(The following story by Tim Petrowich appeared on the Marion Daily Republican website on May 12.)
MARION, Ill. — Union Pacific Railroad officials say they will be monitoring railroad crossings in Marion to make sure drivers are honoring the signals. The patrols, which will take place on May 22, are in advance of increasing the speed of trains on the rails that run north and south through the city.
John Schumacher, the St. Louis Division Public Safety Office for the railroad, said the main goal is preparing the city for the change in speeds.
“We will have five officers from the Union Pacific Police Department,” Schumacher said. “We will work with an officer from the Marion Police Department for communications.”
Schumacher said a new signal system will be in place by May 17 which will allow for better communications between Union Pacific trains and the train for the Crab Orchard and Egyptian Railroad. That will be the final hurdle to allow the Union Pacific trains to increase their speeds.
“In the past, we’ve had to come into Marion with reduced speeds,” said Schumacher. “With the new signal system installed, we don’t have to do that.
“We will come and go through Marion probably at 49 miles per hour.”
Schumacher said trains are currently traveling through town at between 30 and 35 miles per hour. He said the higher speeds create some concerns in certain areas of town.
“There are some places that we are a little worried,” he said. “Especially the crossing on Highway 13.
“The manager of train operations has been talking to us and says there is a stop light near the crossing. He said the stop light will come on and people will stop on the tracks for the light. If you stop on the tracks and there is a car in front of you and a car behind you, and you have a train, you have a problem.”
Schumacher said the crossing should be posted with a warning not to stop on the tracks.
“That makes common sense to me.”
Schumacher also noted that the public will be allowed to travel with the officers on the railroad May 22. The trains will be going back and forth through town beginning at 7:30 a.m., and run until between 11:30 a.m. and noon.
“We will load and unload at the Dollar General Store (on Court Street) in Marion,” he said. “Throughout the day, if people are waiting, we will stop the train and load and unload.”
Schumacher said the train will have two coach cars and two dome cars that the public will be allowed to ride on.