I'm looking to see the Cta's newest "Ravenston" trip from Howard to the Loop
and back. I heard it was run 512, but what time does it leave Howard?
Sean

The ridiculous run 512 leaves Howard St. at 8:15.

The description "ridiculous" has piqued my curiosity! What is this animal? Is it
an Evanston Express that turns into a Ravenswood on the return trip? An E.E.
that goes the opposite way around the Loop? Is it a newer Ravenswood train mixed
in with the older E.E. cars? Does this have something to do with the news that
the CTA is adding more rush-hour trains to five lines?

I saw this on the CTA's web site:
"On the Brown Line, where morning rush period trains are especially crowded
south of Belmont, an extra Brown Line train will enter service at Belmont at
8:17 a.m. for a trip to the Loop. After circling the outer Loop, this same train
will leave the Merchandise Mart station northbound at 8:47 a.m. as a Purple Line
Express to Linden."

While I'm asking questions, when did the E.E. trains start talking? The other
night, I hopped on an E.E. from the Mart to Wellington and was surprised to hear
the stops announced by a pre-recorded voice. I've seen this before on other
systems, but not the CTA. How does this work? Are the announcements triggered by
some kind of sensors on the track? Was this done to make less work for motormen,
or because the traditional intercom system is unintelligible due to distortion
and feedback? Do all E.E.'s have this now, or was I just lucky the other night?
Are there plans to add this system to all CTA lines? The clarity was good, but
it seemed a little too antiseptic. The individual voices announcing stops add to
the character of the L.

Sorry for all the questions. Feel free to refer me to another source for this
information. Is there a publication I can subscribe to for the latest
information about the CTA?

--Dave Johnsen

Hello,
I currently have over 4,000 original slides of railroad and other
transportation-related subjects for sale.  There are many of buses and
rapid transit, with a heavy concentration in the Chicago area.  All are
high-quality, original Kodachrome, Kodak-processed, sunny well-lit and
exposed views from all over the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Cuba, and some
are almost 20 years old.
If you would like to receive my FREE 10-page list, please respond
***_OFF-LIST_*** to <phunnell@...> with your snail-mail and I'll
send you a copy right away.

Thank-you for your time.

...Paul






__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Talk to your friends online with Yahoo! Messenger.
http://im.yahoo.com

From what I know, this one runs as an Evanston Express, but operates around
the Loop like a Ravenswood; counterclockwise. Thats all...just goes straight
south at Tower 18.
Sean

Since 512 is a swing, does it also run this way when it makes the 16:50
southbound out of Linden?
Sean

Have 5 Whole buses. Not running, various conditions and problems.6v71 detroit
diesel, allison v730 (4sp) auto. transmission.Please email me 4 more info.Must
sell soon. Make offers.
Manufactured by GM Canada in 1981 (month unknown)
Non-Air Conditioned 35 foot 96 inch wide bus
Located in W. Laffayette, IN 1250 Canal Road in Lafayette, Indiana (47905)
  SEE WEB SITE LINK FOR MORE INFO
other buses 4 sale
http://buses.homepage.com
===========================

I just put the March version of my Cable Car Home Page on the server:
http://www.geocities.com/cable_car_guy/cablecar.html

It includes several new items:
1. New on the Chicago cable car lines page: the West Chicago Street
Railroad.  The third and last company to build lines in Chicago.
2. In the Chicago Miscellany section, a brief article about the Chicago
Tunnel Company Railroad.  It's mostly a plug for Phil O'Keefe's excellent
site about this unusual eletric railway.
3.  On the Seattle page, lots more detail about each line and more pictures.
4. On the Who page, a brief biographical article about J M Thompson (no
relation), an engineer who designed and built almost all of the lines in the
Pacific Northwest and the Second Street line in Los Angeles.  If anyone
knows what the "J" stood for, I'd be very grateful.
5. More links on my Thanks/Links page.

Next month: Cable Car Kitsch, a new page about the junk that people
(including me) collect.

I wanted to thank the people who have responded favorably to the articles
about cable railways in Chicago.  This will be the last note I copy to the
chicagohistory and chicagotransit lists unless I come up with something big
in the future.  Thanks to the members of those lists for their patience.

On an unrelated note, I finally had a chance to ride behind Little Puffer,
the 1904 steam locomotive that returned to the SF Zoo after being rudely
removed in 1978.  It was a great trip.  The Golden Gate Railway Museum
volunteers did a beautiful job restoring the engine and the cars.  The new
route is scenic, but very curvy.

