Are you paranoid about the railroad?

I dont think they time thier trains, but I do believe they blow the horns more than needed, and I believe it is on purpose to bother the people of Columbus.

I will admit that there is probably no intent to obstruct traffic by the UP.
BUT, they do not care how their business obtructs others! I have three points.
One: Drive 3rd ave and look to the east. Drive 26th ave and look to the west. You will see what is becoming a major hub for the railroad.
Two: We are having major obstruction with the new viaduct. And, the railroad decides to do major constuction at the same time throughout town! Am I ignorant, or did more than a handful of people on the City Counsel knew this was going to happen!
Three: Right now there are millions of dollars that are most likely going out of the city, county, and probably the state. Not to mention, a conglomerate that is filling its pockets. At the expense of the hard working people supporting Columbus, just trying to get to work on time!!

I dont think I am paranoid that U.P. is plotting against Columbus. I pretty much know so. I work on 11th street, and I see the trains go past all day. It does seem to me that all of the slow trains go throught a little before 8, a little after 12, a little before 3, and a little after 5. Honestly I usually do not see slow trains any time but those peak hours.

Give me a break! If you think that the UP is intentionally making life hard on you poor people, you must be smoking something pretty bad. A company as large as the UP does not play with things like "let's make the people of Columbus mad today. Slow down the trains going through Columbus". What a question to even put in this rag-tag paper on-line.

I am a mother trying to get her kids and the nieghbors kids that ride with me to school. I leave at 7:20 and just about everyday i get stuck at the train tracks and the kids end up getting to school late so they have to run into the school and only have like 5 or 10 min to eat or i have to stop and buy all of them donuts and that starts to cost a lot of money. The U.P needs to stop having trains or trucks or all that other crap going across the tracks between the hours of 7 am and 8am so kids can get to school and people can get to work without being late. I am so mad at this crap i agree with Terry why would the u.p start doing major construction when the viaduct is out. How stupid did the city counsel not think about this and make some kind of arrangements with the U.P.

Duh! If you are at the tracks every day at just about 7:20 am and the train comes through and blocks you....Hello!! Go at 7:10am and beat the train. Don't be a slacker and wait for the last minute. My Gosh!!!

DUH i leave at all different times trying to get the kids to school and still get stuck at the freakin train tracks because of the trains duh i just used 7:20 as an example duh!!! i cant make the other kids i give a ride to get up at 6:30am just to go sit in front of the freaking train tracks or to sit at the school till 7:30 stupid!!!!

Being from the trackside, a few things have been noticed. 1)The train horns are to the point of noise pollution. E.g., sitting on a front porch 3 blocks away from RR tracks, conversations must cease; because of excessive din of train horns. 2)The lights added to the engines are criminal. Have you tried driving between trains and oncoming traffic at night? Why does a train need such bright lights; only allowed to dim for on coming trains. If an engineer is not sleeping and sees something on the tracks, at night; are they going to swerve to avoid? 3)Trains are getting longer and more frequent. It is not unusual to see trains with 5 engines in front, 3 engines in the middle and 3 at the end. The results of the tremendous power source is longer trains, up to 1 1/2 miles long or more. The RR estimates the train traffic at Columbus to be 1 train every 7 minutes. So, traffic is sitting at RR crossings more frequently then ever for longer period's of time; especially when the trains are traveling slowly. And, if you think it is going to get any better, don't. The bottom line is product delivery and profit for the RR. Damn the public motor vehicle traffic, damn the public hearing with respectable sound levels and damn public safety for criminal bright lights. I believe this is only to escalate and the RR should be responsible for building over/underpasses at their expense for communities they all but cut in half including rural areas. Also, prosecution for excessive noise levels in town at night like "Jake Brakes" are and accidents from bright lights that an auto could be ticketed for "Failure to Dim" for oncoming traffic.

Maybe you should do some research on when and why trains blow the whistle so much.

Its required for 1 to do it before/at ever crossing.

For crying out loud grow up. Like I said do a lol research instead of maken a fool out of your self.

Well, the trains win!!! You lose, Duh!!

