bnsf crew change points

LEARN MORE Tribal Relations. 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. I doubt many trains could've made the extra 70 or so miles to Rochelle on their hours. Harvey and Enderlin, ND; Glenwood, Thief River Falls, and Minneapolis/St. Only the Clinton - Missouri Valley long pool. 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. Curiosity about Melstone got to me and found out that it now has a population of 96, down from 136 in 2000. Then run pools (through Clinton) to Missouri Valley (hot intermodals only), to Boone (everything else), and pools to Des Moines and Mason City. Railroad systems are divided into subdivisions, usually between crew change points. Each intermodal train carries as much freight as 280 trucks, helping alleviate congestion on our nation's highways. No? BNSF doesnt just move freight; we connect with people and communities along the way. But I hear it is coming. The only BNSF jobs @ Kingman is a daytime rd swtchr followed by a afternoon one. . Something unheard of even 5 years ago, just before the bottom dropped out. "And as far as working 40 hours per trip, again what they're not telling you is, yes, we may be on a train for seven to eight hours going to our destination or back," she said. A couple less employees to receive benefits. LIONS with CAMERAS. Which meant that many crewsmight not be able to make the far treminal on their HOS. If the district is too long tor its conditions of traffic and geography, the crew hogs out short of its final terminal, and is dogged or patched by a relief crew (idiom varies) two crews have been paid a days wages to do what was supposed to be the work of one. The railroad is run as an East-West route. We enable our customers to participate in a wide range of markets in North America and around the world. Or, did they get rid of it because there was too much congestion / delays east of Clinton? * Denver north:. It's grown enough that engineer's need about half of that, even less for conductors. 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. 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. Crew Change Points : Needles, Winslow Yards: Needles, Winslow Junctions @ West Williams, Phoenix Sub (BNSF) MP 375.0 Highest point: 7,322 ft @ Arizona Divide. We are committed to proactively identify, attract and develop long-term partnerships with certified minority, woman and veteran-owned and small disadvantaged businesses, while fulfilling BNSF Vision and Values. 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. To participate you must either login or register for an account. Microsoft Train Simulator BNSF Phoenix Sub Crew Change Points? Would this be in the ballpark for the Hi Line? Many times after the adoptionof the 130 mile day, the terminals didn't change. Things changed since Sept 11, 2001. Otherwise there is a pool that runs straight through Savanna to Cicero and also a pool out of La Crosse to Galesburg. This doesn't mean that runs were only 100 miles then or 130 miles now. Amtrak runs Whitefish to Havre, but I think all freights recrew at Shelby, MT, I think the other crew change is at Wolf Point, MTrather than Glasgow, MT. Why Sign In? I was wondering about crewchangepoints along the UP and BNSF in the Midwest. "Almost every single day we go to work sick or tired because lineups are terrible," she admitted. Members enjoy 15% off any purchase in our store. Feel free to fill inanything I'm missing. Welcome to the BNSF Railway at Edgemont South Dakota website. Jeff:Thanks for the explanations. 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. No? ), --Ken Stitzel (k@fc.hp.com)Learning Products Engineer (tech writer with functional enhancements)Hewlett-Packard Company (a pretty cool company to work for) Fort Collins, Colorado, USA (Opinions stated herein are provided without warranty and are not representative of official or unofficial HP policy on crew/helperhelp. "However, just last week, I sat down in Guernsey for 27 hours in the hotel waiting to come home.". Thanks in advance for your help. But she added that incentive ultimately rewards those who take little, if any, time off and who don't need the points anyway. The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota. (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.). This was a 4-mile, single-track chokepoint until March 2011, when the railroad completed a 30-month, $85 million effort to push through a second track. Many times after the adoptionof the 130 mile day, the terminals didn't change. Then Casper and Greybull. Something unheard of even 5 years ago, just before the bottom dropped out. Whenthe pool was smaller, you had to have about 30 years in to hold it. Forsome railroaders getting in on the other end, actually either end, the first thing they think about is beer. Allan_Love_Jr TrainBoard Member. Other changes on the PCE were Alberton, MT to St. Maries, ID and St. Maries, ID to Othello, WA. However, the longestcrew division is CP's Belleville Subdivision from Smiths Falls ONto Toronto Yard (197 track miles) where the Toronto Terminal officially begins or ends. Helpers cut off at Palmer Lakeor Colorado Springs (Grain trains). They can only work 12 hours by federal law. One thing to remember is there are some long and some short pools. 