Regards,
Joe Thompson
The Cable Car Home Page (new url alias)
http://www.geocities.com/cable_car_guy/cablecar.html

______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

EMERGENCY Notice

My name is________________  and I am with a group
called Missourians for Rail Passenger Service.  We are
working to put an issue on the Nov. 2000 ballot in
Missouri.  We are talking about a one tenth of one
percent fuel tax which is supposed to generate about
3.8 million dollars a year for the development of a
statewide plan for Rail Passenger Service which could
include Springfield to St. Louis and Kansas City.

WE realize this will not totally fund a statewide plan
but our MAIN GOAL IS TO SHOW THAT THE PEOPLE OF
MISSOURI WANT A STATE WIDE RAIL PLAN and if they do
the Governor and the Legislature will help find
Federal and other funding.

We have 8 out of 10 people signing the petition and we
have a number of volunteers helping but we need to pay
some of these people to stand on the street corner.
Remember no issue has been put on the statewide ballot
without raising money and paying petitioners.

We are a grass roots group and we are asking for
$5.00, $10.00, $50.00 and $100.00 contributions to the
campaign.  Checks should be made out to Missourians
for Rail Passenger Service 101 S. Rice #16 Nixa MO
65714.  Thank you for your time---goodbye.

Anyone making calls will get one third of what they
raise before May 7, 2000.  You are a sub contractor
and all check names and amounts will be turned in on
reports to the Missouri Ethics Commission as a public
record of who supported the effort.  Callers are to
keep a log of who they called and when.  Thank you.

Remember TRUE GRASS ROOTS GROUPS THAT ARE NOT FUNDED
BY BIG MONEY INTEREST HAVE TO GO DIRECTLY TO THE
PEOPLE FOR SUPPORT.

Please make at least 20 copies of this form---20
copies of the Secretary of State Form---and 20 copies
of the petition and pass on.  Please make sure you
have the petition notarized before you mail it back
along with the Secretary of State Form which must be
mailed to us at:  Missourians for Rail Passenger
Service 101 S. Rice #16 Nixa MO 65714.

Since we do not have big money supporting us and since
we are a €  '   '€  ³Real Grass Roots Group€  '   '€  ´ we are being
BLACKED
OUT BY THE MEDIA, which of course knows what is best
for the Citizens.

So please flood this flyer in St. Louis, Kansas City,
Springfield and all over the state.

FLYER   Authorized by Missourians for Rail Passenger
Service 101 S. Rice #16 Nixa MO 65714  417-724-2330
THANKS FOR HELPING DEMOCRACY

Paid for by Missourians for Rail Passenger Service,
Steven L. Reed Treasurer

                                                       10 April 2000

Mr. Robert W. Plaster
Dr. M. Graham Clark
Mr. John Q. Hammons
Mr. Spike White
Mr. Artie Ayers
Mr. Peter Herschand
Mr. Howard Claybough
Mr. Sam F. Hamra
Mr. John L. Morris
Mr. Lee Iacocca


Dear Gentleman:

I am writing to see if you may have any interest in
helping to get an issue on the Missouri ballot.  This
issue if passed by the voters could be a big help to
Missouri.  It would be placed in the State
Constitution that we are going to develop a state plan
for Rail Passenger Service in Missouri.

I have had the chance to meet many of you and
appreciate the efforts you have made to help the4
area.  As you know I started working to promote Rail
Passenger Service from Springfield to Branson and to
St. Louis and Kansas City. I started while a student
at School of the Ozarks in 1989.  I still have that
letter from K.C. Packard of U.P. saying he would pass
the word along.
]
I am sure that my 11 year effort of promoting this
project and the whole area of southwest Missouri
actually helped attract attention and even helped some
of your businesses in the process.  Now again I am
working on something that could really benefit your
businesses.  The time is rip with high speed rail
between Chicago and St. Louis scheduled to start in
less than two years and Officials in Oklahoma and
Texas saying they want it to come on through AND TIE
THE MIDWEST TOGETHER IT IS MORE LIKELYTHAN EVER TO
HAPPEN NOW.

WE realize this will not totally fund a statewide plan
but our MAIN GOAL IS TO SHOW THAT THE PEOPLE OF
MISSOURI WANT A STATE WIDE RAIL PLAN and if they do
the Governor and the Legislature will help find
Federal and other funding.