I live fairly close to the tracks near the 18th ave. crossing. I guess I'm so used to the trains I hardly notice the horn blowing, though my dog doesn't miss em. He howls when the horns go off at a certain speed and pitch. I would imagine it hurts his ears. I don't personally think UP intentionally tries to be annoying and disruptive, and I also agree about leaving earlier if you know a train is a possibility. The potential for a train is no excuse to be irresponsible if you have a deadline to get to your destination. I have to deal with the extra traffic now when I take my kids to school in the morning as well. I feel bad though, for the south siders who have to put up with it. If you look at the bigger overall picture though. It won't last forever. Personally, I can't wait for the 3rd ave. viaduct, and the 18th ave. pedestrian pass. The trains will no longer be obligated to blow the horns after all the crossings are closed. That's about the only real plus I see in regards to the crossings being closed though.. We still have that 23rd ave one to vote on right? I say they should build another pedestrian pass NEXT to the 23rd ave road and keep that crossing open for just cars. Doubt they would go for something like that though.

I agree with simpleton. I used to live a half block from the tracks, and the horns were blown through the entire downtown. I had twin infants and it never failed to wake them up.
I don't know that they are plotting against the people of Columbus, but I do know that they don't care at all if they inconvenience us, and they dont care about emergency situations that require medical or law enforcement. I sat behind an ambulance that had its lights on and there was a train coming from both directions.
And I would like to point out, it is not only the trains, I have had UP employees walk right out in front of my vehicle on 26th Ave. It was so close that I had to slam on my brakes. The employee just kept walking, shaking his head, like I was the one in the wrong. They arent too bright, thats for sure.

Union Pacific Corporation, through its subsidiary, Union Pacific Railroad Company, provides rail transportation services in North America. It has approximately 32,012 route miles linking Pacific Coast and Gulf Coast ports with the Midwest and eastern United States gateways. The company offers transportation services for agricultural products, such as whole grains and related commodities, food, and beverage products; automotive products; chemicals, including liquid and dry chemicals, plastics, and liquid petroleum products; energy products; industrial products; and intermodal containers. The company's main objective is to run their trains slower through Columbus, NE during peak traffic hours thus blocking crossings. Of their 32,000 miles of track, this little stretch out in the middle of nowhere, is the biggest concern of this 29 Billion Dollar Company. This somehow translates into higher earnings for the company because time is money and blocking traffic in Columbus..., well we're sure somehow they make money by going slower. Union Pacific Corporation was founded in 1862 and is based in Omaha, Nebraska.

No one here is mentioning the city officials who knew that the viaduct was going to have be reconstructed and yet continued to be stubborn with the 3rd ave. viaduct. This whole situation has been YEARS in the making.

If you seriously think that the railroad is out to get Columbus then you have your engine up your caboose.

Are you kidding me? Do we want our products to be shipped in and out of Columbus. Attention it is not the 1800s we dont have a PONY EXPRESS anymore. The railroads and trains are one of the most important means of transportation in the world today. By the way SIMPLETON would you rather have them blow their horns or have your car smashed! think about it.

I was a little worried when they started talking about mandates but I think that had something to do with the city council.

I dont know about here in Columbus, in Schuyler there have been Kids killed on our tracks, just one 2 summers or so ago. I dont know what is the big deal, I live 2 blocks away, I have gotton so used to it. Even at 3 am, I sleep with my windows open in the summer, I dont even hear them unless I am awake at that time.

I have to go shopping tomorrow for a big block of cheese to bring up with me when I come up there in a few weeks so all of you will have some to go with your whine.

Do you ever read back what you have written and really think about it before you send it?

UP must really have to work on their schedules to make life rough for ALL OF THE TOWNS AND CITIES THAT THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH. I Columbus is high on the list and that they sit outside of Columbus if they are running a few minutes ahead of time so they can really make it rough on all of you!

Thanks for chuckles, it is helping me digest my supper.

UP is a corporation with the bottom line as their main purpose. I do not believe that they time things to try to make anyone or to be purposly disruptive. I do believe strongly that they have no regard whatsoever for the citizens of Columbus. Their is no need for them to care about traffic patterns at all. They already control the center of town and they know we have a Mayor who gives them anything they ask for while they give nothing in return.

