(Volume 26, No. 4)
President's Soapbox
A first major step has been taken. Yes, Thursday night, March 21, the modules scheduled to be replaced with the Silverbow Extension were disconnected to make room for the new railroad. These modules represent many things; among them, club owned segments that have served in the Club layout for maybe twenty years, others which may have been an individuals first module construction project, others built by the club, then purchased and donated back to the club. There may have been others built and donated or abandoned when the owner moved from the area. They represent several levels of track design: some simple, some complicated, some efficient, some could use redesigning for better functionality. Others were built to function as a yard, with no industry, others as a branchline to generate traffic to the mainline, others were just a run-through adding length. Few have remained as originally built; maybe that is the essence of real-time railroading. Some with excellent ideas have remained useful for many years. It has been said that, "Nothing is as certain, as change itself". Railroads, themselves, are in a constant state of change; branchlines appear when needed, and disappear when not needed, curves are straightened, grades are eased and tunnels bored to eliminate grades and curves.
Many of our members are eager to see a new layout with real life representation. It should also be an important addition to the community to have our area represented as accurately as possible. We have received favorable comment from many of those who receive our newsletter and are anxious to see the result. It is our desire to see a layout that truly represents the flavor and history of local railroading. I have been asked more than once, "Will this railroad when completed, be fully scenicked"? Too often, we see where we have so many things going on, we are unable to fully complete a project which we were so anxious to begin.
New construction may actually be underway by the time this newsletter reaches the membership. Some material is on hand, possibly enough for two modules, more can be expected to be on hand soon. Please be patient while the necessary materials are accumulated and let's apply the highest standards when cutting and assembling the new modules.
When the modules were moved, one couldn't help but notice the construction material which was being stored under the old modules, safely out of sight behind the curtains. This recalls a battle which we, as a club, have only half heartedly addressed for some time beginning at the time when we were in the old Country Club Mall. With the completion of the ceiling project in our present location, we have now accumulated even more material and continue to store it. This latest floor clearing should be a real motivator to get rid of all unnecessary items now on hand. A real time analysis should be made regarding the material we need to complete our new layout and clear the room of EVERYTHING which doesn't have an immediate application, even if it means that we donate it to someone else. This issue requires self discipline more than anything else but it is doable. I am in favor of nothing being stored under the layout so that we can easily clean and access all areas of the layout room. (Editor’s Note: Since spring has finally arrived and it is warmer in my garage, I intend to build one or two cart for folding chairs which can be stored under the layout. This will enable us to store the folding chairs out or sight, but available.) With the cooperation of all of the membership, we can see this project become an asset to our Club, the City Rec Center and the Model Railroad Community.
Leo Harker
Timetable
Because we have taken down the modular section of the layout, all meetings will be work nights until further notice.
CSXT Announces Revolutionary New Locomotive Operating System
New 'Auxiliary Power Unit' Designed to Save Fuel, Meet Emission Compliance Standards
JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Aug. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- CSX Transportation Inc. (CSXT) announced today the development of a revolutionary new locomotive operating system designed to reduce fuel consumption and meet Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) tier 0 limits required beginning Jan. 1, 2002. CSXT estimates annual fuel savings of 25-30 million gallons once its fleet of 3,600 locomotives is equipped with the new system.
The new operating system incorporates an auxiliary power unit that automatically shuts down the main locomotive engine idle, while maintaining all vital main engine systems at greatly reduced fuel consumption. In addition, the new system will cut locomotive nitrous oxide (NOX) emissions by 92 percent while idling. The United States EPA recently approved the new system as a certified engine emission reduction kit, and there are several patents pending. As a stand-alone unit, the auxiliary power unit is the only EPA-certified engine idle reduction system available to the industry.
CSXT and International Road and Rail, based in London, Ontario, Canada, have formed a joint venture to manufacture and sell the new system. The joint venture company, EcoTrans Technologies, will be based in Jacksonville.
"We believe that other railroads will be very interested in purchasing this technology," said David P. Miller, president of EcoTrans Technologies. "The basic system platform helps to meet the new federal emissions standards for locomotive engines overhauled after Jan. 1, 2002, and helps to overcome the fuel penalty associated with EPA emission compliance,'' he said. He added that the fuel savings alone -- estimated at approximately 8,000 gallons per locomotive per year -- are a compelling story that may interest some railroads in equipping portions of their fleets ahead of any scheduled engine overhauls.
The basic platform of the new system can be expanded to include additional safety, performance and diagnostic features that can be customized to specific railroad requirements. The auxiliary power unit provides 110/220 house current, which opens up the possibility for lower cost, low maintenance options, such as locomotive cab heating and air conditioning, as well as other enhancements. In cold weather climates, the auxiliary power unit will maintain engine fluids at the proper temperature, eliminating the need to idle locomotives for long periods of time to prevent engine freeze-ups.
