November-December, 1969 - Milwaukee Road Archive

(Continued from page 7)
and trucks, although the plan of operation
contemplates prompt movement to
dealers.
Each marshaling area has six unloading
tracks. A total of four 55-foot selfpropelled
automobile unloading ramps
are employed, one being located at either
end of each set of tracks. These ramps
are the longest in use at any such facility,
because of today's longer, lower cars.
In addition, the south area is equipped
with a traveling A-frame monorail crane
for unloading saddleback trucks.
The unloading tracks can hold 6
multi-level freight cars each, for a total
of 72 cars. In addition, four classification
tracks hold a total of 71 freight
cars, and three set-out tracks have a
capacity of 124 cars, bringing the total
freight car capacity of the facility to approximately
270 cars.
Altogether, about seven miles of trackage
were laid in the yard. Most of the
track was pre-built in 39-foot sections
and swung into position with cranes.
Around-the-clock -0 perat ion of the
complex is made possible by perimeter
lighting, using high intensity mercury
vapor lamps set atop 95-foot wooden
poles.
Plans for Expansion
The expanse of land lying to the west
of the yard trackage and between the
two marshaling areas provides ample
room for expansion by both Convoy and
TSD, as well as for automobile preservicing
facilities already in the plan
stage. Here automobiles would be given
a complete mechanical inspection, undercoated,
washed, waxed and made
ready for delivery to the customer.
Each marshaling area will be equipped
with facilities for servicing the highway
trailer equipment of the two transport
firms. These include garages for repair
work, washing installations, fuel storage,
and facilities for lubricating and
fueling the rigs. Water will be provided
by means of an 8,930-foot line extended
from the city of Kent.
The development of the complex was
perhaps the most significant Milwaukee
Road undertaking in the Pacific Northwest
since the extension of the line to
Puget Sound 60 years ago. Commenting
on the potential of the facility, Mr.
Crippen said it is expected to provide
a faster, cleaner, more efficient method
of handling new automobiles and trucks
to their ultimate destination than has
ever been available anywhere in the
region.
g
Merged Northern Lines Will Face Vigorous
Competition, Road Tells Supreme Court
R. K. Merrill
In connection with the Northern Lines
merger involving the Great Northern,
Northern Pacific, Burlington, and the
Spokane, Portland and Seattle railroads,
the United States Supreme Court heard
three hours of oral argument 'On Oct. 22.
The Milwaukee Road, which is supporting
the merger of the four roads,
was represented at the hearing by
General Solicitor R. K. Merrill.
The court had agreed in February to
hear the U. S. Justice Department's appeal
for a delay in the merger, which
was approved by the Interstate Commerce
Commission in November, 1967
and upheld by the District Court in
Washington, D. C, in November, 1968.
The Justice Department opposed the
merger on grounds that it would hurt
competition for traffic in the Northwest.
The railroads, however, have refuted
that argument and the ICC has pointed
'Out that the aspect of competition is only
one of many things the Commission
must consider in merger cases.
The Milwaukee supports the Commission's
approval, subject to six conditions
imposed in its favor. Conditions that
would be implemented t-o protect the
Milwaukee include the opening of 11
new gateways for traffic interchange between
the Milwaukee and the merged
Northern Lines system; a north-south
service route between Canada and California
via entry into Portland, Ore., and
trackage rights between Renton-Snohomish
and Everett-Bellingham, Wash.;
and entrance to Billings, Mont., which
the Milwaukee has not served heret-ofore,
through trackage rights over the
merged system.
Mr. Merrill told the court that, under
these conditions, the Milwaukee expects
to be an aggressive competitor of the
Northern Lines. In outlining the railroad's
position, he said, "We reaffirm
the promise we made to the lower federal
court; that the Milwaukee, with its
hands finally untied, will supply more
active and vigorous competition for the
merged company, and for the Union
Pacific and Canadian Pacific-who have
long profited from our competitive
handicaps-than they may have bargained
for."
"Thanks a million l I've been trying to get that filing cabinet drawer
open jor weeks!"
The Milwaukee Road Magazine