SECOND QUARTER 2010 NEWSLETTER FOR ALASKA ......ALL ABOARD SECOND QUARTER 2010 NEWSLETTER FOR ALASKA...

ALL ABOARDALL ABOARDSECOND QUARTER 2010 NEWSLETTER FOR ALASKA RAILROAD EMPLOYEES

CROSSINGS: NEWS YOU CAN USE

VELOCITY PT 2: MECHANICAL CONTRIBUTION

Th e 1st Quarter 2010 issue of All Aboard introduced terminal-to-terminal train velocity as a measure of company performance. As the second in a series, this article takes a closer look at sev-eral velocity factors that relate to the Mechanical Department (Diesel, Car and Heavy Equipment shops). It includes perspectives from railroaders responsible for powering and prepping the train for a safe, on-time departure, and for equipping track maintenance and freight-handling crews.

Power Delivery: Diesel Shop Diesel Shops in Anchorage and Fairbanks are

tasked with delivering the right number of locomo-tives to the right location at the right time. Th ey aim to deliver two hours before the train crew re-ports for duty (known as “call time”) at least 85% of the time. Mechanical has been exceeding that goal regularly with on-time delivery of 92% or better.

Advance planning is essential to that end. “We want to avoid the spikes in diesel shop activity,”

says Dennis Bouwens, Manager, Hostlers & Motive Power. “We want our mechanics to be working as evenly as possible throughout the day.”

Plans for the next 24 to 48 hours begin daily with a 10:00 a.m. meeting between Diesel Shop, Chief Train Dispatcher and Anchorage, Fairbanks and Whittier terminal representatives who discuss train demand in terms of tonnage, cars and locomo-tives. During a typical summer day, as many as 16 or more locomotives may be serviced at the shops. Daily northbound and southbound freight trains require one SD70MAC for every 2,000 to 3,000 tons of cargo. Th e long heavy coal trains may use “distributed” power with three locomotives posi-tioned at the front, and three at the end of the train. Two or more daily gravel trains are each pulled by two SD70MACs. Plus, several general purpose (GP) locomotives are needed to accommodate yard switching and to move work trains up and down the line.

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MILEPOSTS:SPOTLIGHT AWARDS

CROSSINGS:CHARITABLE GIVING STATUS

CROSSINGS:RETIREMENT TRUST FUNDS

CROSSINGS:HERBICIDE PERMIT APPEALED

SIDINGS:MECHANICAL SUCCESS STORIES

SIDINGS:IAM ELECTRICAL CROSS-TRAINING

CROSSINGS:NEW NON-REP APPRAISAL STATUS

SIDINGS:BIKE-TO-WORK SURVEY RESULTS

SIGNALS:B&B6, SAFETY BRIDGE REPAIR

CROSSINGS:NORTHERN RAIL EXTENSION NEWS

CROSSINGS:2011 ART PRINT

ARTIST SELECTED

INSIDE...

HEAVY EQUIPMENT MECHANICS MO ANSELM, LEFT, AND BILL GRIFFITH EVALUATE A BALLAST REGULATOR IN THE SHOP. (PHOTO BY STEPHENIE WHEELER)

(See “Velocity Part 2” on page 4)

ALL ABOARDALL ABOARD

2ND QTR 2010

MILEPOSTS

SERVICE AWARDS: APRIL, MAY, JUNE 20102 1 Year

Scott Austin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MechanicalChad Breeden . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TransportationJames Chambless III . . . . . . . . . . . . TransportationAndre Dionne . . . . . . . . . . . . Passenger OperationsDanielle Fegley . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Human ResourcesRonald Rifredi. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MechanicalJeonghee Scholtisek . . . . . . . . . . . . . TransportationLarry Sean Walker . . . . . . . . . Passenger Operations

5 Years

Monty Bloom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TransportationKatie Breci. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Police & SecurityGregory Goemer . . . . . . . . . . Supply Management Timothy Malley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SignalTerry Martin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MechanicalKelly Samuelson . . . . . . . . . . . Maintenance of WayGerald Schmitz IIII . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MechanicalJohn Simmons Jr. . . . . . . . . Passenger OperationsJames Steele #1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MechanicalTimothy Sullivan. . . . . . . . . . . Maintenance of Way

10 Years

Richard Dahlgren . . . . . . . . . . Maintenance of WayWilliam Horsey IV . . . . . . . . . . . . . TransportationWilliam McCormick . . . . . . . . . . . . TransportationWilliam Notti . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TransportationArlene Rhoades . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Train DispatcherRobert Smith III . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TransportationGerald Vanthomme. . . . . . . . . Information ServicesCrystal Wilson . . . . . . . . . . . . Maintenance of Way

15 Years

David Haag. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TransportationChristine Turner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Accounting

20 Years

Dan Frerich. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Police & SecurityWanda Robinson. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Transportation

25 Years

George Huling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TransportationJohn Puckett . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Maintenance of Way

30 Years

John Gaule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Maintenance of Way

MILEPOSTS

HOME FRONT: RETIREMENTS AND BIRTHS

Retirements

North End Ditcher Foreman Cliff ord Howard retired from the Maintenance of Way Department after 32 years.

Conductor/Brakeman W. Frank Armstrong retired from the Transportation Department after 35 years.

Facilities Maintenance Mechanic Samuel Kelley retired from the Real Estate & Facilities Department after 32 years.

Conductor/Brakeman/Fireman/Engineer Edward Alford retired from the Transportation Department after 20 years.

Births

Conductor/Brakeman/Fireman/Engineer Robert Hinterleitner and wife Phi Diep welcomed daughter Ava Blue, born March 11.

Conductor/Brakeman Keith Webster and wife Lily welcomed son Noah Bi De, born April 7.

Superintendent, Maintenance Lloyd Tesch and Budget Analyst, Operations Jennifer Tesch welcomed son Laramie Alexander, born May 6.


2ND QTR 2010

3MILEPOSTS

SPOTLIGHT AWARDS: MARCH - JUNE Car Supervisor Joshua Cappel, Carman Steve Stacey and Equipment Maintenance Specialist Grant Ojaniemi took steps to ease a bottleneck in the repair of the railroad’s air dump railcars. As a Fairbanks carman at the time, Cappel and Stacey recognized the extra time required to repair an air dump lift cylinder when the required right-side or left-side spare was not available. Th ey suggested the lift cylinders be modifi ed to be universal so that more spares are available to fi t either side. Cappel and Stacey sought Ojaniemi’s expertise with design ideas. Ojaniemi also devised a tool to assist with the welding needed to modify the cylinders. Stacey per-fected the 90-minute adaptation and single-hand-edly modifi ed the fi rst half dozen or so cylinders during 2009. He also instructed peers to continue this eff ort now and in the years to come. Th anks to this innovation, air dumps will now spend less time in the shop and more time on the line. Ultimately,

the railroad will realize a boost in productivity and potential cost savings by avoiding the purchase of at least some additional lift cylinder spares.

