RAILROADS - Revision history

Randylyon at 19:27, 2 March 2024

2024-03-02T19:27:51Z

Randylyon at 20:57, 3 January 2022

2022-01-03T20:57:15Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:57, 3 January 2022
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	Railroads are given an unusual amount of autonomy. Examples include blocking traffic. Although Iowa law states that trains cannot block railroad crossings for more than ten minutes. However, federal law super-cedes and ensures that whatever the train needs it gets. Other instances are trains blowing their horns or carrying out construction projects without local oversight. (51) Railroads counter the argument with the fact that local decisions should not impede interstate commerce.		Railroads are given an unusual amount of autonomy. Examples include blocking traffic. Although Iowa law states that trains cannot block railroad crossings for more than ten minutes. However, federal law super-cedes and ensures that whatever the train needs it gets. Other instances are trains blowing their horns or carrying out construction projects without local oversight. (51) Railroads counter the argument with the fact that local decisions should not impede interstate commerce.

	The [[BEE BRANCH]] project in Dubuque ~~has~~ involved negotiations with the owners of a Garfield Avenue railyard. Although culverts ~~exist~~ under the property, they are too small to carry the water the Bee Branch is designed to handle. Different owners of the property resulted in agreements that new owners had to reconsider. In 2018 the Canadian Pacific seemed ready to allow work to begin (52)		The [[BEE BRANCH]] project in Dubuque involved negotiations with the owners of a Garfield Avenue railyard. Although culverts existed under the property, they are too small to carry the water the Bee Branch is designed to handle. Different owners of the property resulted in agreements that new owners had to reconsider. In 2018 the Canadian Pacific seemed ready to allow work to begin (52)

			The potential merger between the Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern railroads announced in December, 2021 was the source of concern to the City of Dubuque. In a letter from [[VAN MILLIGEN, Michael\|Michael VAN MILLIGEN]] to the federal Surface Transportation Board, it was noted that without new overpasses, increased train traffic could cause traffic blockages impacting ambulance, fire and police services, and the ability of neighborhood residents to travel. Prior to the railroad announcement there were six to nine trains traveling through Dubuque daily. With the proposed merger, the average would increase to between twelve and eighteen. (53)

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	50. Ibid.		50. Ibid.

	51. Jacobson, Ben, "The Power of the Rail Industry," Telegraph Herald, November 4, 2018, p. 1A		51. Jacobson, Ben, "The Power of the Rail Industry," ''Telegraph Herald'', November 4, 2018, p. 1A

	52. Ibid., p. 6A		52. Ibid., p. 6A

			53. "Tri-State Week in Review," ''Telegraph Herald'', January 2, 2022, p. 13A

Randylyon at 02:01, 5 November 2018

2018-11-05T02:01:45Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:01, 5 November 2018
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	Amtrak began providing passenger service between Chicago and Dubuque in 1974. Officials with Amtrak in February, 1981, warned that performance figures showed that the Black Hawk passenger train lost more riders than any other railroad in the United States. In the fall of the same year, the Dubuque-Chicago run made its last trip.		Amtrak began providing passenger service between Chicago and Dubuque in 1974. Officials with Amtrak in February, 1981, warned that performance figures showed that the Black Hawk passenger train lost more riders than any other railroad in the United States. In the fall of the same year, the Dubuque-Chicago run made its last trip.

	Hopes for a return of passenger service to Dubuque was revived in 2009 through the Envision 2010 committee of the [[DUBUQUE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE]]. The Amtrak ~~Bloack~~ Hawk line through northwestern Illinois might be revived creating a daily train from Chicago through Belvidere, Rockford, Freeport, Galena, East Dubuque and into Dubuque. Passengers could board the train at an intermodal site early in the morning at the Port of Dubuque and reach Chicago before noon. (49)		Hopes for a return of passenger service to Dubuque was revived in 2009 through the Envision 2010 committee of the [[DUBUQUE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE]]. The Amtrak Black Hawk line through northwestern Illinois might be revived creating a daily train from Chicago through Belvidere, Rockford, Freeport, Galena, East Dubuque and into Dubuque. Passengers could board the train at an intermodal site early in the morning at the Port of Dubuque and reach Chicago before noon. (49)

