1st Quarter, 2001 NEW RAILROAD PRESIDENT NAMED C · 2017. 8. 11. · Alaska Railroad Corporation P.O. Box 107500 Anchorage, Alaska 99510-7500 PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID ANCHORAGE,

iting hisaccomplishmentsin leadership,planning, andsafety, the AlaskaRailroadCorporation’sboard of directorsnamed Air Force

General Patrick Gamble as itsnew president and chiefexecutive officer. A formerleader of the Air Force’s Alaskan Command,General Gamble, currently serves asCommander of all Air Forces in the Pacific.

“General Gamble is committed to theRailroad’s vision to continually improve itssafety, customer service and profitability. Heis exactly what we were looking for in aCEO,” said Johne Binkley, chairman of therailroad’s board of directors.

“General Gamble has a track record as anational and international leader who hasmanaged large budgets and work forces,and specialized in the development of safetyprograms and strategic plans,” Binkley said.“With 20 years experience participating inaward winning safety programs, General

Gamble will set highstandards for the Railroadand help us achieve oursafety objectives.”

A four-star general, thehighest rank in the U.S. AirForce, Gamble, age 55,currently serves as the topAir Force executive in thepacific region, and isresponsible for operations,

planning and budgeting of 14 militaryinstallations with 41,000 employees and 400aircraft.

General Gamble has 20 years of experienceparticipating in formal safety programs andunits under his command have receivednumerous safety commendations from theAir Force. Gamble has also been activelyinvolved in strategic planning,communications, team building andengineering.

“The Alaska Railroad is a vital link in ourstatewide transportation system and Gen.Gamble’s leadership and experience willhelp us achieve the goal of making it thesafest railroad in the world,” said Gov. Tony

Alaska Railroad Ongoing Projects:

Anchorage Airport Rail Station

Denali Depot

Seward Dock Improvements

Whittier PedestrianImprovements

Anchorage/Wasilla Line Changes

Fairbanks Intermodal Facility

Anchorage/FairbanksRailyard Study

On-Board CommunicationsSystem Upgrade

Ship Creek Improvements

Anchorage Rail Depot

Whittier DockImprovement Study

For updates or comments onthese projects, visit theAlaska Railroad website atwww.alaskarailroad.com

Alaska Railroad Corporation1st Quarter, 2001

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NEW RAILROAD PRESIDENT NAMEDGeneral Patrick Gamble to take over in April

(continued inside)

CPatrick Gamble

long time employee ofthe BurlingtonNorthern Sante FeRailway (BNSF) willtake over as chiefoperating officer of theAlaska Railroad in April.He will replace LorenMueller who isstepping down at that

time. Prior to moving to Alaska,Matthew Glynn most recentlyserved as General Director of LineMaintenance in the Fort WorthService Region. In that capacity,Glynn was in charge of operationsand maintenance on 2,600 miles ofmainline track. He was alsoresponsible for safety, budget, trainperformance and personneldevelopment for the track,structures and signal departments.

“Matt Glynn brings more than 20years experience in railmaintenance and operations, and

has managed a region that sees amixed use of freight, commoditiesand passenger service trains,” saidJohne Binkley, chairman of therailroad’s board of directors. “Wesaw that as critical expertise for hisposition here.”

According to Glynn, his progressivepositions with BNSF had himstationed in eight states, working inall types of terrain and weatherconditions. “I have experienced alltypes of weather, from minus 30degrees in North Dakota to 120degrees in the Mojave Desert inCalifornia,” said Glynn, “but I’msure I’ll break one of those extremesin Alaska.”

Glynn graduated from MichiganTechnological University with abachelor of science in civilengineering and has continued hiseducation through a number ofsafety and quality assurance courses

and seminars. He has also workedextensively with both federal andstate regulatory agencies.

“I’m very excited to be here andworking for the Alaska Railroad,”said Glynn. “My wife and three boysare looking forward to seeing moreof the state and getting the chanceto sample the great recreationalopportunities Alaska offers.”

AGLYNN TO BE CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

Brings 20 years of rail experience

Matt Glynn

Knowles. “I’ve known andrespected Patrick Gamble since hisdays with the Alaskan Commandand welcome him back to Alaska aspart of our administration’s team.”