Conductor/Brakeman Leon Butler prevented a much more expensive and disruptive problem from developing on May 17, 2010, when he was work-ing as a brakeman on a QAP gravel train. Butler’s sharp eye noticed the spring carrier on Locomotive 4010 was misaligned and he immediately notifi ed the right people to stop using the locomotive. By catching this issue early, Butler helped to keep repair costs to a minimum. Locomotive mechanics were able to fi x the problem before the condition could worsen. A cracked or broken spring carrier would cost thousands of dollars to fi x, not only increasing maintenance costs, but also putting a locomotive out of commission during a time of peak use, when we can least aff ord lengthy repairs.

MILEPOSTS

NEW HIRES: APRIL, MAY, JUNE 2010Linda Anderson. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . AccountingBenjamin Battles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TransportationJonah Bellamy . . . . . . . . . . . . . Maintenance of WayDawn Boyer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TransportationShawn Bruns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Maintenance of WayMichael Busby. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TransportationPreston Cliburn. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TransportationGale Dinsmore III. . . . . . . . . . . . . . TransportationTyler Dwyer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . FacilitiesCharles Ehlenfeldt. . . . . . . . . . . . . . TransportationKarlie Ennes . . . . . . . . . . . . . Passenger OperationsCharles Estes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Maintenance of WayBryan Fletcher. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MechanicalJohn Gage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Maintenance of WayChristopher Gaubatz. . . . . . . . Maintenance of WayMarkita Gibbons. . . . . . . . . . . . . Passenger ServicesJosue Guzman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TransportationAce Hanke . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TransportationSean Hannaman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TransportationNicholas Harma . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TransportationKari Haschke. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TransportationDirk Hosler . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Passenger OperationsStanley Humphreys . . . . . . . . . . . . . TransportationJeff rey King . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TransportationMichael Kocher. . . . . . . . . . . Passenger OperationsKatelyn Lessard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Passenger Services

Jeff ery Lydon. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TransportationChristopher Matter . . . . . . . . Passenger OperationsRobert Meade . . . . . . . . . . . . Passenger OperationsRonald Logan Moore . . . . . . . Maintenance of WayHarry Newell III . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SignalDavid Newman. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TransportationKeith Nichols . . . . . . . . . . . . . Maintenance of WayDuane Phillips. . . . . . . . . . . . . Maintenance of WayMelanie Reed . . . . . . . . . . . . Passenger OperationsKevin Reilly. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Maintenance of WayJoseph Reinhardt . . . . . . . . . . . Maintenance of WaySamuel Reynolds . . . . . . . . . . Passenger OperationsDustin Rider . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TransportationJeremiah Rider . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TransportationSteven Rosevear. . . . . . . . . . . . Maintenance of WayJoel Rousculp . . . . . . . . . . . . . Maintenance of WayTerry Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TransportationGregory Seymour . . . . . . . . . . Maintenance of WayRyan Stahl. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TransportationMatt Stout. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TransportationChad Michael Tacia. . . . . . . . . . . . . TransportationDouglas Tacia . . . . . . . . . . . . . Maintenance of WaySpencer Th ompson . . . . . . . . . . . . . TransportationMatthew Waychoff . . . . . . . . . Maintenance of WayJohn Wiese . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Maintenance of WayVincent Wojtusik . . . . . . . . . . Maintenance of Way


2ND QTR 2010


4 Passenger train locomotive requirements are cal-culated by the number of coaches and whether the coaches need electricity. If an SD70MAC equipped with head-end power (HEP) must provide elec-tricity to the train, only about half of its power is available to pull. For example, a southbound Coastal Classic with 11 cars would need one SD70MAC. Th e Glacier Discovery service is usually accomplished by the self-propelled Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU). But if the DMU is unavailable, two locomotives are required to provide a fl exible push-pull service.

On a busy summer day, the Alaska Railroad can use up to 48 out its 51-locomotive fl eet to accom-plish business demands. In addition to daily power delivery, Diesel Shop mechanics are responsible for daily, 30-day, quarterly, semi-annual, annual and tri-annual inspections that are progressively more involved. Th ey also perform locomotive overhauls to include emission control upgrades.

Resident “air expert” Mechanic Lloyd Th omp-son devotes much of his time to inspecting locomo-tive air systems and working in the small shop area equipped for rebuilding and testing parts. Th omp-son says he keeps at least two of each part stocked and ready to replace worn parts in order to avoid unnecessary locomotive down time.

Mechanic Chuck Loritz may work on six to eight locomotives per day, splitting his time be-tween daily and more in-depth overall inspections.

On June 14, however, Loritz was reviewing a locomotive’s air system with Th ompson mentoring as part of an ongoing Mechanical cross-training initiative. Loritz acknowledges that cross-training is a challenge and he’d like to see more structured time devoted to it.

Both mechanics say they appreci-ate when the locomotives on incom-ing trains are brought straight to the shop for servicing, because that pro-vides more time to work on potential problems to meet demand.

Air Test: Car ShopFederal regulations require all

trains to have a Class I test of the air brake system prior to leaving the initial terminal (Anchorage of Fair-banks). Each and every car on a train must pass the test.

Anchorage Carman Ben Worley starts his day at 2:00 p.m., often joining another yard carman for afternoon duty. He calls the Anchor-

age yardmaster for the day’s schedule. Assuming the regular daily freight train is being built, Worley will head over to the Trailer-on-Flatcar/Container-on-Flatcar (TOFC/COFC) loading/unloading area on Whitney Road. Here, a switching engine pulls a block of 10-15 cars onto one of the TOFC tracks, where Worley will inspect each car. Th e air brake test is typically a one-carman job. If a car does not pass the air test initially, carmen can try again twice more before a “bad order” is determined and the car is removed from the block. Bad orders occur when a car has a mechanical problem, it cannot pass the air test, or parts freeze up in the winter.

After train segments (blocks) are inspected, they are joined together to build a train. Once complete, the entire train undergoes a fi nal air brake test.

During block testing and fi nal train testing, car-men work closely with the locomotive engineer. Th e carman calls for the engineer to “set” or apply the brakes, and then moves along both sides of the cars, looking for clues on air brake function and listen-ing for small air leaks. Th en the carman calls for the engineer to release the brakes, and again looks and listens for potential problems.

In addition to the tests, yard carmen perform minor fi eld repairs, such as replacing a worn brake shoe. Th ey also check the hitches, hand brakes, load securement and balance, among a myriad of items.

“We are motivated by the safety of the train crew,” said Worley. Similar to the relationship between an aircraft pilot and a plane’s ground crew, “trainmen need to know they can count on the carmen to make sure the train is tested and ready to go.”

Yard crews strive to have the train built and air tested by the train crew’s call time. Th e goal is to accomplish this 95% of the time. Anchorage Car Supervisor Scott Toombs says his carmen meet and exceed the goal regularly. Ditto for the Fairbanks carmen, says General Mechanical Supervisor Sean Mesloh. Toombs and Mesloh track how well the carmen get their job done by reviewing air test forms that carmen complete once the test is done.

In Anchorage, fi ve of the shop’s 24 carmen share air test duty on freights and passenger trains, with one or two on duty per shift. Of the Fair-banks shop’s 16 carmen, four are yard carmen who perform air tests, again with one or two on duty per shift. Recently, Toombs began dedicating two carmen to focus solely on MOW work trains. “Th is has worked well. MOW trains and crew keep the track in good repair, so we want to keep those trains going on time,” said Toombs. “Fewer slow orders due to track conditions will help velocity.”