We have 8 out of 10 people signing the petition and we
have a number of volunteers helping but we need to pay
some of these people to stand on the street corner.
Remember no issue has been put on the statewide ballot
without raising money and paying petitioners.

We are a grass roots group and we are asking for
$5.00, $10.00, $50.00 and $100.00 contributions to the
campaign.  Checks should be made out to Missourians
for Rail Passenger Service 101 S. Rice #16 Nixa MO
65714.  Thank you for your time.

If you need additional information please call
417-724-2330.

We need some new idea's and that is why actions are
underway to possibly put the development of a
"Technology Park" on the ballot in Springfield and
possibly on the statewide ballot.. We have over 1,000
of the 1,700 signatures needed to get on the ballot.
This is a very positive issue that we need to have a
public debate on.    Technology parks called
€  '   '€  ³INCUBATORS€  '   '€  ´ are when educational groups which
help
set them up cross with job creation---job training
etc.   A Technology Park could be so important, it
could help with job training and creating jobs of the
future; while doing research and development.
Medical, Environmental, Electronics, and
Communications---are some of the areas
companies are involved in.  This could benefit people
of all ages.
There are around 200 of these parks either existing or
being developed
worldwide---Georgia, Minnesota, Texas, the one in
North Carolina is supposed to
be a good job-goldmine---which generates money for all
people in the economy. Springfield leads the way in
job creation.  Cities like: Ozark, Nixa, Willard,
Ash Grove, Republic, Billings and other do not have
the staff, time, or money to
create jobs.  A few web site examples of technology
parks include---each is ready
to log onto:  A.  http://www.wrtechpark.com/      B.
http://www.mhpcc.edu/otherpages/mrtp/mrtp.html  C.
www.lihti.org    D.  http://davistech.com    E.
www.sci-tech.org.uk
F.  www.swedepark.se/     G.  www.astp.co.uk    H.
http://www.bemidjitech.com


Sincerely,


Steven L. Reed  101 S.Rice #16  Nixa, MO65714
417-724-2330  stevenlloydreed@...

Sincerely,


Steven L. Reed

Steven L. Reed
101 S. Rice #16
Nixa, MO 65714

P.S.  Could you please leave the enclosed petitions
out at your businesses?

Anyone wanting to help with technology parks can mail
checks to:  Missourians for Technlogy Parks.

Here is a link from the All-Aboard list on MAGLEV.

Its very well done and DOCUMENTS every thing I always suspected.
Its well worth while taking the time to read all the way through.



    http://home.t-online.de/home/rsdhanstein/rh_2eng.htm

Very interesting. No money in the initial leglislation but might be an
interesting start.

   http://www.starnewspapers.com/star/spnews/al/20-al3.htm

DUPAGE RAILROAD SAFETY COUNCIL

BI-ANNUAL SAFETY CONFERENCE - PREVENTING TRAGEDY ON THE TRACKS

McDonalds Hamburger University
south of 22nd St on Jorie Blvd - Oak Brook Illinois

Friday, April 28, 2000 - 8:30am to 4:30pm

Coming off Illinois' worst year for railroad fatalities, the DuPage Railroad
Safety Council's bi-annual safety conference promises to be the most
important railroad safety summit to date. the one-day event is intended to
find logical solutions to a major public safety problem in Illinois.
Railroad crossing safety and the whistle blowing controversy are just two of
the timely and newsworthy subjects that will be discussed by industry
leaders and prominent federal state and local officials.

Patti Smith of the Federal Railroad Administration will speak about federal
whistle blowing guidelines, which are the subject of four public hearings
this week. In addition, Gerri Hall, president of Operation Lifesaver Inc.,
will be making a presentation on railroad crossing safety. There will also
be a forum on achieving a moratorium on the construction of future
highway/railroad grade crossings.

U.S. Representative Judy Biggert, State Representative Patti Bellock and
State Senator Kirk Dillard will present legislative updates. DuPage County
Board Chairman Robert Schillerstrom will receive a "future Generations"
award. Former State Senator Beverly Fawell will also be receiving a
"lifetime achievement award".

FOR MORE INFORMATION: contact Dr. Lanny F. Wilson, Chairman of the DuPage
Railroad Safety Council at (630) 920-9200 or visit the website at
www.drsc.org

More info on the DuPage RR Crossing Safety Summit

   http://www.drsc.org/summit_news.htm

Hello everyone! Could someone send me a few links
for websites that have photos of CTA and other
Chicago area transit systems?

