Lex Anteinternet: A Fossil Fuel Free Future is Here.

Lex Anteinternet: A Fossil Fuel Free Future is Here.: This was obvious, but will remain unrecognized for quite some time, for the same reason that coal is almost dead, but people don't grasp...

A Fossil Fuel Free Future is Here.

This was obvious, but will remain unrecognized for quite some time, for the same reason that coal is almost dead, but people don't grasp it.

Average people's ability to really grasp an existential change in something is pretty poor as a rule.  It's not so much that people choose to live in the past as it is that they have no grasp that the past of their younger lives and of their parents lives, the latter of which a lot of people hold to in a sort of mythical way, evolves.  We see that a lot in the U.S. right now.

The entire imaginary economy of Donald Trump is one that's grounded in a mythical 1970s, when he was young and clubbing and men lusting after girls in their teens was basically okay, du e to the sexual revolution.  MAGA, for its part, imagines a mythical 1950s economy, not understanding why the economy of the 1950s was the way it was.  In both instances, and particularly in regard to the 1970s economy, things were not as rosy as imagined.

Coal has been dying ever since the Royal Navy went to oil for ships.  We've discussed that before here:

Coal: Understanding the time line of an industry

Labels: boats and ships, British Navy, Coal, Daily Living, Industry, Lodging, Mid-Week at Work, Petroleum, Railroads, Transportation, U.S. Navy, United States Fuel Administration

Coal is not coming back.  In fact, it's demise is accelerating.  Lot of the globe, including China, in spite of what a demented Donald Trump thinks, is racing towards renewables.  Trump can't really imagine it as he's 80 years old and in the 70s there weren't very many big windmills, although even then there was a push towards renewable power.

Indeed, that push was started by the Arab Oil Embargo and people have been working on the technology ever since.  Now renewables are cheaper than fossil fuels for power generation.  Only nuclear can compete.

Every since the 70s engineers have been working on electric vehicles as well. Their day has arrived.

And Donald Trump started a war that will accelerate the pace of this change, rapidly.  Trump might end up being recalled as the greenest President ever, accidentally.

The change just won't be a switch to clean electrical power, and that switch is rapidly coming and no amount of John Barrasso and Harriet Hageman calling for the mythical "clean coal" will stop it.  It's also going to be a switch away from the sort of vehicle based economy we have now.  People aren't going to stop owning cars, but already a younger generation really isn't all that enamored with them.  Self driving vehicles, as much as I hate the idea, are coming in. With them will come self driving semi tractors and more importantly, in my view, remotely driven electric trains.

There's no reason that railroads can't be controlled like giant model train layouts.  Model trains already provide the model for it.  We're not far from that day.

That day is coming now whether Donald Trump, Harriet Hageman, John Barrasso, or people with an emotional tie to fossil fuels like it or not.  Your livelihood depending on it won't matter either.

It's already happening.

UP 4014 "Big Boy", March, 2026.

The great UP 4014 is making the rounds of the West/

UP 4014 Rounding the Corner Outside Rock River, WY 2026.  MKTH Photo.

This is my favorite engine.  It's the third time I've seen it. Every time was accidental.

MKTH Photo.

MKTH Photo.

Big Boy UP4014 in Medicine Bow, Wyoming.  MKTH photo.

MKTH photo.

MKTH Photo.

MKTH Photo.

 Not good:

UP Engineer Charged With Being On Drugs While Driving HAZMAT-Loaded Train

Industrial History: BNSF coal train derailment north of Pueblo, CO, ki...

Industrial History: BNSF coal train derailment north of Pueblo, CO, ki...: ( Satellite ) I quit documenting derailments because they are too frequent. But this one is special for two reasons: it had a fatality (truc...

Railhead: The not so great train robbery.

Railhead: The not so great train robbery.: CN police, RCMP investigating Monday train robbery in Brocklehurst Mar 28, 2023 | 1:36 PM KAMLOOPS — Kamloops RCMP are assisting CN Rail pol...

So, two days later, what do we now know?

Not much more, perhaps showing the difference in media access in Canada vs. the US.

The RCMP is asking for help. but the details so far have been very limited.  It was an armed robbery, conducted by a man who felt in a white sedan, and who was wearing a hoodie.

That's it.

It's also the first train robbery in British Columbia since 1906.  That train was robbed near Kamloops as well, by Bill Miner the Gentleman Bandit.

 We know that Miner didn't do this one, as he died in 1913 at age 65 from gastritis due to drinking brackish water.

Lex Anteinternet: The 2023 Wyoming Legislative Session. Length of Trains

Lex Anteinternet: The 2023 Wyoming Legislative Session. End of the f...: HB 204 would regulate the length of trains.

 HOUSE BILL NO. HB0204

Allowable train lengths.

Sponsored by: Representative(s) Chestek, Berger and Newsome and Senator(s) Gierau and Rothfuss

A BILL

for

AN ACT relating to public utilities; requiring trains to be not more than a specified length; providing operational requirements; providing a civil penalty; providing definitions; and providing for an effective date.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

Section 1.  W.S. 37‑9‑1401 and 37‑9‑1402 are created to read:

ARTICLE 14

RAILROAD TRAINS

37‑9‑1401.  Definitions.