(continued from page 1)

(See “Velocity Part 2” on page 5)

CARMEN MIKE REED, LEFT, AND BEN WORLEY

CHECK THE AIR BRAKES ON A TRAIN BEFORE IT LEAVES THE ANCHOR-

AGE YARD. (PHOTO BY STEPHENIE WHEELER)

Velocity Part 2:


2ND QTR 2010


5(continued from page 4)

Equipping MOW & TOFC/COFC:

Heavy EquipmentTh e Heavy Equipment (HE) Shops contribute

to velocity by keeping MOW and TOFC/COFC equipped, said Anchorage Heavy Equipment Shop Supervisor Ed Hills. Mechanics support MOW’s eff ort to keep track and yards open and operational at full speed by maintaining equipment ranging from ballast regulators and tampers in the sum-mer to snow removal equipment in the winter. HE supports on-time freight-loading and handling with service and repair of TOFC forklifts, van loaders and the generator used for refrigerated units.

“We start our day with a briefi ng at 7:00 a.m., but most days the phone has already been ringing with reports of parts broken, equipment leaking, etc.,” said Hills.

“If it’s on the track and generating revenue, it’s a priority,” added HE Mechanic Work Leader Bill Griffi th. “Th e goal is to fi x the equipment the same day, in hours if at all possible.”

Like the Diesel Shop mechanics, HE mechanics perform overhauls and more in-depth maintenance and repair inside the shop, but much of their work is done outside the shop and in the fi eld.

HE mechanics are qualifi ed to work on all types of equipment, but some have become resident experts on specifi c equipment. For example, Griffi th has come to know van loaders very well during his 35 years with the railroad. Relative newcomer Mi-chael “Mo” Anselm joined the railroad 14 months ago and he says he appreciates Griffi th’s expertise.

“Experience like Bill’s is a big plus with trouble-shooting,” said Anselm. And, given the often long distances mechanics must travel to work in the fi eld, it pays to fi gure out the likely cause before leaving, so the right tools and parts are in hand.

Troubleshooting involves good dialogue with the equipment operator. “We want to know what the equipment is NOT doing,” said Anselm. “Th is provides important clues. Th e fi x is not always sim-ply to replace a part.”

“Each operator thinks diff erently. Th e trouble-shooting questions I ask may depend on how much the operator knows about the equipment,” said Griffi th. “Bottom line… we know they [equipment operators] are operating within a short window of time on the track and they need their equipment up and running quickly.”

Limited track time is a challenge for equip-ment operators and maintainers alike. Most repairs must be done while equipment is on the track and train traffi c limits that track time. Winter off ers

its own challenges including long drives in dark and icy road conditions, which is why mechanics usually travel in pairs when the temperatures drop. Working outside in cold, wet and windy weather is another diffi culty.

Sometimes the workload becomes lopsided in Fairbanks or Anchorage. In those situations, the two shops coordinate work and supplies, and some equipment may be shipped north or south on fl at cars to divide up the work.

ConclusionAfter a closer look at Mechanical’s role in train

velocity, one thing is clear — no factor is accom-plished in a vacuum. One department’s crews rely on another department’s crews to get their jobs done. Next issue, such inter-dependencies will remain apparent when a third article focuses on the people responsible for operating the trains and terminals (Transportation Department). Th e series will conclude with a fourth article about railroaders responsible for the condition and use of the track (Engineering/Maintenance of Way Department).

(PHOTOS BY STEPHENIE WHEELER)

LEFT: ANCHORAGE YARD BUILDING 26 BREAK ROOM INCLUDES A DISPLAY BOARD THAT HELPS THE DIESEL SHOP EMPLOYEES KEEP TRACK OF SCHEDULED LOCOMOTIVE WORK.

BELOW: CHUCK LORITZ, LEFT, TESTS LO-COMOTIVE AIR SYSTEMS UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF FELLOW MECHANIC LLOYD THOMPSON.


2ND QTR 2010

6CROSSINGS: NEWS YOU CAN USE

STATUS ON RAILROAD CHARITABLE GIVING


NEW ROUNDABOUT HIGHLIGHTS RAILROAD

Th e economic downturn has certainly reduced the railroad’s cash-based philanthropy, but in-kind giving has not been curtailed, providing an impor-tant way to give back to the communities we serve.

Fortunately, the railroad can off er in-kind services that benefi t hundreds of non-prof-it organizations each year. Eli-gible non-profi ts use donated passenger rail tickets to raise funds through raffl es and auc-tions, or to build membership with prizes rewarding member recruitment eff orts.

Th e Denali Car off ers a unique, popular group charter experience. Restored in partnership with the Rasmuson Foundation, the historic business car is donated several times each year to charitable organizations for fund-raising.

Occasionally, we assist an entire community. For example, when a rock slide over the road isolat-ed Whittier in April 2009, we provided emergency freight, passenger and trash transport. Likewise, the railroad has donated use of gondolas to backhaul scrap metal out of Yukon River communities.

Sometimes in-kind donations come in the form of materials. Th e railroad donates posters, prints and pins to non-profi ts for recognition programs and fund-raising. Used ties are donated to non-profi ts and government agencies to improve infrastructure and jump-start projects. A prime example is the recent donation of more than 200 used ties to the Point MacKenzie Correctional Farm (PMCF), which is directing inmates to build pig pins and greenhouse foundations. “Your generous donation of the railroad ties saves the Department of Corrections on our budget,” said Kenny Moss, PMCF Administration Offi cer. “Every institution that receives produce from PMCF gets to cut back on their food budget and those funds are put to good use throughout these institutions. Last year, PMCF donated over 138,000 pounds of produce to

In September 2009 a roundabout opened where Huff man Road dead-ends at Old Seward Highway. Th e single circle includes landscaping that high-lights the Alaska Railroad. “We added the ‘hard’ scape to improve the quality appearance of the roundabout,” said Alaska Department of Transpor-tation Consultant Coordinator Robert DeVassie.

the Food Bank of Alaska. One agency’s by-product is another agency’s prize possession.”

Railroad employees who are involved with non-profi ts can request in-kind support of worthwhile programs and projects. Check out the Corporate Contribution Guidelines for eligibility information, and be sure to use updated request forms available on our corporate web site www.AlaskaRailroad.com/Corporate, click on COMMUNITY, then Charitable Giving and scroll to the bottom.

A dramatic reduction to cash sponsorships began early in 2009 with notable exceptions being long-standing relationships with programs that assist youth and Alaskans in need. For example, we provide fi nancial support for our School Business Partnership including hosting the Government Hill Elementary School back-to-school picnic. Another example is the railroad’s agreement with the Food Bank of Alaska (FBA) and Department of Cor-rections to support a moose salvage program. Th e Point MacKenzie Correctional Facility retrieves moose killed on the track and inmates process the moose into ground meat that is, in turn, distrib-uted by FBA to needy Alaskans. As part of this agreement, the railroad underwrites some of the program’s food processing costs.