Thanks in advance,

=====
Peter McLaughlin....  New section with Transit bus photos from Regina
Saskatchewan Canada along with a page of Winnipeg Transit too!  Check it out at
http://members.xoom.com/tmx218/ Also watch for New Bus of The Month Photos for
the month of April

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Talk to your friends online and get email alerts with Yahoo! Messenger.
http://im.yahoo.com/

try xxxix


> The following article was selected from the Internet Edition
> of the Chicago Tribune. To visit the site, point your browser
> to http://chicagotribune.com/.
> ----------- Chicago Tribune Article Forwarding----------------
>
>
> Article forwarded by: Edward Robert Sirovy
>
> Return email: esirovy@...
>
>
>
> ---Forwarded article----------------
> Wisconsin governor backs revamp of Union Station
>
> By Thomas A. Corfman
>
> Long-delayed plans to redevelop historic Union Station are getting a
> push from Wisconsin Gov. Tommy G. Thompson, who also is chairman of
> Amtrak's board of directors.
>
> More than two years ago, the passenger railroad received two proposals
> from prominent local real estate firms that would have added
> retailing, office space and possibly a hotel to the historic structure
> while maintaining it as a train station. Neither proposal was
> accepted, for reasons that remain unclear.
>
> But now Amtrak is getting ready to do it all over again, at the urging
> of Thompson, a Republican who became chairman in September 1998 after
> he was appointed to the board by President Clinton.
>
> "The governor is certainly interested in the redevelopment of Union
> Station in Chicago," said Tony Jewell, press secretary for Gov.
> Thompson. "He thinks it is a very beautiful building in the heart of
> the city that is waiting to be revitalized."
>
> Amtrak board members discussed reviving the project when they met
> March 20 in Chicago, sources said.
>
> "The interest is very high among board members in Chicago Union
> Station," said Kevin Johnson, an Amtrak spokesman, who would not
> comment on the meeting but confirmed that board members toured the
> eight-story structure. The station, which was built in 1925, occupies
> the block bounded by Jackson Boulevard and Canal, Clinton and Adams
> Streets.
>
> Amtrak executives met Wednesday with Christopher Hill, commissioner of
> the city's Department of Planning and Development, about the project.
> They also are drafting a request for proposals, and are considering
> hiring a consultant to help with the process, Johnson said.
>
> The station is located in an existing tax increment financing
> district, making it possible that some city subsidy could be
> available.
>
> Johnson would not comment on the meeting with city officials, but
> added, "We would look for any kind of assistance that is available."
>
> A spokeswoman for the city's Department of Planning and Development
> could not be reached for comment.
>
> Johnson said the railroad had not yet set a schedule for the new
> request for proposals, but real estate industry sources said Amtrak
> has a target date of June 1. The timetable includes selection of the
> winning bidder in the early fall, with construction to begin 18 months
> laterThe project had been handled by the railroad's local real estate
> executive. But that position is now vacant, and the project is being
> directed out of the Philadelphia office by Sally J. Bellet, who late
> last year was named counsel to Amtrak's president and vice president
> of commercial development, with national responsibilities.
>
> Union Station's passenger areas were renovated in the early 1990s,
> including the waiting room, called the Great Hall, with its skylit,
> 115-foot vaulted ceiling. The upper floors include office space that
> is badly in need of renovation.
>
> Despite the strong real estate market, redeveloping Union Station
> could still prove to be a daunting task, particularly if the project
> includes building an addition above the existing structure.
>
> "It would be a great challenge," said developer Steven Fifield,
> president of Chicago-based Fifield Realty Corp. "Amtrak has to almost
> give away the air rights because whenever you try to build on top of a
> building, you're going to pay a premium for construction."
>
> The first proposal was made 14 years ago, when Chicago-based real
> estate firm U.S. Equities Realty LLC announced plans for twin,
> 25-story office towers above the station. But before construction
> could begin, the office market collapsed.
>
> After entertaining several more proposals from other developers over
> the intervening years, Amtrak issued a request for proposals in August
> 1997 that elicited responses from two Chicago-based firms: Jones Lang
> LaSalle Inc. and Prime Group Realty Trust.
>
> At the time, the project's cost was estimated at $80 million. Amtrak
> conducted fairly extensive negotiations with both firms before
> breaking off talks.
>
> In recent years, the area near Union Station has been teeming with
> real estate development, including three new office buildings and
> several residential projects.
>
> "New retailing in Union Station would have a strong chance for success
> because the West Loop is thriving," Fifield said.
>
> But a sticking point has been the viability of a hotel, some real
> estate experts say.
>
> "A limited-service hotel that served business travelers could make
> sense," said hotel consultant Ted Mandigo, president of Elmhurst-based
> T.R. Mandigo & Co. "But even with all the construction, there's still
> not a lot of activity on the weekends."
>
>
>

The Chicago Sun-Times on their saturday business page reported that a GROUP
led by BILL GATES has bought 7% of the Wisconsin Central Corporation. It was
a very small business brief.