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. Heres where one railroads train crews go to work, where they lay over, and the tangled routes in between. I imagine the Lee-miester isa busy camper these days, like everybody on UP. 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. Apparently extending crew districts is in E. Hunter Harrison's bag of tricks, which as far as I know now, he hasn't yet pulled out. Join Today! They can be added if employees work during periods that are more in demand. Some crew change points were simply the points at which one railroad had a junction with another. Enjoy moving trains in breathtaking scenes across the country, all year long. Learn more about what it means to do business with BNSF and the process we use for working with suppliers. "We used to be able to take five weekdays, two weekend days a month off at our discretion and since the implementation of the Hi-Viz policy," she explained. Does the UP still have a Proviso to Boone long pool? Trenton ON was eliminated as an away from home terminal for Toronto East Pool and Smiths Falls West Pool crews. 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. * Denver northeast: Sterling, CO? Some railroaders have said the policy incentivizes employees to work while sick or tired, something that Goodson can very much relate to. This Map of the Month appeared in theMay 2004 issue of Trains magazine. In Iowa, they started running Atkins, IA on the Council Bluffs main and Nahant (Davenport) on the KC line. 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. Goodson said the previous attendance policy wasn't nearly as strict and allowed more time for family events and time with her three children. I believe it was cptrainman of the "Hunter, . I haven't heard of this in a long time, so maybe this was a failed idea. For some reason, I always thought crew change points were determined by how long it took to get there. KINGMAN is an AMTRAK only crew change. CP never owned any of those ginormous tenders like the Santa Fe had to get across the arid areas they served. 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. Open navigation menu BNSF purchases material and service items from an extensive list of sources. Zug, I still enjoy talking with railroad employees, but I am very careful about initiating conversations. Staying at one of the lodging motels can be interesting, but I wouldnt suggest being too inquiring these days. Highlighting our commitment to safety, service, innovation, people, communities and our heritage. > > UP crew changes:> * Denver east: no idea> * Denver south: Pueblo> * Denver west: Bond, then Grand Junction> * Denver north: Cheyenne> * Pueblo south: same as BNSF, presumably, No, only one crew Pueblo to Dalhart. ), > * Cheyenne east: North Platte> * Cheyenne west: Rawlins (Green River for hotshots? 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. The BNSF classification yard looking east. > * BNSF/UP: Denver to Winter Park (Does BNSF use helpers? Meanwhile, BNSF is spending $581 million this year to forge . At BNSF, we are committed to providing you the information you need to make informed transportation decisions. I listen to the CSX on my scanner and often the dispatcher will ask if they are a Garrett or Williard crew. The heart of the yard is visible from a hill about midway . BNSFs Economic Development team can help guide you through the process of expanding, developing or selecting a site. 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. Many owe their existence to it. But we don't just move freight; we touch people and communities along the way. We will show you how to get a rate, ship, track and manage your account by using our online tools. Some railroads do have expanded crew districts. Zug, you guys must have really been tired. Back in my road days, when we'd end up at a hotel after a very long and tiring trip, and some guy who was obviously an over-eager railfan would see us and ask us if we were railroaders, we'd always answer: NOPE! It has brought morale down to an all-time low.". I find it ironic that the MILW expandend some of their districts just as deferredmaintenance caused speeds to drop. where are they south of La Crosse? I wish I had asked a trainman how the pay was calculated, since some of the turn arounds were short. So if you want to rub elbows with train crews while you travel, the Oak Tree is the place to do it. BNSF moves about a third of all intermodal volume in North America. Retirees may not work at BNSF any longer, but many are active in their communities and play an important role as unofficial ambassadors for BNSF. 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. 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. 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. Originally theyhad the hot trains, with the lesser ones going to the short pool. I have to look thru some stuff, but I think they used to change at Melstone, MT. "The project in Amarillo as well as the other projects between Southern California and Chicago will help all traffic types along the route flow more freely and help prevent congestion.". Bassano was located at almost the exact halfway point on the Sub. 