by CN9634
Lots of shipper support... NS support... only opposition so far been political and Amtrak.... oh and NNEPRA support which makes the Amtrak opposition look foolish now.... pretty sure this one is a done deal.
Railroad Forums
Moderator: MEC407
johnpbarlow wrote: ↑Sat Aug 07, 2021 4:52 am ...assisting NNEPRA with Portland station relocation to between the Fore River Bridge and Congress Street (is that where Union Station used to be?)...The area mentioned includes the former Union Station site, yes, ( which was alongside Congress), plus some distance to the south.
johnpbarlow wrote: ↑Sun Aug 08, 2021 1:08 pm Cynically, when I search to get a listing of the Top 100 sources of donations to Richard Neal's PAC/campaign (which raised almost $5M 2019-2020), I see that CSX has given $0 to Neal. But the American Trucking Association gave the Neal PAC/campaign $15,000 last year and SMART (Sheet Metal, Air, Rail & Transportation Union) donated $16,000.Maybe corporations shouldn't be allowed to donate to any politician. In this case wouldn't this be extortion?
https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of- ... 100&type=C
When I search to see to which politicos' PACs/campaigns CSX has given money, the RR has donated thousands of $ to many political campaigns (including a few thousand $ to campaigns in Alaska and Arizona, a bit outside its domain).
https://disclosurespreview.house.gov/lc ... 980111.xml
Maybe CSX needs to address this situation...
bostontrainguy wrote:Maybe corporations shouldn't be allowed to donate to any politician. In this case wouldn't this be extortion?The Supreme Court ruled that "corporations are people" and that "money is speech," therefore corporate contributions to politicians are considered a legitimate exercise of the constitutional right to free speech.
NRGeep wrote: ↑Sun Aug 08, 2021 8:47 am If the current labor shortages continue at CSX, could that effect New England freight operations if this deal is completed?They have stated they are retaining all ST employees, and they likely will do some consolidation of jobs, so likely not (especially with B&E not requiring all of its PAS ST employees, so some will move over likely).
The Supreme Court ruled that "corporations are people" and that "money is speech," therefore corporate contributions to politicians are considered a legitimate exercise of the constitutional right to free speech.Sad but true, and we've been reaping the consequences ever since... there has always been corruption and money has always talked, for certain....but now it is institutionalized as the rule of law that the government is simply for sale to the highest bidders.
Altamont Free Library has long partnered with SMS Rail Lines on projects and events, and we wish nothing but the best for whatever company controls the rail line adjacent to our property. However, the disruptions and safety concerns attendant with the proposed plan will negatively far too many Altamont and Knox residents, who will derive only highly diffuse benefits from it. I strongly urge you reject the proposal for the reasons stated above.I'm a bit surprised that the library director's spelling is deficient:
I am concerned that the additional rumbling and shaking caused by a daily 9,000-foot double-decker train passing twenty feet from our building could cause damage to our slate roof, brick chimney, and other parts of the building which place an additional bourdon [sic] on the library for expensive repairs. The station simply wasn’t built with that kind of shaking and jostling in mind.Oxford Libraries defines "bourdon" as "a low-pitched stop in an organ or harmonium, typically a sixteen-foot stopped diapason." And re: how well the building was originally constructed, didn't muscular 2-8-0s (and perhaps even Challengers) pound past the depot back in the day?