> The following article was selected from the Internet Edition
> of the Chicago Tribune. To visit the site, point your browser
> to http://chicagotribune.com/.
> ----------- Chicago Tribune Article Forwardin
>
> - Betcha can't beat the fun on the old Loop tour trains, which begin a
> new season of free rides Saturday. The tours of the CTA's Loop "L" and
> historically significant buildings are led by docents from the Chicago
> Architecture Foundation and include three trips on the inner Loop
> tracks above Wabash Avenue and Van Buren, Wells and Lake Streets. To
> obtain the free tickets for any of the four tours each Saturday, you
> must stop by the Chicago Office of Tourism's information center,
> located on the first floor of the Chicago Cultural Center, 77 E.
> Randolph St. The phone number is 312-744-2400.

Preliminary RTA study sez bus would carry more people.  (P.S. wanna buy a
bridge?)

  http://63.67.107.59/searchdata/36649/news/localcook/13rest.htm

Phil O'Keefe wrote:

>    CSL passenger cars were originally painted in the green and maroon
>paint
scheme of the non-revenue equipment

<snip>
>    In the early
1920s, the CSL decided to change the colors to the familiar red and cream
>that we all know and love.  The non-revenue equipement continued to be
painted in the old green color.



When much of San Francisco was destroyed by the earthquake and fire of 1906,
the United Railroads issued an appeal for rolling stock.  Two groups of St
Louis company cars intended for Chicago went to San Francisco.  URR was so
desperate for cars that it left them in their green and red colors rather
than repaint them to the URR standard maroon and cream.

The green cars were so popular that green body with red roof became the
standard color for all URR cars, and those of its successor, the Market
Street Railway.  MSR later painted the ends white and illuminated them for
safety, and sometimes changed the roof colors.

When the Municipal Railway took over the MSR in 1944, Muni gradually
abandoned its blue and yellow paint and adopted a modified lighter green and
cream scheme.  These colors were Muni's standard until the early 1970's and
they survived on pccs and trolley buses into the early 1980's.  Some of the
"F" line cars run in those colors today.

CSL green was very influential.

Regards,
Joe Thompson
The Cable Car Home Page (new url alias)
http://www.geocities.com/cable_car_guy/cablecar.html

________________________________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com

A bill has been introduced in the Illinois House to limit railroads use of
eminent domain. Each use would have to be approved by the Illinois Commerce
Commission first.

  http://www.copleynewspapers.com/palm/elgin/e09lindner.htm

RELAYED  FROM  THE  ALL-ABOARD  LIST.  Y'ALL HAVE FUN NOW YAHEAR.
----- Original Message -----
From: <BSmith3608@...>
To: <Thoroughbred@...>; <XXCROSSING@...>; <mbramson@...>;
<hartleyg@...>; <all-aboard@...>
Sent: Friday, May 19, 2000 3:52 PM
Subject: {A-A} Little humor here..........


> This special Top Ten List comes straight from NS corporate headquarters,
> located behind Sam Drucker's General Store, Hooterville, North Carolina.
>
> The Top Ten changes in work rules expected to most adversely affect NS
> former CONRAIL employees:
>
> 10. All locomotives must now have shotgun racks.
>
> 9.  Instead of meal tickets, train crews will be issued a Coca Cola and
> a Moon Pie.
>
> 8.  Train crew headgear must display the "Redman" chewing tobacco logo.
>
> 7.  All train crews are now required to have a coon dog asleep on the
> front platform of the locomotive.
>
> 6.  Each crewmember must put sticker for favorite NASCAR driver in cab
> windows and an NRA Freedom bumper sticker on the cab nose.
>
> 5.  Robert E. Lee's birthday now a paid holiday; 4th of July (fall of
> Vicksburg) a day of mourning.
>
> 4.  All yards required having at least two inoperable locos on blocks in
> front of the yard office.
>
> 3.  Grade crossing whistle signal is now the first 12 notes of "Dixie."
>
> 2.  All radio transmissions now required to end with "Y'all."
>
>  And the Number One change to CONRAIL work rules after the NS takeover:
>
> 1.  Road Foreman of Engines job title changed to Overseer!
>
>
> *^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
> > Send mail for positing to the list: all-aboard@...
> > To unsubscribe, use:  http://www.railspot.com/gif/railspot/list.html
> > OR, mail: majordomo@...  message: unsubscribe all-aboard
> > eMail Web-archived: www.railspot.com/gif/railspot/archive10.html
> *^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