Nearly all small grants were suspended by fall 2009 — both those requested by employees and those considered by our Citizens Advisory Board (CAB). Th e CAB was comprised of seven citizens from communities served by the Alaska Railroad. Members were familiar with broad community charitable needs and had the experience to recog-nize grant applicants who would benefi t most from railroad contributions. With no grant decisions to make, the CAB is no longer meeting.

As the economy improves and ARRC is able to resume small grants, the Corporate Aff airs Depart-ment will review options for community participa-tion in philanthropic decisions. Th e CAB or similar group may be re-established with an expanded role in grant and other charitable giving decisions.

“Knowing that the Alaska Railroad trains travel pass this intersection carrying cargo and travelers, it was in the interest of the public to show one of Alaska’s major modes of transportation.”

Construction started in May 2009 and is ex-pected to be complete in August 2010.

(see drawing and photos on page 7)

USED TIES PROVIDE THE FOUNDATION AND THE

VERTICAL SUPPORTS FOR A PIG SHELTER AT THE

POINT MACKENZIE CORRECTIONAL FACILITY

FARM.

(PHOTO COURTESY OF KENNY MOSS, PMCF)


2ND QTR 2010


RETIREMENT TRUST FUNDS IN GOOD SHAPE

ROUNDABOUT HIGHLIGHTS RAILROAD...

By Bill O’Leary, Chief Finance Offi cer andInterim Chief Executive Offi cer

Each year, actuarial valuations of the Alaska Railroad’s pension and retiree medical trust funds are performed. Th ese reports outline, as of the beginning of the year, how the respective plan’s as-sets and liabilities compare (funded ratio) and how much the corporation should contribute to each plan in the current year. Th e results of the valuation studies were quite positive, with both plans being well-funded and a slight decrease in net required contributions.

Postretirement Medical Plan

• 2009 Return on market value of assets: 24.8%.

• Funded Ratio: increased from 79.4% to 118%.

• 2010 Annual Required Contribution: $2.1 million, a decrease of $620,000 over 2009.

• In 2009, the ARRC adopted a fi ve-year smooth-ing approach to calculate the actuarial value of the assets. Most governmental plans use this technique to decrease the volatility of their required contributions.

Railroad Pension Plan

• 2009 Return on market value of assets: 20%.

• Funded Ratio: decreased from 102% to 99.3%.

• 2010 Annual Required Contribution: $2.25 million, an increase of $400,000 over 2009.

• Th e same recommendation for a fi ve-year asset smoothing to calculate the actuarial value of assets was adopted in 2009.

• Th e actuaries commented that the Alaska Rail-road’s pension plan is one of the best funded in the country.

7

1 STEEL PLATE CUTOUTS OF A LOCOMOTIVE AND MOUNTAINS ARE AFFIXED TO A PEDESTRIAN RAILING BESIDE A SHORT STRETCH OF SIDEWALK ALONG HUFFMAN ROAD.

2 BLUE COATED STEEL IS CUT INTO THE SHAPES OF PASSENGERS IN TRAIN WINDOWS, AND AFFIXED TO THE TOP HALF OF A CURVED PEDESTRIAN RAILING BESIDE THE SIDEWALK ALONG THE WEST SIDE OF THE ROUNDABOUT.

3 THE LARGE CIRCULAR PLANTER IN THE CENTER OF THE ROUNDABOUT HAS CONCRETE WALLS EMBEDDED WITH A SERIES OF STEEL CUTOUTS SHAPED LIKE AN ARCHED RAILROAD BRIDGE WITH A CROSSING TRAIN AROUND THE PERIMETER.


BILL O’LEARY

3

2

1


2ND QTR 2010


OPPONENTS APPEAL HERBICIDE PERMIT 8 In 2009, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) issued 130 vegetation-related violations that may result in fi nes of up to $16,000 each. FRA inspectors returned to Alaska in late May 2010 and

have already issued 19 violations for vegeta-tion. Inspectors are due back in July.

Well beyond the fi nancial cost, the Alaska Railroad must control vegetation for safety reasons. “We need to be able to see the track to be sure it is safe for trains,” said Chief Engineer Tom Brooks. “We need safe footing for train crews along the tracks and in the yards. Maintenance-of-Way needs good footing too.”

For 26 years, the Alaska Railroad has been trying to control weeds without

herbicides. Th e use of herbicides would help an otherwise losing battle against vegetation growing in Alaska’s 18-hour sunlit days.

“A year ago, we submitted a permit application with the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation [ADEC]. We have proposed a lim-ited program on the south end of the railroad, just 25 track miles between Indian and Seward, plus the Seward Yard,” said Brooks. “If you’ve been on that end of the railroad, it’s obvious we need help. Th e weed-cutting crew, the on-track brush cutters, and the ballast regulators are doing their best, but we are not keeping up.”

For this reason, ARRC was relieved when ADEC recently approved the permit to use Aqua-Master (glyphosate). To our knowledge, all other North American railroads use herbicides as part of their weed control programs.

“We do not take the use of herbicides lightly,” said Brooks. Th is year’s permit was accompanied by a University of Alaska study that specifi cally addresses glyphosate use on the rail in the very area that we propose to apply it.

Brooks explains two very important safety issues regarding the herbicide. “First, railroaders who work directly along the tracks need to know the chemicals we have selected are extremely safe. We will be tell-ing you where and when we apply them, and you can check out the details on the ARRC web site,” he said. “Second, everyone needs to know that we have gone to extraordinary eff orts to show the se-lected herbicides are benign. Th ey do their job and then they degrade away. Th e science shows this.”

Nevertheless, on June 1 several groups and one individual appealed the permit decision. Th ey include Alaska Community Action on Toxics, Na-tive Village of Eklutna, Alaska Survival (Talkeetna), Alaska Center for the Environment, Cook Inlet-keeper, Prince William Soundkeeper, Defenders of

Wildlife, and Resurrection Bay Conservation Alli-ance. Trustees for Alaska, an environmental public interest law fi rm, is representing these parties.

Th e ADEC Commissioner is reviewing the ap-peal, and has several diff erent decision points. Th e Trustees have requested a stay to prevent ARRC from applying any herbicide until a fi nal decision on the appeal is made. Th ey have also asked the commissioner to hold a full-blown “adjudica-tory hearing” on the decision to issue the permit, including discovery, new witness testimony, and full scale briefi ng. Th e commissioner can respond by granting either or both of the Trustees’ requests, denying them, or choosing from a couple of alterna-tives between those two extremes. On June 30, the commissioner issued a partial stay to preclude herbi-cide spraying on a small section of track that may be nearby a few drinking water wells. He denied the rest of the stay request. Th e Trustees may well appeal this decision to Superior Court shortly. A decision on the adjudicatory hearing is not expected for another week at least.

Th e permit is active at least for now and the ARRC is mobilizing its application contractor with a target date to begin application of July 9. A stay, issued by either the commissioner or a court, would eff ectively prevent application of AquaMaster this growing season.

Th e appeal has also generated signifi cant media attention. Unfortunately, comments quoted from appealing groups are incorrect and at least two points of clarifi cation are in order.