(a)  As used in this article:

(i)  "Branch line" means a secondary railroad track that branches off from a main line;

(ii)  "Director" means the director of the department of transportation;

(iii)  "Mainline" means a class I railroad as documented in current timetables filed by the class I railroad with the federal railroad administration under 49 C.F.R. 217.7 when the railroad has five million (5,000,000) or more gross tons of railroad traffic transported annually;

(iv)  "Railroad" means any form of non‑highway ground transportation that runs on rails or electromagnetic guideways;

(v)  "Train" means one or more locomotives, coupled with or without cars, that require an air brake test in accordance with 49 C.F.R. part 232 or part 238;

(vi)  "Siding" or "passing track"  means a sidetrack with switches at both ends.

37‑9‑1402.  Train length; penalties.

(a)  In addition to other administrative or criminal remedies authorized by law, the director, after notice and opportunity for hearing, shall assess a civil penalty against a railroad company, corporation or employer as provided in this section.

(b)  No railroad company operating in the state of Wyoming shall run or permit to be run any train that exceeds eight thousand five hundred (8,500) feet in length or exceeds the length of the shortest passing track or siding on which it travels on any mainline or branch line, or that routinely or repeatedly blocks any intersection for periods exceeding ten (10) minutes at one (1) time.

(c)  Except as provided in subsection (d) any railroad company who willfully violates subsection (b) of this section shall be subject to a civil penalty in an amount not less than five hundred dollars ($500.00) per foot nor more than one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) per foot of the amount of a train exceeding the limitation set forth in subsection (a) of this section.

(d)  Any railroad company who commits a grossly negligent violation or who has a pattern of repeated violations of subsection (b) of this section which violation caused an imminent threat of death or injury to another person or that caused death or injury to another person shall be subject to a one (1) time fine not to exceed two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000.00).

(e)  In determining the amount of any civil penalty under this section the director shall consider:

(i)  The nature, circumstances, extent and gravity of the violation;

(ii)  The degree of culpability, history of violations, ability to pay and any effect on the violator's ability to continue to do business;

(iii)  Any other matters that justice requires.

(f)  At the request of the director, the attorney general may initiate a civil action to collect any civil penalty imposed pursuant to this section. The attorney general may bring a civil action in any court of competent jurisdiction. A civil action under this section shall be commenced within three (3) years of the date of the violation or within three (3) years of the latest violation if a repeated offense is alleged.

(g)  Any civil penalty received under this section shall be deposited in the state highway fund.

Section 2.  This act is effective July 1, 2023.

Lex Anteinternet: Subsidiarity Economics. The times more or less locally, Part XI. The Waiting for a Train Edition

Lex Anteinternet: Subsidiarity Economics. The times more or less loc...:  

December 2, 2022

The bill without the sick leave was signed into law.

Lex Anteinternet: Subsidiarity Economics. The times more or less loc...

Lex Anteinternet: Subsidiarity Economics. The times more or less loc...:December 1, cont:

Statement from President Joe Biden on Congressional Action to Avert a Rail Shutdown

On Tuesday, I met with Congressional leaders from both parties and told them that Congress needed to move quickly to avert a rail shutdown and economic catastrophe for our nation. Now, I want to thank Congressional leadership who supported the bill and the overwhelming majority of Senators and Representatives in both parties who voted to avert a rail shutdown. Congress’ decisive action ensures that we will avoid the impending, devastating economic consequences for workers, families, and communities across the country. Communities will maintain access to clean drinking water. Farmers and ranchers will continue to be able to bring food to market and feed their livestock. And hundreds of thousands of Americans in a number of industries will keep their jobs. I will sign the bill into law as soon as Congress sends it to my desk.

Working together, we have spared this country a Christmas catastrophe in our grocery stores, in our workplaces, and in our communities.

I know that many in Congress shared my reluctance to override the union ratification procedures. But in this case, the consequences of a shutdown were just too great for working families all across the country. And, the agreement will raise workers’ wages by 24%, increase health care benefits, and preserve two person crews.

I have long been a supporter of paid sick leave for workers in all industries – not just the rail industry – and my fight for that critical benefit continues.

This week’s bipartisan action pulls our economy back from the brink of a devastating shutdown that would have hurt millions of families and union workers in countless industries. Our economy is growing and inflation is moderating, and this rail agreement will continue our progress to build an economy from the bottom up and middle out.

Derailed Union Pacific Grain (corn) train, Bosler Wyoming. August 22, 2020.

 

Blog Mirror: Don't let it end like this

Don't let it end like this

Lex Anteinternet: Burlington Northern to layoff 130 and to close two...

Lex Anteinternet: Burlington Northern to layoff 130 and to close two...:

Burlington Northern to layoff 130 and to close two maintenance facilities in Wyoming.

The facilities are in Rozet and Guernsey.  

The slow down in the economy is being cited for the reason, brought about by the COVID 19 pandemic. Combined with that, the BNSF heavily relies upon coal hauling, which has been in decline with the decline in coal.

Suffice it to say, bad news for the employees and for the state as well.

Lex Anteinternet: The Wyoming Legislature 2020, Part Two: Wyoming legislature passes bill requiring trains to have two crewmen.

Lex Anteinternet: The Wyoming Legislature 2020, Part Two: February 28, 2020

In other legislative news, a bill that would require train crews to be no less than two passed.