BNSF plans $92 million capital program in Oklahoma to Maintain and Improve Rail Capacity
July 3, 2012 / Updated July 6, 2012
Class 1 Railroads
BNSF Railway Co. is spending $92 million in track maintenance and rail capacity improvements in Oklahoma in 2012. Above, BNSF rolls through northeastern Oklahoma. By Tim Blackwell / Cowcatcher Magazine
BNSF Railway Co. is pumping $92 million into track maintenance and rail capacity improvements in Oklahoma in 2012.
BNSF, headquartered in Fort Worth, TX, will surface and undercut 667 miles of track and replace another 29 miles of rail. Signal upgrades will also be made to comply with the federally mandated positive train control (PTC) program.
The capital improvements are part of the company’s $3.9 billion commitment, which also includes locomotive, freight car and other equipment acquisitions. BNSF plans to spend $1.1 billion on equipment and another $300 million on PTC installations.
“Investment in BNSF’s network in Oklahoma is an investment in Oklahoma jobs and competitiveness, and will ensure our infrastructure remains strong and efficient to better serve Oklahoma shippers and the state’s economy,” said Matthew K. Rose, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.
Spring is when large-scale model railroaders with their green thumbs plant and prune colorful foliage grown nearly to scale. In some areas, maintaining outdoor layouts is quite challenging because of changing weather. Nancy Norris, an author who builds garden railroads professionally, says some plant varieties have become more difficult to grow in certain Hardiness Zones. In some cases it means garden railroaders having to put more emphasis on growing native plants rather than relying on varieties more susceptible to extreme conditions. She recommends new gardeners consult with their local nurseries for the best choices for an outdoor layout. Norris also has a few recommendations of her own.
Sweeping tariffs imposed on goods imported into the United States are stirring model railroad manufacturers. As a result, model railroading and other hobbies will cost more. In February the U.S. applied a 10 percent tariff on goods imported from China, and the tax has since escalated. Suppliers – including Athearn, InterMountain Railway Co., Broadway Limited, Rapido Trains and ScaleTrains – have been putting dealers and customers on notice that prices will increase tariffs are implemented.
The first rule of railroading is “expect movement on any track at any time in any direction.” This may seem like an overabundance of caution, but railroading is a dangerous sport. Always expect a train when you’re around the tracks. The second rule of railroading is that there is an exception to every rule. The North American freight car fleet in 2023 consisted of 2.03 million rail cars, according to Railinc’s Umler Equipment Index. Rail car fleet management — how empty cars get dispatched to move to their next loading point — is an ever-moving process and often requires fleet car managers to be nimble.
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