First, the permit stipulates that no herbicide will be applied within 100 feet of any surface water body. Th at means what is says. Herbicides will only be applied in areas that are more than 100 feet from any surface water body and within the permit area.

Secondly, herbicide opponents claim that glyphosate can cause human health eff ects. An in-dependent environmental toxicologist was engaged by ARRC to review the literature recently cited by appealing groups. Th e review concludes that this information is “misleading and inaccurately represents the potential health risks”. We encourage everyone interested to review all the data, not just the information from either the proponents or the opponents. Th at is what the ADEC did to arrive at the decision to issue the permit.

ADEC’s Permit Decision Document and responses to comments/concerns (Responsiveness Summary) can be found at http://dec.alaska.gov/eh/pest/index.htm. Information on ARRC’s vegeta-tion management program can be found at www.AlaskaRailroad.com/Corporate (click on Environ-mental, then Vegetation Management).

A BALLAST REGULATOR TACKLES VEGETATION ON THE OUTSIDE OF

THE TRACK BED ABOUT 19 MILES NORTH OF

SEWARD IN MID-JUNE.


2ND QTR 2010

9SIDINGS: EMPLOYEE HAPPENINGS

RAKES ADD TO WEED CONTROL ARSENAL

Th e Anchorage Heavy Equipment shop recently added a new weapon in the ongoing fi ght against weeds in the railroad’s right-of-way. A hinged rake has been attached to one side of a ballast regulator to address the hard-to-reach area between the end of the ties and the edge of the track bed. Th e brain-child of Maintenance Superintendent Lloyd Tesch, the modifi ed rake attachment has been successful in pulling some plants out of the ballast.

Th e rake was originally manufactured for a small Bobcat “Skidster” backhoe. Heavy Equipment

Mechanic Kevin Stantorf assisted Tesch with the modifi cation design. Stantorf then manufactured a mounting frame, added a pivot cylinder, and hooked the rake up to the regulator’s hydraulics. Th e late May modifi cation took about a week to complete and was put to the test June 2. Th e test proved successful enough to warrant similar modi-fi cation to a second ballast regulator, which is in the works. (ARRC has nine ballast regulators). Th e Heavy Equipment Shop is also crafting an adaptor to attach a rake to an excavator this summer.

Ballast regulators originally come equipped with “wings” that funnel ballast back onto the track bed as the equipment adds and levels the material. Th e rake attachment can easily be removed and the wing replaced as needed.

Th e $5,000 rakes add to the railroad’s alterna-tives for mechanical weed control along the track. While mechanical methods alone cannot adequately control vegetation, they are valuable when used in combination with other methods. Th e railroad continues to invest in a comprehensive vegetation management program that incorporates diff erent manual, mechanical and herbicide tools that are ap-propriate and eff ective for diff erent situations.

HEAVY EQUIPMENT MECHANIC KEVIN

STANTORF

SIDINGS: EMPLOYEE HAPPENINGS

CAR SHOPS CONVERT FLATCAR HAND BRAKE

Th e Mechanical Department recently completed a two-year project to convert hand brakes on nearly a hundred 129-series fl at cars. Cars originally came with horizontal wheel-crank style brakes situated at the end of the car. Th ese were replaced with ratchet-style hand brakes located on the side of the car.

Th e $116,000 conversion solves long-standing safety and functional issues. Th e original location caused clearance problems when the car was loaded. Th e outdated wheel style also posed problems with pinch points and hand injuries. By moving the

brake to the side of the car, the hand brake can be accessed when the car is fully loaded. Th e ratchet style eliminates the pinch-point problem and newer technology makes it more reliable.

Each of the 95 converted fl at cars required about 23 man-hours for mechanics to remove the old brake and install the new system with a fi nal test. Th e conversion began in 2008 and was completed in spring 2010. Most of the work was performed in Anchorage, but the Fairbanks car shop also assisted and fi nished up the project this year.

THE ORIGINAL HAND BRAKE AT THE END OF THE CAR. THE NEW HAND BRAKE IS LOCATED ON THE CAR’S SIDE.


2ND QTR 2010

10SIDINGS: EMPLOYEE HAPPENINGS

IAM ELECTRICAL CROSS-TRAINING BOOST

Seven Mechanical Department employees have a better understanding of electrical concepts thanks to a well-received mid-June course off ered as part of an ongoing eff ort to expand the skill sets of rail-roaders through cross-training.

In late 2007, the Alaska Railroad and the Inter-national Association of Machinists and Aerospace

Workers (IAM) union negoti-ated a Workplace Productiv-ity Improvement initiative as part of the current labor contract. Th e agreement aims to increase overall effi ciency and productivity within the Me-chanical shops by eliminating craft

lines. Machinists, electricians, pipefi tters, boiler-makers, etc. are no longer restricted to duties falling within their craft. Th is means that IAM employees can work on diff erent pieces of equipment and dif-ferent systems, as long as they are qualifi ed to do so.

Recognizing that cross-training is key to this initiative, an ARRC & Union Training Committee was formed with three union and three manage-ment representatives. Th ey review and recommend on-the-job mentoring, along with academic and hands-on training, to facilitate a more well-rounded work force.

“Th e training has been very successful from a mechanical standpoint, but it is more diffi cult from an electrical standpoint because the opportunities in troubleshooting electrical systems and problems are not as predominant as the other types of work,” explained Mechanical Maintenance Director Doug Engebretson. “Th e electrical work environment has limited space. For example, the size of a locomotive cab or of an electrical cabinet will limit the number of people who can observe the training process.”

When a Basic Electronics course designed for the non-electrician was discovered, the Training Committee asked several IAM employees if they felt it was worth trying. All feedback said, “let’s give it a try.” American Trainco Inc.’s initial price quotes were too expensive, but the company later off ered an exceptional deal for a class in June. Th e signifi cant transportation costs were waived thanks to another client that already paid for training in Alaska.

Nearly 30 railroaders signed up and seven were selected to attend June 11-12. Attendees gave the course a thumbs up, noting the good course content, good instructor and good exposure to basic electrical concepts.

John Faeo and Loren Statz were among those who took the class. Currently a Wheel Shop Leader, Faeo has spent time in several areas of Mechanical, becoming a well-rounded machinist / mechanic during his 35 years with the railroad. Yet, his train-ing and experience lacks electrical. Ditto for Statz, a Steel Fabricator / Boilermaker who has been with the Alaska Railroad for 13 years. Like many co-workers, Statz has gained experience in welding, cab work modifi cation and many mechanical tasks, but he has very little electrical experience.

Classmates agreed the Basic Electronics course provided a good introduction for people with no electrical skills. “Th e instructor made things simple, and worked with us on our own learning goals,” noted Faeo. “Th ere are many safety issues associated with electrical work and you need a basic under-standing to work safely.”

Faeo said his goal was to become more familiar with analyzing simple electrical problems safely. For example, he wanted to learn how to determine if a switch is bad or not using an electrical meter.

Th e SD70MAC is more complicated than the older model locomotives, and mechanics need to learn more skills to work profi ciently on this equip-ment, said Statz. As a member of the Training Com-mittee, Statz notes that the Basic Electronics class serves as a prep course for more in-depth training to come. Th e Training Committee has scheduled a couple of classes on SD70MAC electrical systems in the fall. A number of employees did not feel com-fortable with taking these more advanced classes without a basic electrical foundation.

