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. "At any given time, there are about 300 trains running along the Transcon," added Rasmussen. For 170 years, BNSF Railway has been an essential connector safely and efficiently transporting freight from point A to point B. BNSF 1859-345 hump engines. (I've heard about helpers living in Tabernash but don't know if that's a permanent thing or not. Then Casper and Greybull. Click here to learn about the Unlimited Membership. More than just lines on a map, a railroad is people. I'll try to compile the info and post it here again foreveryone to double-check. Five years ago, a conductor on the Southwest Chief initiated a conversation with me when, as I was standing in the aisle outside the room my wife and I occupied, she ran into my arms. BNSF's secure customer website enables shipment tracking, bill payment, and more. 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. I've searched the Web and have came up with a few locations for the BNSF. 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. She apologized andI pardoned her and let her go on to wherever it was she needed to go quickly. Whenthe pool was smaller, you had to have about 30 years in to hold it. CP never owned any of those ginormous tenders like the Santa Fe had to get across the arid areas they served. 15. I doubt many trains could've made the extra 70 or so miles to Rochelle on their hours. BNSF plays a vital role in our economys supply chain, moving freight across our nation every day. Crew Change Points - Trains Magazine - Trains News Wire, Railroad News I recall seeing a Steffee speed survey (mid-1960's?) 237 0 14. No, I think Rawlins is still very much used for everything but"shooters" (hotshots), which go all the way to Green River without achange. Zug, I still enjoy talking with railroad employees, but I am very careful about initiating conversations. I doubt many trains could've made the extra 70 or so miles to Rochelle on their hours. CP never owned any of those ginormous tenders like the Santa Fe had to get across the arid areas they served. 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. Whenthe pool was smaller, you had to have about 30 years in to hold it. More than 50% of train crew employees work less than 40 hours a week on average. Jeff:Thanks for the explanations. For the moment I still have more tracks, trains, and switches then they do, but that is changing rapidly, as two new rail facilities are planned for this town. > * Pueblo east: ?? 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. 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. where are they south of La Crosse? 1,907 177 39. 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. Within these districts there are pools that work to/from intermediate terminals, such as Clinton to Marshalltown. To clarify, Chicago to North La Crosse is one district, and Galesburg to North La, > To clarify, Chicago to North La Crosse is one. No matter what you're shipping, BNSF has a service to meet your needs. I think the Miles City to Harlowton run was one of them. BNSF modified their policy on June 1. Can someone in road service choosewhich pool to work in? 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. It has brought morale down to an all-time low.". Ensure a safe, slow approach from others with this railroad-themed logo mask! Originally theyhad the hot trains, with the lesser ones going to the short pool. Sometimes it would take the the full 16 hours on the HOS to make the run. The Western Pacific also had some ~200 mile crew districts. Discussion related to BNSF operations. Why Sign In? Scribd is the world's largest social reading and publishing site. 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. Wondering where the crew change points are on the BNSF from Chicago to the Twin Cities on the Aurora and St. Croix Subs? 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. BNSF modified their policy on June 1. About ten years ago the railroad proposed moving almost everyone from Boone to Rochelle. 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). Crew Change Points, Belen to Barstow - RAILROAD.NET At BNSF, nothing is more important than safety. If this is your first visit, welcome to TrainSim.Com! A train in the long pool uses one less crew than if it goes to the short pool. * Denver north: Cheyenne, WY, then . While it may not save the railroad money on wages, it saves them on the cost of benefits. Learn more about what it means to do business with BNSF and the process we use for working with suppliers. No, Rawlins is still a crew change point for all trains 50 mph and less. Plus a new pool might be in place to handle the New Baltimore intermodal terminal. Get the newest photos, videos, stories, and more from Trains.com brands. At the time we were having trouble going from Boone to Clinton in 12 hours. Curiosity about Melstone got to me and found out that it now has a population of 96, down from 136 in 2000. Feel free to fill inanything I'm missing. The western end of the Hi-Line should read like this; Interbay (Seattle)-Wentachee, WA.