	Funding for the Chicago to Dubuque route would mostly be paid for with Illinois tax dollars. A funding bill had been approved by the Illinois General Assembly and was awaiting the governor's signature. The City of Dubuque would use $300,000 of state transportation money and $237,000 of federal transit money for a feasibility study of the train platform and the intermodal site. For the first time, the Iowa legislature had set aside money for passenger rail--$3 million. Both Iowa and Illinois congressmen had asked for part of the $8 billion of stimulus money for high-speed rail projects be used for the Chicago to Dubuque route. (50)		Funding for the Chicago to Dubuque route would mostly be paid for with Illinois tax dollars. A funding bill had been approved by the Illinois General Assembly and was awaiting the governor's signature. The City of Dubuque would use $300,000 of state transportation money and $237,000 of federal transit money for a feasibility study of the train platform and the intermodal site. For the first time, the Iowa legislature had set aside money for passenger rail--$3 million. Both Iowa and Illinois congressmen had asked for part of the $8 billion of stimulus money for high-speed rail projects be used for the Chicago to Dubuque route. (50)

			Railroads are given an unusual amount of autonomy. Examples include blocking traffic. Although Iowa law states that trains cannot block railroad crossings for more than ten minutes. However, federal law super-cedes and ensures that whatever the train needs it gets. Other instances are trains blowing their horns or carrying out construction projects without local oversight. (51) Railroads counter the argument with the fact that local decisions should not impede interstate commerce.

			The [[BEE BRANCH]] project in Dubuque has involved negotiations with the owners of a Garfield Avenue railyard. Although culverts exist under the property, they are too small to carry the water the Bee Branch is designed to handle. Different owners of the property resulted in agreements that new owners had to reconsider. In 2018 the Canadian Pacific seemed ready to allow work to begin (52)

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	50. Ibid.		50. Ibid.

			51. Jacobson, Ben, "The Power of the Rail Industry," Telegraph Herald, November 4, 2018, p. 1A

			52. Ibid., p. 6A

Randylyon at 02:49, 6 May 2018

2018-05-06T02:49:37Z

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Randylyon at 02:31, 6 May 2018

2018-05-06T02:31:05Z

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Randylyon at 04:47, 5 February 2018

2018-02-05T04:47:04Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:47, 5 February 2018
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	4. Ibid., p. 242		4. Ibid., p. 242

	5 Ibid., p. 243		5. Ibid., p. 243

	6. Ibid.		6. Ibid.

Randylyon at 04:46, 5 February 2018

2018-02-05T04:46:18Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:46, 5 February 2018
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	Amtrak began providing passenger service between Chicago and Dubuque in 1974. Officials with Amtrak in February, 1981, warned that performance figures showed that the Black Hawk passenger train lost more riders than any other railroad in the United States. In the fall of the same year, the Dubuque-Chicago run made its last trip.		Amtrak began providing passenger service between Chicago and Dubuque in 1974. Officials with Amtrak in February, 1981, warned that performance figures showed that the Black Hawk passenger train lost more riders than any other railroad in the United States. In the fall of the same year, the Dubuque-Chicago run made its last trip.

	Hopes for a return of passenger service to Dubuque was revived in 2009 through the Envision 2010 committee of the [[DUBUQUE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE]]. The Amtrak Bloack Hawk line through northwestern Illinois might be revived creating a daily train from Chicago through Belvidere, Rockford, Freeport, Galena, East Dubuque and into Dubuque. Passengers could board the train at an intermodal site early in the morning at the ~~[[PORT OF DUBUQUE]]~~ and reach Chicago before noon. (45)		Hopes for a return of passenger service to Dubuque was revived in 2009 through the Envision 2010 committee of the [[DUBUQUE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE]]. The Amtrak Bloack Hawk line through northwestern Illinois might be revived creating a daily train from Chicago through Belvidere, Rockford, Freeport, Galena, East Dubuque and into Dubuque. Passengers could board the train at an intermodal site early in the morning at the Port of Dubuque and reach Chicago before noon. (45)

	Funding for the Chicago to Dubuque route would mostly be paid for with Illinois tax dollars. A funding bill had been approved by the Illinois General Assembly and was awaiting the governor's signature. The City of Dubuque would use $300,000 of state transportation money and $237,000 of federal transit money for a feasibility study of the train platform and the intermodal site. For the first time, the Iowa legislature had set aside money for passenger rail--$3 million. Both Iowa and Illinois congressmen had asked for part of the $8 billion of stimulus money for high-speed rail projects be used for the Chicago to Dubuque route. (46)		Funding for the Chicago to Dubuque route would mostly be paid for with Illinois tax dollars. A funding bill had been approved by the Illinois General Assembly and was awaiting the governor's signature. The City of Dubuque would use $300,000 of state transportation money and $237,000 of federal transit money for a feasibility study of the train platform and the intermodal site. For the first time, the Iowa legislature had set aside money for passenger rail--$3 million. Both Iowa and Illinois congressmen had asked for part of the $8 billion of stimulus money for high-speed rail projects be used for the Chicago to Dubuque route. (46)