A least another 25-30 employees could benefi t from similar electrical training. Th e committee is looking at ways to make that happen, pending funding.

“Cross-training absolutely makes an employee more valuable,” said Pat Shake, Vice President of Mechanical and Transportation. “I believe that both the company and the employee stand to benefi t.”

Faeo and Statz agreed that becoming more well-rounded with some electrical knowledge makes them more valuable and diversifi ed workers and can add interest to their job as well.

“If someone at the Railroad has an interest to learn more, they are usually given the opportunity to pursue it,” said Statz. “Th at’s a very positive thing.”

LOCOMOTIVE MECHANIC /MACHIN-

IST AL FYFE, LEFT, AND LOCOMOTIVE

ELECTRICIAN LEADER GERALD CHRISTENSEN, LISTEN TO THE COURSE

INSTRUCTOR, RIGHT, DURING A BASIC ELEC-

TRONICS CLASS IN JUNE.


2ND QTR 2010

11

JOHN BINKLEY


STATUS OF NEW NON-REP APPRAISALS


BOARD PROGESSES IN CEO SEARCH

Th e Alaska Railroad instituted a new perfor-mance appraisal policy and form for non-represent-ed employees at the beginning of 2010. Led by Training & Workforce Development Director Paula Donson, the revamped appraisal process incorpo-rates much more interaction, emphasizing discus-sion between employees and their supervisors, and employee self-rating.

Eff ective January 1, the new policy and form have been in use for nearly half a year, with positive results, said Donson. Required for all non-rep employees, the New Performance Appraisal class has provided subordinates and supervisors with a mutual understanding of terminology and how the rating system is supposed to work. Th us far, 99 of the Alaska Railroad’s 167 non-represented employ-ees have completed the class.

“We wanted something that was eff ective for people in our company culture. We were not going to adopt a cookie cutter approach just to get a new form out there without the interactive input of several managers,” said Donson. Th e new form was developed with the input of a team including Erin Cork, Doug Engebretson, Shawnessy Hughes, Suzie Kiger, Susan Lindemuth and Rosezetta Proctor.

“Th e performance behaviors identifi ed in the new form are also more contemporary, and represent traits found in the 360 degree feedback process,” said Donson. “Th ey were also identifi ed as traits of the productive worker.”

“We wanted to be sure the form provided a tool for constructive feedback, many opportunities for interaction, and feedback from one level above the employee’s boss,” Donson added. “We also made sure the form provided an opportunity to update

Th e search for a new Alaska Railroad chief executive offi cer (CEO) continues to progress. By early May, ads were posted in local newspapers and national trade publications, and a notice was posted on the Alaska Railroad web site. About 100 appli-cations were received by the June 11 deadline.

Th e Alaska Railroad Board of Directors appoint-ed a CEO Search Committee comprised of Chair-man John Binkley and Directors Jon Cook and Linda Leary. Th e committee is currently reviewing and assessing the applications with several goals in mind. Th e board is looking for someone with busi-ness experience, decisive leadership, proven manage-

the evaluated employee’s job description, and that the performance factors refl ected the values and leadership behaviors of the Railroad, which we culled from the Cultural Survey.”

“Having been involved in the development of the new form and process, I was pleased with both the interaction of participants and the collaborative results,” said Engebretson, who has used the form to appraise seven non-reps, including himself. “Th is new process allows for individuals to provide their own evaluation as well as point out many of their personal achievements. I encourage participants to make the evaluation process a time to highlight the success of their eff orts as well as those shared goals.”

While the new appraisal system was designed for non-reps, it can be used as an advisory tool for represented employees,” said Donson. In fact, Engebretson said he has used the new process to as-sess individual represented employees, although he understands this does not replace union-approved agreements with regard to performance assessments.

Th e new appraisal process has been used on supervisors too. “Some managers have even asked subordinates to rate them, the manager, using the form,” said Donson, noting this says something very positive about the usefulness of the new process.

ment, excellent public relations and communication skills, a background in the transportation industry or supply chain management, and experience with unions and the Alaska markets.

Th e committee will narrow the applicants down to a short list of those who meet these criteria. Later this summer, the entire board will then consider the short list and decide which candidates to interview.

“Th e board is very comfortable with the interim leadership,” said Binkley. “Th is means we can take the time necessary to do a thorough job in fi nding the best person for the CEO position.”

Th e board expects to select a CEO by fall.

PAULA DONSON

We were not going to adopt a cookie cutter approach just to get a new form out there without the interactive input of several managers.


2ND QTR 2010

Amy. “My trip is about 12 miles, so it’s important to be able to shower when I arrive.”

A number of reasons were given for biking to work, and most gave more than one reason. Almost all (29) riders appreciated the great exercise. “I get exercise and commute all in one… it’s a two-fer!” said Wendy Lindskoog. Ray Sanderford agreed, “What would just be my drive time also becomes exercise/fi tness time; two birds with one stone!”

Twenty-six respondents agreed biking is fun; 22 said biking reduced stress and 22 did it for the fuel savings. More than half (18) cited pollution reduction; 14 said they wanted less wear-and-tear on their vehicles; 12 were challenged by friends and co-workers; 11 live close to the railroad; 8 want to avoid traffi c delays and 8 can burn enough calories to eat whatever they want.

Railroad bike riders say they stay motivated by simply feeling better (24); through the en-couragement of friends and co-workers (14); by money saved (12); and losing some weight. One rider noted he had lost 25 pounds since 2007 and another had lost 6 pounds in just over one month. One rider stayed motivated by keeping in shape for bigger biking events. One respondent felt a monetary motivator may be in order. “People that use alternate transportation (buses, bikes, carpools) should be rewarded or given a bonus for helping maintain the environment,” said Juno Prochazka.

Nearly everyone wore at least some safety gear, with helmet (22) at the top of the list, followed by gloves (21), refl ective material (21), sturdy shoes (20), and protective clothing (11). One person said their sunglasses served as a wind guard, and another said she wore a mirror and bear bells.


EMPLOYEE BIKE-TO-WORK SURVEY RESULTS12

ABOVE:LORRI WINCHESTER PREPS FOR THE RIDE

HOME AFTER WORK AT THE HEADQUARTERS

BUILDING.

RIGHT:EDIE HOUSE GEARS UP

FOR THE RIDE HOME AFTER WORK AT THE

HEADQUARTERS BUILDING.

At least 30 railroaders say they bike to work often or sometimes, according to a recent employee survey. Of the 33 who responded, three said they biked to work year-round, but the majority did

so in the summer (26), while more than half indicated they also biked in spring (18) and fall (18). “I’d ride year round except I live near Kincaid and I’m too scared to ride along the Coastal Trail from the chalet in the dark by myself,” said Maura Shea. “Th e roads aren’t a great option in the winter because I have to be too close to cars.”