Did any of you conspiracy theorists ever think that maybe the reason the trains go through town is because of all the construction? Viaduct, tracks, and crossings?

I do not believe that UP does, can, or even should consider the Columbus traffic patterns when running their train routess. As has been stated before it is a business, their bottom line is most important to them. If they could run them through faster they would, it would make them more money. The faster they get to their destination the quicker they can reload, the more money they make. Bothering people on their way to work is not going to help them in any way.

However... sometimes the engineers are excessive with the horns. I understand that for safety reasons it is required that they sound their horns for every intersection. I am near the tracks at least six times a week (so not so much that I am used to the whistles and don't notice them, but not so little that they are out of the ordinary). Some engineers are fine, but there are times that I have heard them blow the whistle non-stop (I am not exaggerating) from one end of town to the other without letting up.

The only people who are suggesting that UP goes slower through Columbus as a way of getting back at Columbus are a few nuts and the Columbus Telegram. This is just a way of getting off the real subject which is that the UP owns this town and does whatever suits them financially. The new viaduct was designed to give them more room for switching yet our tax dollars are paying for almost all of it. They get most of the benefit yet we cover most of the bill. Let's see you cover a real issue like that Telegram instead of picking on a few nutcases.

Face it people. Columbus is no more than a blink or a yawn for the trains passing through. We're too insignificant to worry about.

Last night I saw a train peeking through my kitchen window. By the time I turned the outside light on, it's caboose was headed up the alley.
This just has to stop!

If I never saw another train, I would be the happiest person ever!!! I am so sick of being late for work, and they seem like they could care less! When did Columbus Nebraska turn into Union Pacific city? It's ridiculas!

On Oct. 26 at 4:50pm I was returning to my home south of Columbus and the train actually stopped on the trackts at 26th st.for 10 minutes by my watch. Cars were backed up for blocks. I have also encountered trains stopped on the tracks at other times I have needed to come into town for medical or dental appointments. These types of occurances cause one to be late even when extra time is given for travel. My solution has been have my medical needs met elsewhere other than in columbus and I will be doing the same for dental needs. I do not things will change so therefore my spending practices need to change. I think if at all possible people should avoid spending their money in Columbus. Maybe the lack of economics will open someones eyes. Let the railroad have the town and run in into the ground. Unfortunately that is already happening. BOYCOTT COLUMBUS

To frustrated 2: Do you really think that the UP is going to stop all train traffic between 7 am and 8 am? Come on!! Also- why dont your kids eat at home instead of donuts? Yes the train is an inconvienence for us all. But most of us just deal with it.

I live just four blocks south of the train tracks, and I would much rather hear the whistles blowing for four minutes straight on the hour, than hear one story about someone getting killed by the train.

I would also rather wait 5 extra minutes every day because they are slowing down for the road construction workers, than hear the story of the worker who didn't have time to get out of the way.

You can't expect to receive all the benefits of a train in your town (IE-our entire manufacturing sect), and not expect to have any inconveniences. There are positive and negative consequences for every action.

Did it ever dawn on you complainers that UP owns that property. I don't like waiting for the trains either, but guess what???? It is their property. Soon this will be a mute point, because the viaduct will be open. Everybody will have to find something else to complain about then.

No, Not paranoid about the railroad, not at all.

IF Columbus had PROGRESSED and placed a a number of strategically located viaducts this would not be an issue. But no we did not so we must deal with the railroad, that my fellow citizens is the way it is.

Uh...I used to live in Columbus on 14th street. My back yard was the railroad tracks...im pretty sure that I never noticed the horn...If you have lived by tracks for any length of time im pretty sure that you would to...maybe that is just a guess. Anyways...if you really think that the online newspaper complaining is really going to do anything about the UP I think you need a hobby...get over it they are not going to pack up there tracks and leave....

To ima pepper did you not read all of what i wrote i have 2 other children that i take to school and their parents pay for them to eat at school so i need to get them there so they can eat. I would feed my kids breakfast at home if i didn't give other peoples children a ride. I'm a nice person and help others out by giving them a ride or watch the kids when they need to run somewhere and they help me in return. More people in the world should be like me but their not. I really can't stand stupid people who say stupid things like why dont you leave earlyer or why dont you feed them at home read the whole comment first and you would understad!! I do leave at all different times tring to get over the tracks befor the trains. I can't make other people get up soooo early just to sit at the train tracks or school waiting for it to open kids need their sleep so they don't fall asleep in class.