-Hauser, ID-Whitefish, MT.-Shelby, MT.-Havre, MT. Points are deducted for taking time off, especially at times that the railroad deems inconvenient. I find it ironic that the MILW expandend some of their districts just as deferredmaintenance caused speeds to drop. Log in to the Employee Portal to access safety rulebooks, pay and benefits information, sign up for training opportunities and more. They can only work 12 hours by federal law. Some crew change points were simply the points at which one railroad had a junction with another. While they have been built to provide lodging for AFHT crews, they are open to the public as well. Some crew change points were simply the points at which one railroad had a junction with another. Crew changes can happen anywhere of course, but crews do frequently change in Savanna, IL which is the convergence of the C&I line to Chicago and the Barstow Sub south to Galesburg. Good threads on this string. 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 Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota. Sterling, then Guernsey for most trains, Alliancethen Edgemont, Gillette, Sheridan if they are going that way. These stories highlight some of our favorite examples of how we apply innovation to railroading. Same with RR'ers in TEY service. Forsome railroaders getting in on the other end, actually either end, the first thing they think about is beer. If I'm wrong, the UP guys will probably weigh in, but on the OverlandRoute east of Cheyenne, I believe the closest crew change points are inNorth Platte and Fremont, Nebraska and in Boone, Iowa. It would mark a dramatic change to a labor contract that covers about 3,000 workers, or 60 percent of the BNSF system. 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. Get the answers to the questions most commonly asked about BNSF. Correct on the Rawlins/Green River crew change. Vancouver, WA or Pasco, WA-Wishram, WA-Bend, OR-Klamath Falls, OR-Keddie, CA-Stockton, CA? 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. Protests have taken place in cities and towns on BNSF's system, including in Gillette. (200+ miles?). Would this be the right list for the Transcon? OK, LION knows that tey went from 100 mile runs to 200 mile runs some time about 10 years ago. (Which I don't happen to remember.). The railroad has been one of the major economic drivers and employers for many of the Wyoming communities it passes through. U.S. and global economies rely on rail, and BNSF is a vital link in the global supply chain. 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. But we don't just move freight; we touch people and communities along the way. I have to look thru some stuff, but I think they used to change at Melstone, MT. The additional high iron allows 70-mph intermodal trains to leap ahead of slower-moving merchandise and unit trains at crew-change points, which BNSF says will alleviate congestion, boost average train speed, and improve service on the busiest intermodal route in North America. From then to now trains on this subdivision are crewed by running trades employees whose home terminals are at Toronto and Smiths Falls. 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. Welcome to the BNSF newsroom. The satellite view clearly shows impressions of a turntable and roundhouse across the highway from the town. No, they never had aProviso- Boone long pool. 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! 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. 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? One thing to remember is there are some long and some short pools. Thanks to all the responses so far--both here in the newsgroup and viaemail. GN 441 Luxury Locomotive Lodge: Westbound to Montana In the early 1970's the law was changed to 14 hours and subsequently todays 12 hours. - Erik. 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. (While not directly owned, supposedly the ownership has ties to the UP.) Charlie TrainBoard Member. Learn how easy it is to become a BNSF customer. I thought they also did a UPcrew district map too, but I may be thinking about a map on the UP company website. Need to talk with someone at BNSF about a news report youre putting together? 'Completely demoralized': US railroad workers pushed to the brink Back in the 60's, the SP had a run out of Los Angeles to Santa Barbara, CA. 