Six say they bike every day; 15 bike two to four times a week, four bike once a week, and six say they bike infre-quently. Half (15) are relative bike-to-work newcomers with two or fewer years under their belts; 12 have been biking to work for three to six years, one has done so for 12 years, and one has biked to work for a whopping 31 years. Sev-eral respondents mentioned

obstacles to riding more often. “I’d bike more if I didn’t often have to drop my kids at daycare in the morning,” said Barbara Amy. “I can only do it when the weather, my errands, and my husband’s work schedule align.”

Railroaders bike to work up and down the rail-belt. Th e Headquarters (HQ) building in Anchor-age is the most popular destination with 16; fol-lowed by the Anchorage Operations Center (AOC) with seven; Anchorage Yard Mechanical Shops (2); Seward Depot (2); Anchorage Historic Depot (1); Fairbanks Yard Mechanical Shop (1); Fairbanks Depot (1); and Talkeetna Depot (1). Most said they found the available bike racks adequate at these facilities, but a few had suggestions for improve-ments, including covered racks and additional racks.

Th e Alaska Railroad provides showers and lock-ers in the HQ and AOC, and lockers at Anchor-age Signal & Telecom and several buildings in the Anchorage and Fairbanks yards. A handful of riders say they don’t use these facilities because: “Th e ride is too short,” “I don’t ride that hard,” “I’m a ger-maphobe,” and “too inconvenient.” But two-thirds (20) of the bike riders do use facilities to clean up at work.

“If we didn’t have the locker/shower room, I probably wouldn’t bike in at all,” noted Barbara



2ND QTR 2010

Within a week, I had a full team — the Chain Gang.”

“I have read articles about this sort of challenge occurring in other places — Portland for instance — and had even mentioned to Greg Lotakis about challenging other transportation fi rms, like DOT, so when I got an email from Jeannette about the AIA Bike Challenge I defi nitely wanted to be a part of it,” said Winchester. But Jeanette’s team fi lled up so fast that Winchester had to start a new team and she quickly recruited the Single Trackers.

“Based on comments from team members, the team concept has been a big infl uence on commit-ting to riding,” observed Winchester. “Some on my team had not ridden to work before and seem to be really enjoying it. Th ere has been some friendly rib-

bing regarding the competition but I think most of us look at it as one big team to sup-port and encourage each other to ride.”

“Th is challenge has brought together many railroaders in various departments all with a common goal to commute to work along the streets and trails of Anchorage and Eagle River,” agreed Holt. “It has been so great to see so many familiar faces at the railroad bike racks, locker rooms and the surrounding commuter trails. In the end we gain the exercise benefi ts and enjoy the ride.”


20 RAILROADERS ACCEPT BIKE CHALLENGE 13Th e local chapter of the American Institute of Architects has organized a Summer Bike Challenge that encourages bicyclists in teams to compete for prizes based on miles ridden during people-powered commuting between May 21 and September 21. Th e railroad boasts two such teams, thanks to the initiative of Jeanette Holt and Lorri Winchester. Th ey are among 22 teams with a total of 185 people participating in the Alaska challenge.

“I got involved when a friend from the Munici-pality of Anchorage asked me to join her bike-to-work team,” said Holt. Luckily for the railroad, the friend’s team fi lled up, and Jeanette was encouraged to start her own team. “I sent out an e-mail to fel-low railroaders looking for 7-10 people willing to bike two or more days a week during the summer.

Chain Gang

Captain: Jeanette Holt

Annette Baker

Stephan Conlan

Mike Grunwald

Edie House

Russ Martin

Kelly Reinhardt

Maura Shea

TJ Sheffi eld

Crystal Wilson

Single Trackers

Captain: Lorri Winchester

Dennis Bouwens

Jason Dennis

Pat Kelly

Greg Lotakis

Jeremiah Osborne

Mark Peterburs

James Pype

Jeff Rognes

Don Worthley

Team Statistics May 21 to June 21

Chain Gang Single TrackersTOTAL TEAM MILES: . . . . . . . . . . 1,639 . . . . . . . . . .1,582POUNDS OF CO2 OFFSET: . . . . . 1,639 . . . . . . . . . .1,582CALORIES BURNED: . . . . . . . . 106,522 . . . . . . . .102,850MONEY SAVED: . . . . . . . . . . . . .$361 . . . . . . . . . . $348GALLONS OF FUEL SAVED: . . . . . . . .82 . . . . . . . . . . . . 79

NOTES:*1) BASED ON 20LB CO2/GAL BURNED AND 20MPG VEHICLE

*2) BASED ON AN AVERAGE BODY WEIGHT AND MODERATE EXERCISE

*3) BASED ON 2009 AAA DATA, 20MPG VEHICLE AND $3.30/GAL FUEL

*4) BASED ON 20MPG VEHICLE

30 RAILROADERS AND FAM-ILY SUPPORTED THE VISITOR INDUSTRY CHARITY WALK ON MAY 7, GENERATING A $900

CONTRIBUTION. PICTURED:

FRONT ROW, L-R: SHEILA THROCKMORTON, AAREN MACKENZIE, ANNA SALAZAR, MEGAN OSTENDORF, KELLY AND JOE REINHARDT WITH TWINS JUSTICE ANDTYRAN, LINDA BERG, ROBERT RUSSELL AND KAREN LEIS.

BACK ROW, L-R: MONICA DOXTATER, JIM AND LINDA EICHELBERGER, KATHYRN KESSLER, CAROL BONDOC, JO RAMOS, DESIREE ACKERMAN, ANNETTE BAKER, ISSAC AND BRUCE LALONDE, ANN MCIL-HARGIE, TINA LALONDE, DAVE AND DEANNA BLAZEJEWSKI.

RAILROAD CHEW-CHEWS WALK


2ND QTR 2010

14 that rivet-busting exceeded the OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit by six times. Th erefore, hearing pro-tection was required when performing this work.”

At breaks and at the end of the day, crewmem-bers decontaminated themselves with cleaning supplies and a process for segregating “clean” versus “contaminated” equipment and clothing. Th e work area was cordoned off and marked with signs warning “Lead: No eating or drinking beyond this point.”

Likewise, visitors to the bridge work site donned disposable protection suits and decontaminated themselves when leaving. Visitors who assisted the crew with rivet-busting work were provided with respirator and hearing protection as well.

Th anks to the full support of the safety offi ce, solid pre-planning and on-site diligence, the bridge work was accomplished two weeks ahead of sched-ule and without incident in late June, said General Bridges Supervisor Al Price. “A second eff ort may be required, based on our consultant’s fi nal report,” said Price. “If additional strengthening is required, it will likely be winter work.”

As Internet access and use continue to rise, online notice is viewed as a preferred forum for reaching the public. (For example, Municipality of Anchorage offi cials note that 85% of the city’s households have a computer and Internet access.) Th e railroad expects to save thousands of dollars each year by advertising board meetings, land leases, gravel sales and similar activities on the railroad’s web site.

SIGNALS: SPOTLIGHT ON SAFETY AND SECURITY

B&B6, SAFETY COORDINATE BRIDGE REPAIR


BOARD, LEASE NOTICES MOVE TO WEB SITE

Th e Bridge & Building (B&B) 6 crew began work in early May to reinforce the bridge over the Matanuska River fl ood plains at Milepost 147.5. Bridge forces had discovered fatigue cracks in the bridge support structures, which required rein-forcement with diagonal bracing as a remedy. To proceed, crews had to bust out old rivets in order to bolt the new supports to the old structures.