For those who piss and moan about the trains slowing down through town did you ever think for a second that it was because the tracks are being worked on? Also, those who whine about the construction on the tracks being done while our precious viaduct is tore apart, I was told by a former council member that the rest of the dumba$$ city council members knew about the construction and failed to relay the news to the rest of the city. And as for who is paying for the viaduct, the UP was more than willing to fund multiple viaduct projects to make their travel through town easier but again the douche bags on the council dropped the ball and now we as tax payers have to foot the bill. Lastly, we need a new mayor and new city council that can make decisions that will better columbus as a whole not just the rich and famous of the town!!

well i beleive there was a time a few years back where we had to chance to put in other viaducts so we wouldnt have these problems at this point in time...way to go no voters!

I believe that UP has bugged my house. I've found cameras placed around my home to see when I'm getting ready to leave. T he other day I found a GPS unit on my car--I'm sure that Union Pacific is tracking every move I make in order to get the trains positioned to block me from ever crossing the track. But no, I'm not paranoid about it!

If more people were like you everyone would be late for school and at the dentist for eating too many donuts!

Is the train half way gone....
or
...is half of it still coming?

Either way, I am halfway frustrated
sitting at the crossing missing half of where I was going.
At least my cooler is full of ice cold Coors.
...wait a minute, I think that I may be on to something here.

I am saddened to hear all of the complaints about the RR. We all know they are taking advantage of us because We the People of Columbus and City Council, of which We the People of Columbus voted in were too ignorant to pre-empt this problem by allowing other viaduts to be built proior to the replacement of the current one. Bottom line...U.P. IS TAKING ADVANTAGE OF US, WE DIDN'T VOTE IN NEW VIADUCTS, to save our "precious downtown" of which no one shops, not only because we can't get there, but because there is NOTHING THERE! We need to take a hard look in the mirror come voting time, get past the past, names, traditions, voting, and find a Mayor and Council that truely believe we could some day become the City of Power and Progess, for which is currently the BIGGEST JOKE IN THE STATE! Much like our little red waggon we tote around from place to place, Columbus, get with the 21st Century, before the 22nd Century!

Hey jj, did the holes through the lanes in the old viaduct not require a new one be built??

Nunza business, you said it well.

I cannot wait to see how many new names will be on the ballots next time around to replace the bozos currently on the city council and the mayor. There are sure alot of candidates bloggin on this site and some of you have good ideas and it sounds like, common sense. Two things missing from the current administration, that is for sure.

frustrated 2; how about buying them some decent type of food they can take with them from your house in the morning, cereal bars, etc. did you ever think your kids have your number and get up late so you will buy them doughnuts? Who is running the show at your house, you or your kids?

High time for you to put them on alert that those days are past and if they do not want to be hungry until lunchtime, they will get their little selves out of bed when you call them or when their alarm rings. Do it once, maybe twice, and they will learn but only if you do not cave in and are consistent.

Now if enough people did this (pro active instead of reactive), it just might rub off on the city council!!!.

frustrated 2

I'll take a couple of donuts while you're in there. Just pass them over while you're sitting at the tracks.

To Frustrated 2 No where in your posts does it state that the parents are paying for the kids' breakfast at school. If that were the case, I myself, would be a little upset that my kids were eating donuts instead of the school breakfast. That being said you also stated that you wish more people were like you! Like what? A person that calls people stupid? I believe your exact words are: "I really can't stand stupid people who say stupid things" or my favorite: "DUH i leave at all different times trying to get the kids to school and still get stuck at the freakin train tracks because of the trains duh i just used 7:20 as an example duh!!!" Maybe YOU should re-read your own post and take a look at what you are writing. You accuse me of not reading your posts well, DUH! I did read your post- and maybe before you start calling people here stupid- take a look in the mirror! That might give you somthing to do while waiting for the 720 train to donut town!