Randylyon at 04:44, 5 February 2018

2018-02-05T04:44:55Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:44, 5 February 2018
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	In 1882 the floating debt began in Dubuque with a subsidy to the Milwaukee Railroad. (22) The same year the [[DUBUQUE AND NORTHWESTERN RAILROAD]] was planned with the assistance of a $160,000 or more than 5% tax. It was stymied in its progress by misfortunes of two or three great railroads which depressed the value of its securities. Work was resumed in 1885 under the supervision of the Minnesota and Northwestern. The line ran in a northwest direction out of Dubuque through Buchanan, Fayette, Bremer, Chickasaw and Howard counties in Iowa and Mower and Dodge counties in Minnesota. It connected there with the Minnesota and Northwestern which operated between St. Paul and the Iowa line at Mona. The company purchased fifty acres at the northern end of Dubuque for its machine shops, transfer yard, car yard, and roundhouse. Caleb Booth was paid $55,000 for a depot site from the Third Street bridge to the river. Renamed the Chicago, Burlington and Northern in 1884, the line connected Dubuque with the entire Burlington system.		In 1882 the floating debt began in Dubuque with a subsidy to the Milwaukee Railroad. (22) The same year the [[DUBUQUE AND NORTHWESTERN RAILROAD]] was planned with the assistance of a $160,000 or more than 5% tax. It was stymied in its progress by misfortunes of two or three great railroads which depressed the value of its securities. Work was resumed in 1885 under the supervision of the Minnesota and Northwestern. The line ran in a northwest direction out of Dubuque through Buchanan, Fayette, Bremer, Chickasaw and Howard counties in Iowa and Mower and Dodge counties in Minnesota. It connected there with the Minnesota and Northwestern which operated between St. Paul and the Iowa line at Mona. The company purchased fifty acres at the northern end of Dubuque for its machine shops, transfer yard, car yard, and roundhouse. Caleb Booth was paid $55,000 for a depot site from the Third Street bridge to the river. Renamed the Chicago, Burlington and Northern in 1884, the line connected Dubuque with the entire Burlington system.

	Depots became a social hub of the community and nearly every town had one. Trains brought the mail and hope. By the late 1800s, people could order the latest fashion in clothing and home furnishing mail order businesses like [[SEARS, ROEBUCK AND COMPANY]]. Using the trains, individuals or families could travel to large cities to shop or view such attractions as the Chicago World's Fair in 1893. Passenger trains allow access to libraries and museums which inspired education. For some children who did not travel, even peeking through the ticket and hearing the clacking of the telegraph insgruments "couldn't have been stranger than hearing a message from Mars." (23)		Depots became a social hub of the community and nearly every town had one. Trains brought the mail and hope. By the late 1800s, people could order the latest fashion in clothing and home furnishing mail order businesses like [[SEARS ROEBUCK AND COMPANY]]. Using the trains, individuals or families could travel to large cities to shop or view such attractions as the Chicago World's Fair in 1893. Passenger trains allow access to libraries and museums which inspired education. For some children who did not travel, even peeking through the ticket and hearing the clacking of the telegraph insgruments "couldn't have been stranger than hearing a message from Mars." (23)

	Right-of-way through Dubuque became important around 1870. The right of way was granted to the following railroads on the indicated date: (24)		Right-of-way through Dubuque became important around 1870. The right of way was granted to the following railroads on the indicated date: (24)

Randylyon at 04:43, 5 February 2018

2018-02-05T04:43:50Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:43, 5 February 2018
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	Responding to these challenges, railroads reduced branch lines and employees, began freighting trucks, modernized equipment, and appealed to the government for tax relief. Between 1926 and 1959, railroads reduced the number of employees by 50% and began buying their own trucks. Hauling these semi-trailers on flat railroad cars became the "piggyback" system. One Dubuque depot constructed a ramp needed to pull the trailers from the flat cars. Trucks owned by railroads drove from Dubuque to Waterloo and Rockford daily. The first step in streamlining trains were the first Zephyrs in the mid-1930s. Vista-domes were introduced in 1945 to encourage tourists. (41)		Responding to these challenges, railroads reduced branch lines and employees, began freighting trucks, modernized equipment, and appealed to the government for tax relief. Between 1926 and 1959, railroads reduced the number of employees by 50% and began buying their own trucks. Hauling these semi-trailers on flat railroad cars became the "piggyback" system. One Dubuque depot constructed a ramp needed to pull the trailers from the flat cars. Trucks owned by railroads drove from Dubuque to Waterloo and Rockford daily. The first step in streamlining trains were the first Zephyrs in the mid-1930s. Vista-domes were introduced in 1945 to encourage tourists. (41)