I just put the June version of my Cable Car Home Page on the server:
http://www.geocities.com/cable_car_guy/cablecar.html

It includes several new items:
1. Seattle Miscellany: Motor Ferry Kalakala.  I like ferry boats, too. 2.
Chicago:  To celebrate this site being recommended in the upcoming issue of
"First & Fastest", a magazine about electric railways in the Chicago area, I
added a Chicago picture and a link to a film of a Chicago cable car.
3.  Results of the Mystery Picture Contest.

I'm also happy because Yahoo has added a new section:
U.S. States > California > Cities > San Francisco >
Travel and Transportation > Mass Transit > San Francisco Municipal
Railway (MUNI) > Cable Cars

Next month: An illustrated excerpt from "South of the Slot" by Jack London.

Regards,
Joe Thompson
The Cable Car Home Page (new url alias)
http://www.geocities.com/cable_car_guy/cablecar.html
________________________________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com

CMSP&P 261

  http://www.copleynewspapers.com/sunpub/wheaton/city/wstrain26.htm

I live near the Ravenswood Rockwell stop where the trains run at ground
level. I sometimes watch the trains through an upstairs bedroom window (I
even decorated the room with CTA and train paraphernalia, including an El
seat from the City of Chicago store, but that's another story). Late last
night they were doing maintenance on the tracks with a big machine that said
"Torsion Beam" on the side. From what I could see, the long machine moved
forward on the tracks tie by tie with two hydraulic(?) grabbers toward the
front pulling up on the rail as four prongs toward the back pushed down into
the ballast rock between the ties. Although I love trains, I don't know much
about the track maintenance side of things. Can anyone tell me what this
machine accomplishes?

Thanks,
Dave Johnsen

P.S. I just got a CTA map tie for my birthday. Very cool! It's available at
their online store.

1501 S Canal is the address of the METRA Control Center. All Metra owned
lines (except Milwaukee Div) are dispatched from this point (ex-IC
electric,ex-CRI&P).

I thought there was a plan to set up a joint dispatch center in a south
suburb. Maybe they liked Metra as neutral territory.

----- Original Message -----
From: Gene Poon <sheehans@...>
To: All-Aboard <all-aboard@...>
Sent: Thursday, June 08, 2000 5:08 PM
Subject: {A-A} Chicago Joint Operations


> From Altamont Press:
>
> "In an effort to bring better traffic flow,
>  a more even distribution of trains over various
>  routes available, and overall coordination
>  of efforts in the greater Chicago region,
>  the railroads that serve the Windy City have
>  initiated a joint operations center at 1501
>  South Canal St.
>
> "Each of the railroads that is a part-owner
>  of the Belt Rwy of Chicago, and those non-owners in
>  BRC but ones that figure in the "Chicago
>  equation" will staff the office with a s
>  uperintendent and support personnel. This
>  means that the players will include Burlington
>  Northern Santa Fe, Belt Railway of Chicago,
>  Canadian National, Canadian Pacific, CSX,
>  I&M Raillink, Indiana Harbor Belt, Norfolk
>  Southern, Union Pacific, and Wisconsin Central.
>
> "The main points of the "Train Operations Protocol
>  Document" are:
>
>  1) Equal dispatching of all roads' trains without
>  discrimination
>
>  2) Trains to be dispatched by "class,"
>  i.e. - Commuter/Passenger, Intermodal, Automotive, and
>  Manifest.
>
>  3) Equal treatment of foreign line trains and
>  home road trains on the home roads' trackage
>
>  4) Take trains of same class / priority on
>  first come, first served basis.
>
>  The Protocol document is being distributed
>  to the affected railroads' train dispatchers, tower
>  operators and yard managers in the form of a
>  printed handout, a video with pretty good shots of
>  the major Chicago bottlenecks, and a brief
>  question and answer session. The same
>  presentation will be made at all the participating
>  railroads."