Geesh people. This whole thing is getting asinine already. Take for example the idiot who keeps saying the viaduct construction is just to get a higher viaduct for UP and nothing was wrong with the old one. OK then, tell me why the concrete was falling off. If you don't believe me ask any Jackson employee. They used to park under there in the shade until concrete started falling off the 70 some year old viaduct. The new viaduct is higher so big deal.

Then we have the person that thinks the arches are for decoration. Come on, anyone with any common sense can see that is a long span, something has to hold it up. It took many posts and a comment from the city engineer to shut that person up.

Then we have people who think that UP is out to get Columbus for not building the other viaducts. Slow trains and loud horns. Well if you haven't noticed there has been a lot of construction along the tracks. Maybe just maybe the trains are going slower for protection of the workers and maybe even blowing the horns for there safety too.

I like how so many people are blaming the city counsil (it's council - seems many of the posters can't spell that word)for this mess. This whole fiasco falls squarely on those of you that voted NO on the first two viaduct elections. IT'S YOUR FAULT!!! No, don't say the reason it was voted down because the deal the city was getting wasn't that good. Tell me what good are open crossings when there is a train coming through every 7 minutes. So according to the wise ole public we have a town with only one viaduct and crossings that will soon be unusable because of the increased train traffic. The county board and city council should have created a super committee and done the right thing 20 years ago and built the viaducts without a vote. Some idiot would have cried NIMBY and sued and sc**wed the whole thing up anyway.

Now on another blog we have posters blaming the previous administration for the H1N1 vaccine shortage. Don't even get me started on that one.

And to think we have posters on here who can vote!!!

all i was saying is on different days i never said everyday i have been stuck at the train tracks waiting for the trains. My kids DO also eat school breakfast but when i am stuck at the tracks for 15, 20 min i have no choice but stop at a mini mart and get them something to eat it is not their fault that the trains stopped us and because of that they miss out on breakfast. OMG!! My kids do get up the first time i call them and tell them to get up, and they would rather eat at school with their friends instead of donuts. you all are taking the whole DONUT thing out of control and being stupid about it. Like you NEVER stopped and got your kids one a day here and a day there when running late. I never said it was an everyday deal! just the last week it was like 3 days and it upset me get over it. the trains was stopping on the tracks backing up and going so slow. I have bought cereal bars so if it happens again they do have something better to eat. last week was the worst and that was what i was talking about and i think everyone knows what im talking about. I didn't know i had to give every detail of the kids i give a ride to and their parents paying for their kids to eat at school and that my kids do get up when i call them the first time and i also pay to have my kids eat at school i don't take the kids i give a ride to to school to eat breakfast and feed my kids donuts OMG I didn't think you all was going to gang up on me for saying that you all must be the most PERFECT people and parents EVER!!! yes i am a good person!!:)All you perfect people and worlds greatest parents should give eachother a pat on the back for being so wonderful!!

City Resident i agree with you, and WOW remind me to NEVER get my kid a donut!! wow!! I can't beleave what im reading so the person was runnin late and got the kids a donut is that really so wrong? After reading all the people freaking out i don't think i will ever get my kid a donut or i guess i'll have people jumping all over me and sending me to parenting classes!!

frustrated 2

You have to realize that Columbus may not be densely populated but it still has a dense population.

You're wasting your time explaining yourself, they're just picking on you because they have low self esteem.

Read the headline again people, it says railroad not donuts. Try to stay focused.

I can understand some of your frustration because although I don't have to deal with the train issue, I can understand it get's old. However, I really think the reason for the reaction about the donuts is NOT that the kids eat the donuts. It just sounded like a very minor problem that can be easily fixed. Just a suggestion: If you and the other mother are good friends, explain to her the issue of being late for breakfast at school and your concern about the kids' hunger. Then, suggest that you both feed the kids at home before school. Then leave the same time you always do and you should make it to school on time. Seems if you take the kids to school that is the least she can do and would probably be glad to cooperate. I know the issue of the train tracks is frustrating but hang in there one more month and between you and the other mother deal with your personal problem the best you can.