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. "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. Shop online for BNSF-branded merchandise. The Milwaukee Road in the 1970s combined orchanged some crew districts, both on the Puget Sound extension and elsewhere. This doesn't mean that runs were only 100 miles then or 130 miles now. When they eventually finish their Blair and Clinton projects(not any time soon) I expect a push tochange the crew districts. > * BNSF/UP: Denver to Winter Park (Does BNSF use helpers? For nearly 170 years, BNSF has been safely and efficiently transporting freight and helping shape our country's history. .so far" thread who said that through frieghts now use only one crew, but way freights are still supplied with crews on each Sub. Which meant that many crewsmight not be able to make the far treminal on their HOS. Get great snapshots of railroading history in Art Petersons newest book. Our vision is to realize BNSF's tremendous potential by providing transportation services that consistently meet our customers expectations. They also handle (normally) the salad shooters. She also said some of the claims that BNSF is making, especially in regard to working hours, time off, and leave, are misleading. 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. One of my easterly buddies is coming to Colorado for some extensiverailfanning this spring. When they eventually finish their Blair and Clinton projects(not any time soon) I expect a push tochange the crew districts. I find it ironic that the MILW expandend some of their districts just as deferredmaintenance caused speeds to drop. 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. We all have one thing in common: we worked at BNSF Railway or one of its predecessor railroads. Today's BNSF Railway is the product of nearly 400 different railroad lines that merged or were acquired over the course of 170 years. This month BNSF placed in service 5 miles of fourth main track on the Hereford Subdivision through Amarillo, Texas. Or even less: As late as the 1990s, there were still a few crew changes in the middle-of-nowhere, consisting of only a few sidings, a crew dormitory, and a 24-hour lunchroom. Goodson said that if employees work on the weekends, they can earn a single point to add to their total. All engine crews changed in McComb; thus all passenger engine crews ran 100 miles from start to finish. Paul MN. At Galesburg we have 2 westbound stack trains, a couple of eastbound stackers, eastbound P train, plus the roadrailers, and vehicle trains. It is interesting when you look at old ETT's. 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. I threw inFremont and Boone in case he's driving that way, or in case wanderlusttakes him east the same way my "as long as I'm in the neighborhood"reasoning got me to Albuquerque when I'd only planned on going as farsouthwest as Denver. Thanks very much guys. Good threads on this string. BNSF Modifying 'Hi-Viz' Attendance Policy (UPDATED) 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. Seems like I'm missing at least 1 (maybe btwn Clovis and KC?). BNSF crew change points. | TrainBoard.com - The Internet's Original The pandemic caused people to be out sick more often causing labor shortages. We will show you how to get a rate, ship, track and manage your account by using our online tools. .so far" thread who said that through frieghts now use only one crew, but way freights are still supplied with crews on each Sub. 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. I know OTR truckers are only to work so many hours before they have to sign out and rest. But I hear it is coming. Some were/are longer, some were/are shorter. Hugh Cook is Wyoming Public Radio's Northeast Reporter, based in Gillette. Some are overlays on existing crew districts for certain type trains, intermodal for example. This change made two crew districts out of what were three, running thru the traditional terminals atAvery, ID and Malden, WA. Something unheard of even 5 years ago, just before the bottom dropped out. myemployer, any other railroad, company, or person. Information about the railroad through Flagstaff, Arizona The rail line through Flagstaff is operated by the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway (BNSF). Learn more about our trains, how we operate them, and the variety of railcars we haul, in the informative BNSF Virtual Train Tour. In Gillette, she said they have just two new hires compared to 18 that have left since the Hi-Viz policy was implemented. But crew change locations make a logical place to start and end activities. Crew Change Points, Belen to Barstow; Discussion related to BNSF operations. > * Cheyenne west: Rawlins (Green River for hotshots? )* UP east from Grand Junction??? Allan_Love_Jr Aug 26, 2007. (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. I'm sure that longer crew districts in other places are coming Our community is FREE to join. 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. "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. 