Currently based in Hawaii, Gambleand his wife Ailese maintained theirAlaska residency and a home inAnchorage. “My wife and I loveAlaska and it has always been our

desire to return to the state,”Gamble said. “We are so excited tofinally have the opportunity tomake the move permanent.Meeting the Alaska Railroademployees only strengthened mybelief that we have made the rightdecision.”

NEW PRESIDENT NAMED(continued from front page)

SCHEDULED OPEN HOUSESPROGRAM OF PROJECTS

Fairbanks March 8Fairbanks Depot 4-7 p.m.

Seward March 15Alaska SeaLife Center 5-8 p.m.

he Alaska Railroad finishedthe year 2000 with its lowestpersonal injury rate in morethan a decade, and a trainaccident rate substantiallybelow the national average.Company officials say thatemployee awareness andimproved quality control

procedures helped produce the record-setting performance.

“We’re still aiming for a rate of zeroinjuries and zero accidents, and you getthere through constant improvement,”said Jerry Anderson, acting president.“We’re very proud of the progress ouremployees are making. It’s a teameffort.”

The national benchmark for injurymeasurement is the number of injuriesfor every 200,000 employee hoursworked. The Railroad achieved a rate

of 5.9 per 200,000 hours last year,marking a nearly 45 percent reductionin the rate since the introduction ofnew safety management systems at thestart of 1998.

In addition, the number of “lost workdays” – days employees could notreport due to an on-the-job injury –decreased by nearly 60 percent from1999 to 2000. Anderson said thatindicates that both the number ofinjuries, and their severity, are droppingsimultaneously.

Finally, the Railroad finished the yearwith one of the lowest train accidentrates in its recent history, coming in atunder 1.0 train accidents per milliontrain miles. The Railroad’s average forthe previous five years was between4.0 and 5.0. While the national averagefor all carriers is 3.8.

“An improved focus on safety keeps ouremployees from getting hurt, and itkeeps our neighbors along the line safeas well,” said Anderson. “We’relooking to do even better in 2001. Webelieve rail transportation is aneconomical, safe, and environmentallyefficient way to carry all kinds offreight. And as a major passengercarrier, we expect ourselves to benothing short of the safest railroad inthe business.”

SAFETY HIGHLIGHTS FROM 2000

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RAILROAD SUPPORTS SPECIAL OLYMPICSWorld Winter Games gets boost

hen it was announcedthat Alaska would hostthe 2001 SpecialOlympics WorldWinter Games, theAlaska RailroadCorporation (ARRC)immediatelyvolunteered to help

make the event a success. The ARRCcontributed charter trains and donateda number of excursions for fund-raisingauction items in order to boost theGames’ fundraising efforts.

The Railroad is also helping to organizethe movement of people to variousevents. As an example, the historicRailroad depot on First Avenue will beused as the staging area for athletes andvolunteers during the Special OlympicGames. This location was chosen by

the Special Olympics Committeebecause it is centrally located toAnchorage’s downtown core and thereis sufficient space for staging busses thatwill pick up and deliver athletes, theirfamilies and coaches.

In addition to corporate support, manyRailroad employees are volunteeringtheir personal time to help makeSpecial Olympics a success. They arehonored to be a part of the largestinternational sporting event in Alaska’shistory and look forward to watchingthe Games.

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Alaska Railroad CorporationP.O. Box 107500Anchorage, Alaska 99510-7500

PRSRT STDU.S. POSTAGE PAID

ANCHORAGE, AK

PERMIT NO. 500

FREIGHT SALES UP FOR NEW YEARreight activity for 2001 looks very promising, bothin terms of new equipment and increasedbusiness.

The Railroad’s newest barge demonstrated thevalue of its design by picking up nearly 30 hoursof sailing time over the old equipment on just itssecond voyage. That translates into more reliableservice for Railroad customers and in goodweather, presents an opportunity to add extra

voyages. With better speed and efficiency, the Railroad also hasadditional capacity without adding more equipment.

Its entry into service couldn’t come at a better time. Increasingvolumes of freight have forced the Railroad to run tandem towswith two barges and the addition of four charters to theschedule in order to keep up with demand.