For more information about the new auxiliary power unit, contact EcoTrans Technologies at (904) 359-4978.
CSXT and its 35,000 employees provide rail transportation and distribution services over a 23,000 route-mile network in 23 states, the District of Columbia and two Canadian provinces. CSXT is a business unit of CSX Corporation (NYSE: CSX - news), headquartered in Richmond, Va.
Better late than never
In Switch, U.K. Backs Rescue of Railtrack
LONDON - The British government, criticized by London's financial community for putting the United Kingdom's rail network into insolvency administration, backed a rescue bid for the country's beleaguered track system in a move designed to mend fences between the government and the business community.
The Transportation Ministry said it would give a £300 million ($428 million) grant to a company set up to acquire the insolvent network operator Railtrack PLC, which was forced into administration last October when the state stopped funding it. The move was fiercely criticized by Railtrack investors both big and small, and threatened the Labour government's reputation within the City of London, as Britain's financial district is known.
Transport Secretary Stephen Byers, who last autumn said that there would be "no taxpayer's money" for Railtrack shareholders, said the government grant reflected "the value and benefits of an early exit from administration," which would benefit the rail-traveling public. He insisted that the plan was consistent with his earlier pronouncements, a claim ridiculed by opposition parties who said the government had negotiated a humiliating U-turn.
About face or not, the move reflects a willingness by the government to absorb short-term political body blows in order to restore confidence within the investment community, whose support it seeks for other infrastructure projects including a plan to partially privatize London's decrepit subway system. Huge losses by Railtrack shareholders would raise the risk premium associated with future government projects that rely on private-sector involvement, thus increasing overall costs.
A spokesman for the Railtrack Shareholders Action Group, which represents money managers who own more than 50% of the traded shares and was preparing a court case against the government, said the proposal was “a step in the right direction” but wouldn't give it a clear endorsement.
The government's plan calls for a new privatized company, called Network Rail, to pay Railtrack shareholders £500 million; the government grant will fund most of that payment, which represents about 125 pence a share.
The Wall Street Journal, 3/26/02
Boise Spring Meet
The spring meet for the 3rd division of the Pacific Northwest Region, NMRA was held in Boise, Idaho on Saturday, March 30, 2002. There were a lot of models on display, including Leo's Idaho Falls depot, with voting by the attendees on various categories of display. There was one clinic, which I did not get to see as I volunteered to man the registration table during that time. There was also the usual silent auction.
The only operating display was a G scale Shay displayed by Wayne Roderick. He had added sound and lighting to the command control he was using. Unfortunately, he fried a chip during the meet, so it could not operate after that. This demonstrates the importance of adding some protection to any electrical circuits. This loco had operated with no problems for several years, until the chip fried itself at the worst possible moment.
The Boise group had been stung by the PNR meet they put on two years ago, and took a fairly large financial loss. This was their first attempt at holding a meet after that fiasco. Fortunately, this was successful, with 53 attendees registered. It was a good opportunity to meet with friends from other areas and renew acquaintances.
The afternoon was spent on layout tours. Due to various causes (mostly too much time spent admiring the layouts we did see), we didn't get to see all the layouts. The layouts we saw were very nice, and included Randy Roderick’s G scale backyard layout, Bob Parrish’s small but outstanding HO layout, and the Nampa Model RR Club. The Nampa club is using DCC to run trains, and had an interesting method of suspending track for their helix which minimized the thickness of the supports between levels. If we decide to build a helix, we should certainly consider this suspension method.
Despite the short notice for this meet, many modelers attended. There was no public attendance, and no vendors. Hopefully this success will encourage this group to offer more and better meets again in the future.
Doug Herrmann
On Track
Much to the surprise of many Dallas area residents, high-density residential developments near the stations of the region's new light-rail system are gaining in popularity. Many communities were wary of such projects in 1996 when the rail system began operations on the first 20 miles of track. Opponents equated high density with shoddy construction, low rent, and a wide range of social problems.
But far less criticism is being heard today as the Dallas area prepares to open another 23 miles of track and 13 new stations. Part of this is due to the success of the rail system, which has attracted many more passengers than anticipated. Also, demand and praise has been high for high-density projects that opened near two of the earlier stations, including a remodeled Sears Roebuck and Co. warehouse which was converted into 455 loft apartments. Real estate values are about 25% higher near the stations.
"Texans love their pickups and their freedom. They love to get on the road and drive," says Don Dillard, a Hunt vice-president. "But there's a certain breed of cat who's going to ride the rails."
The Wall Street Journal, 3/27/02
Material Needed
If you have material for a future Eagle Tracks, please send it to the Editor. We need to have more of a selection for future issues. It would be nice to have an excess of material to choose from. Keep those articles and pictures coming!