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. Double tracking BNSF's transcon - PressReader "A Train is a Place Going Somewhere" CP Rail Public Timetable. November 3, 2022 INDEPENDENCE, Ohio, (Nov. 3, 2022) The BLET and SMART-TD will host a joint town hall meeting next week to discuss the tentative national rail agreement. Sometimes it would take the the full 16 hours on the HOS to make the run. "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. Crew change points on the old Santa Fe Transco Author: chicohogger. Between the closing of Tennessee Pass and the use of remote units, I'mnot sure there are any permanent helper districts anymore. BNSF said more than 50 percent of train crew employees work less than 40 hours on average. It is approximately 185 miles long, which was a huge accomplishment back then. But apart from the policy, she said she loves her job. "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. If anybody could help me out, that would be awesome. It is approximately 185 miles long, which was a huge accomplishment back then. BNSF, like other Class I railroads, operates around the clock, seven days a week, every day of the year, and in all weather conditions. Nothing against the over-eager railfans, but the only thing we wanted to think about was sleep. Zug, you guys must have really been tired. In February, BNSF instituted an attendance policy known as Hi-Viz, which drew immediate criticism from employees and railroad unions. I guess he's got a point because all the trains stopat such places. Fully responsible for all aspects of the North American operation including profit and loss, contract negotiation, customer retention, business development, sales, marketing, process management,. 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 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. I'm sure that longer crew districts in other places are coming Our community is FREE to join. About ten years ago the railroad proposed moving almost everyone from Boone to Rochelle. I thought they also did a UPcrew district map too, but I may be thinking about a map on the UP company website. This BNSF rail division sees some of the highest tonnage freight traffic in the world (over 100 million tons annually. 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? Major stations: Barstow, Ash Hill; Yards: Needles; Crew Change Points: Needles, Barstow Junctions: Daggett (UPRR Cima Sub) MP 739.6 Highest point: 2187 @ Lavic; Lowest Point: 620 @ Amboy . Friends of BNSF is a community for people who have a connection to or affinity for BNSF. I was wondering about crewchangepoints along the UP and BNSF in the Midwest. Official site: BNSF.COM 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. And, crew change points were (and still are)not always the same for engine crews and for train crews on the same train. BNSF Editor CTC Board Magazine [ Reply To This Message ] Date: 01/10/02 19:00 Thanks Author: dbm. I believe it was cptrainman of the "Hunter, . His perigrinations may take him intoneighboring parts of Wyoming and New Mexico, possibly Nebraska orKansas, too. For pay purposes,a basic day is 130 miles, up from the original 100 mile day for freight. They also handle (normally) the salad shooters. BNSF forges ahead with capacity expansion projects despite - Trains The Milwaukee Road in the 1970s combined orchanged some crew districts, both on the Puget Sound extension and elsewhere. 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. Considering that input, BNSF will make additional modifications to the program effective June 1 to provide additional clarity and flexibility to employees. About 50/50 on one crewactually making it. BNSF Railway's first-in-the-industry Tribal Relations program seeks to build and strengthen ties . DC - Maryland - Virginia Area Passenger Rail: MTA(MARC), VRE, WMATA(Metro), Florida Commuter Rail: Metrorail, Sunrail, Tri-Rail and Proposals, Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), MTA Metro-North Railroad and CtDOT Passenger Rail, New York City Area Wide Rail Transit Issues (Cross-Agency), New Jersey Transit NJT Rail and Light Rail LRT, Railroading and Railfanning by Region and State, General Discussion: Fallen Trolley and Interurban Lines, Anthracite Railroads - CNJ, L&HR, LNE, LV and RDG, Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway (ATSF), Baltimore & Ohio|Chesapeake & Ohio|Western Maryland, Burlington Northern, GN, NP, CB&Q, SP&S, SL-SF, Granger Railroads - C&NW, Rock Island, and MILW, New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad NYNH&HRR, Norfolk & Western, VGN, WAB, NKP, P&WV, ACY, IT, Canadian National-Illinois Central and Grand Trunk Western, Genesee & Wyoming Inc. Class II & III Lines, New York, Susquehanna & Western - Past and Present, Pan Am Railways (formerly Guilford Rail System), Reading, Blue Mountain, and Northern Railroad, Class III: Short Line, Industrial, Military, Terminal and Railroad Holding Companies, General Discussion: Short Lines, Industrials, and Military, Central Maine & Quebec Railway (formerly Montreal, Maine & Atlantic | Bangor & Aroostook), Genesee Valley Transportation Family (DLWR, FRR, MAN, DL), Livonia, Avon, & Lakeville Family (LAL, BH, WNYP), Manufacturers: Locomotives, Rolling Stock, and Equipment, General Discussion: Locomotives, Rolling Stock, and Equipment, Kawasaki Rail: Global and Kawasaki Rail Car Inc, Books, Magazines, Music, TV, and Movies, and other Media, Museums, Tourist Lines, and Historical Organizations, Operations, Facilities, Maps and Resources, Toy Trains, Model Railroading, Outdoor and Live Steam.