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Press
Releases -
Week of August 20th, 2001
Penn Central Transportation Co.
Press Release - Week of Aug. 20th, 2001
PC announced:
-Heat: The high temperatures that had plagued most of the
United States this past month left they're mark on Penn Central Transpotation
Co., with heat exhaustion being the biggest problem, affecting more than 100
employees system-wide. Maintenance-of-Way crews were the hardest hit, with
most of their work taking place outdoors, in direct sunlight. Locomotive
crews packed massive coolers and air conditioning units ran full blast as
temperatures reached triple digits. It's effects were even felt on
machinery after signal and interlocking systems failed in Chicago, Juniata, and
Newark due to heat damage to sensitive relays and computer components.
Harold Kirkman, Penn Central Public Affairs Director, had this to say:
"We've been lucky these last few years with mild summers, since a lot of
our systems were upgraded. This year, our electronic infrastructure is
really getting an acid test. So far I think we've done well. Only
minor difficulties; easy to resolve. These are problems that we couldn't
have predicted, but now have a solution for."
-Summer Tour: CEO Edward Claypole, Pennco Board members,
and distinguished guests will be taking a system-wide tour of the Penn Central
Transportation Co. rail system August 24th to the 31st. Stops will include
most major terminals where Mr. Claypole hopes to speak to employees and tour
facilities. Locomotives for the train will be the newly refurbished
F40PH's purchased from Amtrak last year. Numbers 5 and 6 will pull the
fifteen-car business train departing from Philadelphia Friday morning.
-Contract Renewal: Talks are about to begin
concerning the contract with the International Association of Machinists (IAM)
expiring this September 17th. Union officials as well as Penn Central
Transportation hope to avoid any unpleasantries, though arguments over their
next three-year contract are likely. The major sticking point will be the
expanded benefits package, which Penn Central officials have balked at in the
past. Talks get underway Monday, August 20th.
-Derailment and Shutdown!: A derailment on July
28th in Penn Central's Harrisburg Terminal, forced the terminal's closure after
several tank cars began leaking what was thought to be hazardous chemicals.
Nearby businesses were evacuated, including the NS interchange yard just to the
south. Traffic for both was either held or rerouted using the PC Lewistown
sub. The chemicals did later turn out to be harmless, but delays and
clean-up cost over $200,000, along with a five-hour shutdown. Information
causing the derailment was unavailable as of press time.
=================================
- PCT Public Relations Dept., Copyright 2001 -
- Media Contact - Gary Kear (555)476-7895 -
=================================
Last updated August 24, 2001; 10:09:21 EST
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