	[[Image:1950rrad.png\|left\|thumb\|250px\|1950 appeal by the railroads. Photo courtesy: Telegraph Herald]]The removal of passenger service to the tri-state area began on November 17, 1951 when the Milwaukee Road ceased service. The Chicago Great Western Railway ended passenger service between Oelwein and Dubuque on September 28, 1958. On May 2, 1971 the Burlington Northern made the last passenger trip from East Dubuque, Illinois. (42)		[[Image:1950rrad.png\|left\|thumb\|250px\|1950 appeal by the railroads. Photo courtesy: Telegraph Herald (Note: To enlarge further, slide picture to desktop.)]]The removal of passenger service to the tri-state area began on November 17, 1951 when the Milwaukee Road ceased service. The Chicago Great Western Railway ended passenger service between Oelwein and Dubuque on September 28, 1958. On May 2, 1971 the Burlington Northern made the last passenger trip from East Dubuque, Illinois. (42)

	By 1959 faced with financial problems, railroads were determined to implement labor-saving diesel locomotives and automation. Nationwide an estimated 40,000 firemen on freight and yard diesels and work rules requiring a minimum number of crewmen on trains, together known as examples of "featherbedding, were to be cut. A commission formed by President Eisenhower recommended that the companies be given broad power to eliminate workers, but ordered them to find ways of easing the transition. Companies generally approved the ruling, while unions rejected it.		By 1959 faced with financial problems, railroads were determined to implement labor-saving diesel locomotives and automation. Nationwide an estimated 40,000 firemen on freight and yard diesels and work rules requiring a minimum number of crewmen on trains, together known as examples of "featherbedding, were to be cut. A commission formed by President Eisenhower recommended that the companies be given broad power to eliminate workers, but ordered them to find ways of easing the transition. Companies generally approved the ruling, while unions rejected it.

Randylyon at 04:40, 5 February 2018

2018-02-05T04:40:53Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:40, 5 February 2018
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	Responding to these challenges, railroads reduced branch lines and employees, began freighting trucks, modernized equipment, and appealed to the government for tax relief. Between 1926 and 1959, railroads reduced the number of employees by 50% and began buying their own trucks. Hauling these semi-trailers on flat railroad cars became the "piggyback" system. One Dubuque depot constructed a ramp needed to pull the trailers from the flat cars. Trucks owned by railroads drove from Dubuque to Waterloo and Rockford daily. The first step in streamlining trains were the first Zephyrs in the mid-1930s. Vista-domes were introduced in 1945 to encourage tourists. (41)		Responding to these challenges, railroads reduced branch lines and employees, began freighting trucks, modernized equipment, and appealed to the government for tax relief. Between 1926 and 1959, railroads reduced the number of employees by 50% and began buying their own trucks. Hauling these semi-trailers on flat railroad cars became the "piggyback" system. One Dubuque depot constructed a ramp needed to pull the trailers from the flat cars. Trucks owned by railroads drove from Dubuque to Waterloo and Rockford daily. The first step in streamlining trains were the first Zephyrs in the mid-1930s. Vista-domes were introduced in 1945 to encourage tourists. (41)

	The removal of passenger service to the tri-state area began on November 17, 1951 when the Milwaukee Road ceased service. The Chicago Great Western Railway ended passenger service between Oelwein and Dubuque on September 28, 1958. On May 2, 1971 the Burlington Northern made the last passenger trip from East Dubuque, Illinois. (42)		[[Image:1950rrad.png\|left\|thumb\|250px\|1950 appeal by the railroads. Photo courtesy: Telegraph Herald]]The removal of passenger service to the tri-state area began on November 17, 1951 when the Milwaukee Road ceased service. The Chicago Great Western Railway ended passenger service between Oelwein and Dubuque on September 28, 1958. On May 2, 1971 the Burlington Northern made the last passenger trip from East Dubuque, Illinois. (42)

	By 1959 faced with financial problems, railroads were determined to implement labor-saving diesel locomotives and automation. Nationwide an estimated 40,000 firemen on freight and yard diesels and work rules requiring a minimum number of crewmen on trains, together known as examples of "featherbedding, were to be cut. A commission formed by President Eisenhower recommended that the companies be given broad power to eliminate workers, but ordered them to find ways of easing the transition. Companies generally approved the ruling, while unions rejected it.		By 1959 faced with financial problems, railroads were determined to implement labor-saving diesel locomotives and automation. Nationwide an estimated 40,000 firemen on freight and yard diesels and work rules requiring a minimum number of crewmen on trains, together known as examples of "featherbedding, were to be cut. A commission formed by President Eisenhower recommended that the companies be given broad power to eliminate workers, but ordered them to find ways of easing the transition. Companies generally approved the ruling, while unions rejected it.