General Discussion

Hi dose anybody know if the CN/EJ&E merger has been aproved and if so when will more trains use the EJ&E tracks?  Please let me know thank you.

Yes.

Anytime soon.  I understand that within a few days after the purchase occurred, CN posted signs / notices at many of the EJ&E grade crossings that said more trains could be there starting 30 days later.  Since that occurred in early February, the 30 days are up about now.

For more detailed info, you'd either have to plow through the operations portion of the STB's environmental study, or look at the other threads on this here on the Forum - there have been some extensive discussions of certain locations here.  Just scroll back through the pages to early December, or use the "Search Community" box to the right for "EJ&E" and you'll find as much as there is here.

- Paul North.

Here's the link to Chapter 4 - Environmental Consequences of the STB's Section of Environmental Analysis's ("SEA") study - the "Draft Environmental Impact Statement" ("EIS") / "Environmental Review" for the: 

The "Decision" (actually, the Table of Contents and list of links for the "attachments") for the EIS - "Decision 39185" - is at:

http://www.stb.dot.gov/decisions/readingroom.nsf/WebDecisionID/39185?OpenDocument

Despite the chapter's title, I think you'll find what you're looking for in Section 4.1 - Rail Operations (Proposed Action), esp. Figure 4.1-1 - Proposed Changes to Rail Traffic Volumes (pg. 4.1-4), which is at:

http://www.stb.dot.gov/decisions/readingroom.nsf/UNID/61898F9CADC3C7508525748E006688AC/$file/04.01_RailOperations_July08.pdf

Note that this PDF file contains 52 pages, and is about 1.37 MB in size, so it may take a while to download.  The whole thing is huge - STB estimates 934 minutes = 15.6 hours at 28.8 KB per second to download.

- Paul North.

http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=277403#storycomments

 Interesting comment string follows article

Thank you. I would like to know what you all think do you think it is a good or bad idea? Please let me know thank you. 

Yes,

 I think that CN took over on January 1st of 09. CN is pretty mutch hated by the locols around there and to make matters worse, a CN locomotive set a grass fire on the line! Way to make friend with people who already hate you!

As for what I think, I think that the people need to cut the railroad some slack. I mean this is going to, some what, de-cojest the crowed Chicago core. So I don't think that it is a bad idea. But then again, I don't live near there. Also another favorite hass fallen to a higher power. So it has it's pro's and cons.

Thank you I would like you all to watch these videos posted on You Tube about the CN/EJ&E buy out and let me know what you think of the opinions of the residetns of the towns affect by the aqusation to watch go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ihh13Cwvvk&feature=channel_page , http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EAIoKYay0gs&NR=1 , http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKU9lCRn2Ug&feature=channel , http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=il3ozmAxuDA&feature=channel ,and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0KoW-eYBhI&feature=channel and tell me what you think thank you.  Personally I think that these are just people whinning about trains in their tow. 

Yah these folks just have to be diffacult.

We had a "Home expo" in New Lenox two weeks ago designed to allow various contractors and businesses an opportunity to show their wares in a neutral setting.  Among the exhibitors were three of the village trustees running for reelction.  I introduced myself and told them right up front I was in favor of the CN/EJ&E merger to which I got three groans.  I told them I found it very disinegnuous to make claims that people were going to die at railroad crossings because trains were going to keep ambulances from transporting them to hospitals,  that people would die from diesel polution, that the village would have to pay for a plan in the event of a massive wreck that they didn't have in place now and that massive delays were going to occur from blocked crossings in the middle of farm fields.  I got three people at the same time telling me that I didn't understand.  I stopped them and informed them that I did indeed understand.  I understood we have a two track railroad running through the heart of town (Rock Island) that had 68 Metra trains daily and up to fifteen freights most with 50-75 cars of ethanol and a major interstate (I-80) running through town and why didn;t a disaster plan already exist since that was far more dangerous than the 26 trains planned for the EJ&E running at least a mile south of the current town.  I was informed that I didn;t understand politics and they were merely doing their jobs trying to get more money from the CN for overpasses they can't fund currently.  So I asked why they were needed there and not in the heart of town with more than three times the number of trains and how many people had died there?  Then they got confrontational and told me basically, "tough if you don;t like it"  I said, "well I think the theaters in town need more doors so I will go tonight and as I leave I will yell FIRE!"  That will get the people to put in more doors.  I was told I would be locked up for lieing".  I told them, "Now you get it" and walked off leaving them mumbling to themselves.

These folks are thick-headed as culd be! The railroad has never hurt anone there. And if thay are so concerned about people dieing... Don't corss the tracks! Stay home and listen to them thunder by!

bubbajustin:

I mean this is going to, some what, de-cojest the crowed Chicago core.

This means what?

Poppa_Zit:

bubbajustin:

I mean this is going to, some what, de-cojest the crowed Chicago core.

This means what?

BaltACD:

Cut the kid a break....8th grade English is tough....spelling and all!

On another thread a few kindly old grandfather types told me we should have patience with this young lad, that he is here to learn something. If his spelling miscues are accepted here without mention, how will he ever fill out a job application that earns the respect of a potential employer? Or posters like me, who cringe at poor communication skills? What kind of message are you sending, telling the kid it's OK to spell incorrectly because he's only in eighth grade?

And it's just good sense for someone about to graduate from eighth grade to have those basic skills. There's a spell checker feature on this forum that a member can activate. He shows good cognitive skills in identifying locomotive types, so I bet he could also do the same with spelling. And I'm not the first one to bring this up on these forums.

From time to time I have to hire a new employee. Those who can't  spell are automatically eliminated because I don't want someone like that interfacing with clients. They would represent my business poorly.

PZ

bubbajustin:

......I think that the people need to cut the railroad some slack.