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Fall 2004
IN THIS ISSUE Engine for Prosperity Discover some of the ways that Iowa’s railroads contribute to Iowa’s health and well-being. FULL ARTICLE Long Road to China The challenge – get 130 John Deere tractors to a seaport in six days for shipment to China. Read about the role that Iowa Northern Railway and Union Pacific Railroad play in the long journey from Waterloo to China and other international markets. FULL ARTICLE Off to the Fair Both Iowa railroading and the Iowa State Fair are celebrating their sesquicentennial. Learn how the Office of Rail Transportation celebrated the event. FULL ARTICLE Industry News Safety First Three Iowa railroads receive safety awards, one receiving the top national honor. FULL ARTICLE Government News |
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Passenger Rail Corner The name Amtrak is the blending of the words “American” and “Track.” The railroad's official name is the National Railroad Passenger Corporation. Ticket Information on the Internet or call 1-800-USA-RAIL |
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Did you know...
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Let me know what you like or don’t like, and what type of articles or information you seek. And if you are interested in submitting a guest feature, let me know. I can’t guarantee that every issue will have something for everyone, but we will strive to include information on a variety of topics. Current and past issues will be posted on our Web site at www.iowarail.com. The E-mail newsletter format is a new process for us; so, be sure to let us know what you think of the format, especially any problems you may have viewing it. We will work through them.
And, of course,
if you are not interested in receiving any further issues, there
is an unsubscribe link at the end of the issue. |
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Although Iowa’s rail network is smaller now than in its heyday; (to paraphrase Mark Twain), reports of the railroads’ death are an exaggeration. Railroads transport Iowa’s agricultural and industrial products throughout the nation and to overseas ports providing access to more lucrative markets. Many Iowa businesses rely on rail transportation to efficiently and economically receive raw materials or ship their products to the marketplace. Enterprises looking to expand or relocate often seek rail transportation when deciding upon a location, making rail a tool for economic growth. As private companies, Iowa’s railroads pay taxes, wages and benefits just as any other private employer. Railroads maintain their rail system, which generates jobs and income for contractors and suppliers. Railroads efficiently move freight on rail cars that carry the equivalent of four semi-trailer loads, relieving traffic congestion on the state’s highways. And on a per ton-mile basis, railroads are three to six times more fuel efficient than trucks, protecting Iowa’s environment and air quality.
Iowa’s railroads are still an engine to move Iowa toward prosperity
with their vital role in the state’s economic health and vitality.
Understanding and supporting rail transportation in Iowa will help
achieve a more vibrant and vigorous Iowa. |
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“Seeing that impressive sea of green from one of Iowa’s premiere ag manufacturers is a testament to the critical role railroads play in supporting and growing Iowa’s economy,” said Dan Sabin, president of Iowa Northern Railway. Link to larger copy of photo Sabin indicated that the John Deere shipments will occur every few months. The China shipment was followed in May by a 65-car trainload of tractors from the Waterloo plant. In Cedar Rapids, Union Pacific added 25 rail cars of cotton pickers from the Ankeny plant and then sent the combined trainload on its next leg of a trip to Europe, via the Port of Baltimore. On July 23, 170 tractors left Waterloo on 85 rail cars (a trainload more than a mile long) on their way to Galveston, Texas, for eventual delivery to Brazil. Expected in early October is another shipment of farm implements bound for western Asia. TOP
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Off to the Fair Although we had nothing nearly as dramatic to offer, the Office of Rail Transportation staff, along with personnel from Iowa’s railroads and other rail-related organizations, spent 10 days at the Iowa State Fair visiting with fair-goers about Iowa’s rail transportation system. The fair booth celebrated the sesquicentennial of the first rail laid in Iowa and emphasized that after 150 years, railroads are “Still the One” to move Iowa’s industrial and agricultural products and people. Terry Bailey of Iowa Interstate Railroad said, “The part I enjoyed most about working the Iowa State Fair booth was talking to retired railroad workers and hearing how proud they were to have been a part of this vital transportation system.”
Special thanks to the following for their
collaboration and assistance in staffing the booth |
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| Industry News |
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DM&E was successful in securing a $233 million Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing (RRIF) loan, the largest of its kind ever awarded, from the Federal Railroad Administration. This loan is being used to refinance debt and for track rehabilitation in South Dakota, Minnesota and Iowa. DM&E/IC&E’s capital budget for track improvements will quadruple from a typical $15 million to $65 million this year, with investments in subsequent years to be in the $30 million range. Work being done in 2004 throughout their system includes:
“For the first time in many years, very substantial improvements are being made in the track structures of our railroads, which will allow us to improve our service offering in a very competitive transportation environment,” said Lynn A. Anderson, Vice President – Marketing, DM&E/IC&E. TOP |
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Burlington Junction Railway and Appanoose County Community Railroad Co. also completed 2003 with no reportable injuries and were honored with the “Jake with Distinction” award by ASLRRA.
Congratulations
to these winners for putting “Safety First.” Railroading,
at one time considered among the nation’s most dangerous occupations,
has made great strides in improved safety. According to the
ASLRRA, today’s railroad employees have injury rates lower than
other modes of transportation.
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| Government News |
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The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has issued a proposed rule (scheduled to go into effect Dec. 18, 2004) that will require all locomotives to blow their horns at railroad crossings. This federal rule will preempt any railroad rules and local or state statutes. Under the rule, local jurisdictions meeting certain safety requirements can apply for a “quiet zone” where train horns are not routinely sounded. The FRA will be the final authority on the safety improvements and other measures that must be in place to qualify for a quiet zone. For further information, refer to the FRA’s Web site at www.fra.dot.gov or contact the regional FRA office at 816-407-9651. TOP
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