changed to 14 hours and subsequently todays 12 hours. This year BNSF will spend nearly $2.6 billion to maintain its system, including 11,000 miles of track surfacing work, replacement of 489 miles of rail and nearly 2.7 million ties. 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. (200+ miles?). It takes a lot of workers to keep the railroad running efficiently. 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. Dickinson crews still run locals between New Salem and Beach including the ever growing rail hub of RICHARDTON ND. Otherwise there is a pool that runs straight through Savanna to Cicero and also a pool out of La Crosse to Galesburg. If going via the old C&S/FW&D its Trinidad, Texline, Amarillo,then Wichita Falls.If going via C&S to Trinidad and then ATSF it would be aC&S crew to Trinidad, then ATSF crew to Raton then Albuquerque. BNSFs Economic Development team can help guide you through the process of expanding, developing or selecting a site. 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. Don't worry, we won't send you too many. Every scheduled train from First Class passenger trains to Fourth Class freights had a scheduled stop for water at Bassano. 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. * Pueblo east: ??? Seems like I'm missing at least 1 (maybe btwn Clovis and KC?). If I had not already packed my 1893 Guide in preparation for moving, I could give you the name of each road. While they have been built to provide lodging for AFHT crews, they are open to the public as well. The Western Pacific also had some ~200 mile crew districts. BNSF Crew Change Points (Transcon and Hi Line). 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. BNSF crews frequently change crews here at Eola yard in Aurora, IL. This BNSF rail division sees some of the highest tonnage freight traffic in the world (over 100 million tons annually. Several projects are currently underway to further expand the route's efficiency by adding triple- and even quadruple-track long stretches of the busiest parts of the Transcon. The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of. Something unheard of even 5 years ago, just before the bottom dropped out. Our community is FREE to join. > * BNSF/UP: Denver to Winter Park (Does BNSF use helpers? Drawback for those that don't live near Clinton is the drive. This was indicated by a bold type stripe across the page for every train at Bassano. Subscribers, sign in to access exclusive content. Feel free to fill inanything I'm missing. ), Yes BNSF uses helpers if they cant meet the UP HP per Tonrequirements. Does the UP still have a Proviso to Boone long pool? Ideally, a crew goes on duty, gets its paperwork, gets out of the yard, reaches its destination, and ties up comfortably within the maximum 12 hours on duty allowed by the federal hours-of-service law. Nothing against the over-eager railfans, but the only thing we wanted to think about was sleep. Although you may have to be a subscriber to access it, there is a map of BNSF crew districts in the Trains'Railroad Reference section under railroad maps. Apply early as this job may be filled at any time. I haven't heard of this in a long time, so maybe this was a failed idea. "It is important to note that there has been no change in how much time off an employee receives. The BNSF classification yard looking east. . Find the right person at BNSF to help you. Othello, WA to Tacoma, WA, running thru Cle Elum was also instituted. No, I think Rawlins is still very much used for everything but"shooters" (hotshots), which go all the way to Green River without achange. Railroading is a big world filled with impressive and interesting people. BNSF purchases material and service items from an extensive list of sources. Maybe an old BN expert can help us here, but didn't BN change some crew districts in Montana to run up to 450 miles? Many times after the adoptionof the 130 mile day, the terminals didn't change. I have to look thru some stuff, but I think they used to change at Melstone, MT. Alaska Railfanning / My ARR Photos on Flickr. Things changed since Sept 11, 2001. And, crew change points were (and still are)not always the same for engine crews and for train crews on the same train. The western end of the Hi-Line should read like this; Interbay (Seattle)-Wentachee, WA.-Hauser, ID-Whitefish, MT.-Shelby, MT.-Havre, MT. For pay purposes,a basic day is 130 miles, up from the original 100 mile day for freight. Men in road service on the Louisiana Division of the IC were based in McComb, Mississippi, which is about 100 miles from New Orleans and from Canton, Mississippi--and about 149 miles from Gwin, Mississippi, on the route through the Delta(the last two were junctions with the Tennessee Division) Passenger trains ran between Canton and New Orleans, and through freights ran between Gwin and New Orleans, on the Louisiana Division. Same with RR'ers in TEY service. Thanks in advance for your help.Ken Stitzel wrote: You do not have permission to delete messages in this group. At BNSF, nothing is more important than safety. You can rely on BNSFs team of experts to help educate you on the benefits of incorporating our rail network into your supply chain. 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. About ten years ago the railroad proposed moving almost everyone from Boone to Rochelle. LA / Barstow/ Needles / Seligman? Whenever I go to the local Amtrak station I enjoy talking with the agent when he is not busy with other people, even telling him that his worst nightmare has come back to him. (200+ miles?). LEARN MORE Tribal Relations. BNSF 1859-345 hump engines. On the CPR, in Canada, the longest crew district is the Brooks Sub. This line is known as the Seligman Subdivision, and stretches between Winslow, AZ, and Needles, CA, both of which are crew change Some crew change points were simply the points at which one railroad had a junction with another. The railroad said they made no changes to how much time off an employee receives. Sometimes it would take the the full 16 hours on the HOS to make the run. Whenthe pool was smaller, you had to have about 30 years in to hold it. BNSF is forever proud of its heritage and history, and we combine that with a never-ending drive to explore new technologies and approaches where appropriate to enhance safety and efficiency. Others are where two adjacent crew districts were merged into one, with the crews running through the former change point between the two on all, or most trains. Many owe their existence to it. Here we highlight stories centered on our safety culture and why it is ingrained in everything we do. In Canada CN began running longer crew districts on the prairies in the 1990's, I think. Each intermodal train carries as much freight as 280 trucks, helping alleviate congestion on our nation's highways. I wish I had asked a trainman how the pay was calculated, since some of the turn arounds were short.