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. I know OTR truckers are only to work so many hours before they have to sign out and rest. When crews are tight on either pool at either end, they use crews out of either pool. I was wondering about crewchangepoints along the UP and BNSF in the Midwest. This BNSF rail division sees some of the highest tonnage freight traffic in the world (over 100 million tons annually. Seattle / Spokane / Hauser, ID / Whitefish, MT / Havre, MT / Glasgow, MT / Minot, ND / Fargo, ND / MSP, MN / La Crosse, WI / Chicago . This was indicated by a bold type stripe across the page for every train at Bassano. 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. I think the Miles City to Harlowton run was one of them. 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. Don't forget BNSF's Southwest Chief line. 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. Classic Railroad Scenes: Railroads at Work. Get updates and special offers via email from Trains.com brands! While it may not save the railroad money on wages, it saves them on the cost of benefits. We seek to acquire quality goods and services at the lowest total cost of ownership by working resourcefully, efficiently, effectively and ethically with both current and prospective suppliers. 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. In February, BNSF instituted an attendance policy known as Hi-Viz, which drew immediate criticism from employees and railroad unions. Discussion related to BNSF operations. The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of. From then to now trains on this subdivision are crewed by running trades employees whose home terminals are at Toronto and Smiths Falls. from Calgary to Medicine Hat, AB, created in 1910. I just remembered, while sitting in the Oak Tree Inn at Clinton, IA, that they are the UP's contracted provider for crew lodging away from home. Trenton ON was eliminated as an away from home terminal for Toronto East Pool and Smiths Falls West Pool crews. A minor correction to Agentkid's posting. 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. LA - Barstow - Needles - Kingman - Winslow - Belen - Clovis - Amarillo - Wellington - Kansas City - Ft. Madison - Chicago for the fast trains, some additional crew changes for manifest trains. Looking for a media contact within BNSF? I have to look thru some stuff, but I think they used to change at Melstone, MT. Additionally, if employees fall into the top 10 percent of hours worked, they can earn points. 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. Members of both unions from all involved railroads are welcome to attend. For instance, if I took off every other Sunday, no other days, I would be dismissed by the end of the year.". 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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. But crew change locations make a logical place to start and end activities. Satellite view on Google maps shows a lot of empty lots in the town and I guess that the population may have been 300 to 500 at its peak. Additionally, if employees fall into the top 10 percent of hours worked, they can earn points. / Belen / Clovis / Avard? They also handle (normally) the salad shooters. Knutson said he thinks the policy was implemented for several reasons. 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). 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? 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. The Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway (BNSF) is the largest Class I railroad in the country and is one of the two major freight railroads in Wyoming. Learn more about our trains, how we operate them, and the variety of railcars we haul, in the informative BNSF Virtual Train Tour. The crew change point on the South Transcon is Wellington Kan, Amarillo Texas Belen New Mexico Needles California Barstow, California (on some trains) Fresno, California Stockton California--also some trains change crews at Bakersfield, California Maybe others can fill in Dale Smith [ Reply To This Message ] [ Quote ] Date: 09/07/16 19:16 Would this be the right list for the Transcon? Crew districts are not static. Allan_Love_Jr Aug 26, 2007. About ten years ago the railroad proposed moving almost everyone from Boone to Rochelle. The MBI book "BNSF Railway" has an excellent map that pinpoints all the BNSF crew change points as of 2005. http://www.oaktreeinn.com/Hotels is a current list of hotels. The 100 mile day was based on how far you would travel in 8 hours at a speed of 12.5 mph. LIONS with CAMERAS. This doesn't mean that runs were only 100 miles then or 130 miles now. : I thought I read that UP phased out Rawlins, and all trains go through: to Green River from Cheyenne. The Clinton-Mo Valleylong poolhandles mostly intermodal trains. Alaska Railfanning / My ARR Photos on Flickr. 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 policy, that they have now, cut that in half and in half. He said the policy is very stringent. "We think those things are critical to protect the velocity and safety of our network," she says.