Th e work posed some lead- and noise-based safety issues. B&B 6 consulted the Railroad’s Safety De-partment and followed Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) regulations to protect their health and safety during the job.

Older bridges such as Bridge147.5 were originally coated with

lead-based paint to provide durable protection from corrosion and weather. When rivets are busted, small particles of paint are released. To avoid breath-ing and other exposure to paint particles, workers were trained how to work with lead-based paint, and provided with respiratory and other personal protection equipment (PPE).

Additionally, the Safety Department collected air samples to test paint dust concentration and exposure to ensure respiratory protection was adequate. Crew members were also monitored for noise exposure during loud rivet-busting activity, said Safety/Environment Director Mark Mitchell.

“I sent air samples to a lab to determine the concentration of 12 diff erent metals and the total particle load,” explained Mitchell. “Noise testing results were calculated on-site and we confi rmed

Th e Alaska Railroad’s public notice of its board of directors’ meetings and land disposals (including leases and material sales) is migrating to the web site — www.AlaskaRailroad.com/corporate. Th e change is eff ective immediately. A new rule change approved by the Board of Directors in May 2010 means most ARRC legal advertising in newspapers will be replaced with online notices that are avail-able to the public around the clock.

ABOVE: B&B 6 CREW MEMBERS BUST RIVETS ON BRIDGE 147.5 IN

PREPARATION FOR ADD-ING DIAGONAL BRACING

TO THE AGING BRIDGE SUPPORT STRUCTURES.

RIGHT: B&B 6 CRANE OPERATOR TRAINEE CRAIG HANSON IS

OUTFITTED WITH RESPI-RATORY AND HEARING

PROTECTION, AND PRO-TECTIVE CLOTHING AS

HE PREPARES TO WORK ON BRIDGE 147.5.

NOTE THE AIR SAMPLE BEING COLLECTED AND THE NOISE DOSIMETER

MICROPHONE ATTACHED TO HIS LEFT SHOULDER.

(PHOTOS BY MARK MITCHELL)


2ND QTR 2010

15put Alaskans to work and is a win-win for ARRC, the state, and our economy,” said Bill O’Leary, ARRC Interim President/CEO and Chief Financial Offi cer.

Phase One will create approximately 100 temporary construction jobs. It will also provide year-round access to one of the largest military training areas in North America. Construction on Phase Two, linking North Pole to the bridge, may begin in 2012.

Th e Northern Rail Extension entails an 80-mile long rail line that extends rail infrastructure from North Pole to Delta Junction. Th e new rail line will provide freight and potential future passenger rail services that serve commercial interests and com-munities in Interior Alaska. Th e extension will be operated as part of the Alaska Railroad system. As a common carrier, the line will be available to the general public, commercial, and military shippers including agricultural and resource development businesses.

More information is available on the project web site: www.northernrailextension.com.

Anchorage International Airport and numerous road improvement projects. Train transport remains one of the most economical, least disruptive and safest ways to move gravel and other bulk com-modities.


NRE CONSTRUCTION MANAGER SELECTED


ARRC ADDS ‘GRAVEL TRAINS’ WEB PAGE

Th e Alaska Railroad is in the process of award-ing Kiewit Pacifi c Co. the contract for construction management and general contracting (CMGC) for Phase One of the Northern Rail Extension, which includes the Tanana River bridge and levee near Sal-cha. Construction is expected to begin in late 2010.

Kiewit Corporation is one of the largest employ-ee-owned construction fi rms in the nation and has been working in Alaska for more than 60 years. “Kiewit is a local contractor with robust national resources and support,” said ARRC Project Manager Brian Lindamood. “We are confi dent in Kiewit’s ability to build what will ultimately be the largest bridge in the state.”

Phase One funding includes $104 million in previous Department of Defense appropriations, and a recent $40 million appropriation from the State of Alaska. Phase One key elements include fi nal design, permitting, right-of-way acquisition, material procurement and construction.

“Hiring Kiewit brings us one step closer to signifi cantly improving transportation options for the United States military, for mass transit, and for freight movement within Alaska. Th is project will

Motorists in Palmer and Anchorage have noticed an increase in summer train traffi c, particu-larly at crossings, as gravel trains are added to the Alaska Railroad’s daily mix. To help drivers plan ahead to avoid delays at train-occupied crossings, the Alaska Railroad has added a “Gravel Trains” page to its corporate web site. Th e page includes information on road/rail crossing delays in Anchorage and Palmer along with alternate routes to avoid those de-lays. Th e section also includes background information about how and why gravel trains are scheduled, impacts to specifi c road/rail crossings, and the economics of moving gravel. Check it out at:

www.AlaskaRailroad.com/CorporateClick on Community, then Gravel Trains

With summer comes Alaska’s con-struction season and a corresponding demand for gravel. Alaska Railroad hauls between two and three million tons of gravel each year in support of southcen-tral Alaska capital projects, such as the major expansion project at Ted Stevens

SECOND QUARTER 2010

ALL ABOARDALL ABOARDNEWSLETTER FOR ALASKA RAILROAD EMPLOYEES

Alaska Railroad Corporation

P.O. Box 107500

Anchorage, AK 99510-7500

www.AlaskaRailroad.com

Printed on recycled paper

Member &Suppporter

PRSRT STDU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDANCHORAGE, AKPERMIT NO. 500

RAILROAD SELECTS 2011 PRINT ARTISTPALMER ARTIST TO DEPICT FREIGHT TRAIN CROSSING MATANUSKA RIVER BRIDGE

Th e Alaska Railroad selected Palmer artist Douglas Girard to create the artwork for the 2011 ARRC print/poster. Girard was among more than two dozen Alaskan artists who submit-ted entries. He will depict a freight train crossing the Mata-nuska River Bridge.

“I feel privileged to be a part of Alaska Railroad history, even if only in a small way. I also feel lucky to be able to follow in the footsteps of some of Alaska’s best artists,” said Girard.

Since 1979 the Alaska Railroad has commissioned an artist annually to produce artwork as the basis for limited edition prints, posters, lapel pins and other collectables.

Girard earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with Distinc-tion in Illustration from the Art Center College of Design in California. He has worked as a freelance illustrator, taught art classes and completed numerous private commissions. His artwork is sold through galleries in Anchorage, Wasilla and Palmer. Girard has been featured by local and national news media, and his paintings are included in national and interna-tional collections.

As in years past, the Railroad will produce 750 signed and numbered prints and 4,000 posters. Th e 2011 prints/post-ers will be available for sale in December 2010 through the

DOUGLAS GIRARD

Anchorage Historic and Fairbanks depots, as well as the online Gift Shop. Railroad employees are each provided one compli-mentary poster. Employees who wish to purchase a print will be able to reserve a print with a particular number in late fall.

A ROUGH SKETCH FORMS THE BASIS FOR THE PAINTING.

SECOND QUARTER 2010 NEWSLETTER FOR ALASKA ......ALL ABOARD SECOND QUARTER 2010 NEWSLETTER FOR ALASKA...

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