Allegany County, Md., to take over track repairs needed by Western Maryland Scenic
Allegany County, Md., is taking over track maintenance of the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad from the heritage line, the Cumberland Times-News reports. The move comes after the Federal Railroad Administration in February ordered the replacement of 50,000 ties before the railroad — shut down since March 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic — could resume operations. At the time, the estimate to do the necessary work was $2 million; at a county commission meeting last week, commission Dave Caporale said the county had received an estimate the work could be done for $250,000. Caporale said the line could be reclassified from Class 2, with a top speed for passenger trains of 30 mph, to Class 1, with a top speed of 15 mph, to reduce the cost. The railroad is the home of the “last Baldwin,” C&O 2-6-6-2 No. 1309, which continues to be prepared for operation after being returned to steam at the end of 2020 [see “Last Baldwin, Western Maryland Scenic No. 1309, makes first move …,” Trains News Wire, Dec. 31, 2020].
Congressman reintroduces bill calling for $205 billion for high speed rail network
U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.) has reintroduced a bill which would spend $205 billion over five years to develop a nationwide high speed rail network. Moulton originally introduced the bill late in the 116th Congress [see “Digest: Report recommends combining VRE, MARC …,” Trains News Wire, Dec. 10, 2020], and the Lowell Sun reports Moulton’s spokesman said the action then was to “plant a flag on the issue,” and that it is being reintroduced now to influence upcoming pursuit of infrastructure legislation. “High-speed rail is faster, cleaner, safer and better for our economy. It will connect people to more jobs in new places, give Americans freedom and choice in how they travel, and put us on par with the rest of the world. This bill is the plan that will get us there,” Moulton said in a press release. Reps. Brendan Boyle (D-Pa.), Suzan DelBene (D-Wash.), and Mike Doyle (D-Pa.) are co-sponsors.
Normal, Ill., ask UP to reimburse costs resulting from February derailment
City officials in Normal, Ill., are asking Union Pacific to reimburse the city for overtime incurred in dealing with a Feb. 13 derailment in the city, a figure the town estimates at less than $20,000 in “non-typical staffing.” The Bloomington Pantagraph reports the city has contacted UP about the expense but is not sure when or if it will be reimbursed. Seventeen cars of a intermodal train derailed in the incident [see “UP derailment in Normal, Ill., blocks streets …,” Trains News Wire, Feb. 13, 2021] ; a UP spokeswoman told the newspaper there is no update on the cause or cost of the accident.
I’d LOVE to know who Allegany County has found that will presumably buy and install railroad ties at $5 per tie.
I’ll have to assume Mr. Caporale’s getting the ties from the local landscaper. Something doesn’t add up here.
I thought that at first too but more likely it is that with the reduction in class of track, 1/8 the number of ties need to be changed.
Even if the train doesn’t generally go over 15 mph, a downgrade of a passenger line seems like not a good idea.