Thank you!!!!:) to whats the question again!!!:) people didn't understand that my comment was not about the donuts..

thank you to whats the question again and the person who wrote the next comment for understanding it wasn't about the donuts I am just frustrated last week was so bad however this week so far has been great i have not had to wait for a train at all on the way to taking kids to school. thank you both!!:)

to Frustrated:

Most of the focus for all of this
'frustration' should be leveled at
all of the 'Do Nots' in this community
that have perpetuated the problem for years. It is true though, that donuts
and 'Do Nots' all have an empty space
in the middle somewhere. Still, I do
think that donuts will put more smiles on the faces of our children then the
'Do Nots' ever will.

...Sad.

My frustration was that frustrated 2 was calling every one stupid!!! Everyone is fed up with the trains and all- but lets stop with the name calling. It is not my fault or your fault or anyone one here's fault. I understand that you were just venting...but lets have some manners.
I do agree that you should get together with the other mother and together form a solution to the temporary problem. One question- are you still going to use the tracks once the viaduct is open-Seems to me that might be out of your way.

The UP could care less about Columbus. It does suck, I live on the South Side as well. But its the City's fault all this is happening at the same time as the viaduct. That is the real crime here. Speaking of crime... if you'd like to complain about something other than the RR look at this...

http://www.columbustelegram.com/articles/2009/10/29/public_records/doc4ae8483929864945743969.txt

Every 5 minutes a window is broken???

The only one to blame would be the voters in columbus! The city had 10 flippin years to figure out a plan with this viaduct. So lets wait till the last minute and the viaduct falls apart! U.P.could give a care less about tryin to "time" their trains to make your lifes miserable.

What's there to be paranoid about?? Duh!! It's a train! I don't live in Columbus anymore, but have had to travel through there now and then, and it's really not that bad!! They aren't going slower than usual, or blowing their horns excessively! To all of you big babies out there, all I have to say is "Would you like some cheese with that whine"? GAWD!! How long has construction been going on on the viaduct?? You've all been aware of this...so leave earlier, and hope for the best but prepare for the worst!!!! DUH!!!

No they don't time their trains to traffic. The city should put more than one viaduct up to avoid this.

To ima pepper no i will not be using the tracks once the viaduct is open i live in wagners lake using the tracks is out of my way and thats another thing that added to my frustration. I'm sorry i didn't mean to call anyone stupid that was wrong of me!!

I feel for the truckers,it's bad enough for me at times. If the trucker gets off somehow the detour route and trying to get out of this stupid town, he will no doubt get ticketed. If I were driving a truck, I wouldn't come near Columbus.

I not paranoid about UP. I'm paranoid about driving Columbus. UP and the construction are a constant frustrations, but can be dealt with.
Unfortunately, this frustration has lead to a significant increase in very
bad driving. California stops at stop signs, running red lights, excessive speeds and a decrease in considerate driving. We are all in this together.
Let's see more 2 finger salutes than
one finger salutes. And while we are at it...GET OUT OF MY WAY!! I'M LATE!!!

I remember getting a warning ticket for going around the crossing arms near Camaco many years ago. No other choice, since they were down every day at shift change, and no place to turn around.

There was a huge outrage, because dozens of tickets were issued due to video footage shot by the Nebraska Department of Roads at the behest of the UP. The Human Resources Dept. of Appleton went to bat for their people and contacted a UP employee privately, and found out the switch activation was set up improperly, causing false alarms. It was fixed, but never reported, and no apologies given or any action pursued against the U.P.

Moral of the story: The Union Pacific and our city government will always do the right thin, when left with no other choice.

The real Problem is that the U.P is a 4 Lane Railroad running on a 2 Lane track. The longer this is allowed to exist the more difficult it will to fix the problem. The UP should build a superhighway around the south side of Platte County, maybe even in Butler County, and main line all these transcontinent trains that are carrying ocean cargo from the West Coast or the East Coast and the long coal trains. Who said they could haul half the coal in Wymoning through Columbus Nebraska. That was never agreed to during the early days of running trains through towns. I know this is Interstate Commerce and States and Municipalities have no Jurisdiction over Interstate Commerce. But, we can protest to our Senators and Representatives till they change the Statutes with legislation to eliminate this nusiance. Columbus should look at Marshaltown Iowa. In some places they have a 6 lane double track right of way running for miles around and on each side of town. Columbus should insist that more rail trafic be diverted around town on an alternate route.