The oil field business is starting to move forward at a quickenedpace compared to the past two years. The pipe yard inFairbanks is scheduled to produce more than twice therevenue of 1999 and almost ten times what the Railroadearned in 2000.

The gravel business is expected to grow relative to last year andpossibly approach the record volumes the Railroad establishedin 1999. Trailer-on-flat-car (TOFC) sales are also growing, and a5% increase in volume for the year is expected in that category.

Williams Energy continues to increase the quantity of productthey ship and their offshore market for Naphtha is lookingstrong. The Railroad is also working with Williams to design aloop track on their property which will greatly improve trainmovements and decrease traffic interuptions in the Ship Creekarea.

Heavy equipment and lumber moves should be strong thissummer in Anchorage due to increased construction. TheRailroad began moving cement from Anchorage to Fairbankslast summer for the first time in more than a decade and itlooks like that business will increase significantly this summer.All in all, it promises to be a busy year for the Railroad’s freightdepartment.

FThe Railroad’s new barge under way.

ommunity Ties upmy thoughts aboutas succinctly as Iam able to do it.Communitypartnering is myphilosophy whenit comes toworking railbelt

issues with Alaskamunicipalities, boroughs andtowns. How should that work? To begin,Alaska Railroad needs to be an integralsupporter of your planning process, notviewed as an obstacle to be overcome onyour road to progress. If we can partnerwith you in the planning process, then webecome stakeholders in the decisions youmake. In turn, that responsibility obligatesus, as partners, to bring all our resources tobear to help you turn your communityplans into action, into results, into progress.

I’ll wager each of our organizations arebusy creating “visions.” And chances aregood these visions tend to overlap alongthe railbelt. If we synchronize our visionsand get on the same wavelength, we canavoid a chief source of gridlock and delay.

At the railroad, I am working with my teamto emphasize “effects based thinking.” We

define the effects we want,emphasizing clarity. Next,we focus on the specific setof processes that willoptimize the selected effects.Then we act. Effects driveprocesses, not the other wayaround. In this model,“studies” are not usuallyconsidered a measure ofprogress.

I am preparing the Alaska Railroad for abright, busy future along the railbelt. Butwe cannot....and will not....try to go italone. The Railroad needs to partner withstate and municipal leaders in order tobring our resources to bear in a constructiveway. Along those lines, we are willing to gomore than halfway to resolve differences, ifit moves us all toward the common goal.Your development should be in our plan.Our plan should compliment your vision.The most effective way to do that, in myopinion, is to share early on and to includethe Railroad on your municipal technicaladvisory and planning groups.

I look forward to working with you for thebetterment of your communities and forthe State of Alaska as we shape theconditions for our success together.




Fairbanks/North Pole By-passReconnaissance Study

Seward Dock Improvements

Whittier Pedestrian Underpass

Anchorage-to-Wasilla Track Realignment

Southcentral Commuter Study

Denali Depot Improvements

Anchorage and FairbanksRailyard Study


Anchorage Rail Depot

South Anchorage Double Track

For updates or comments onthese projects, visit theAlaska Railroad web site atwww.alaskarailroad.com

Alaska Railroad Corporation2nd Quarter, 2001


RAILROAD SEEKS SHARED VISIONSCEO Patrick Gamble focuses on community partnerships

CPatrick Gamble

rom Seward to Fairbanks, theAlaska Railroad Corporation(ARRC) is undergoing anambitious capital projectsprogram to improve facilitiesand infrastructure. Withconstruction season in fullswing, this program is literallytaking shape and residents maynotice the increased activity

along the railbelt this summer.

Detailed descriptions of ARRC’s projects areavailable on the Railroad web site:http://www.alaskarailroad.com. Publiccomments are welcome via• e-mail — [email protected]• mail to Wendy Lindskoog

Alaska Railroad CorporationP.O. Box 107500Anchorage, Alaska 99501

• Fax to (907) 265-2365. FPROJECT CONSTRUCTION, PLANNING IN FULL SWING

Railroad continues capital improvements from Seward to Fairbanks

Anchorage-to-Wasilla track realignmentprojects are reducing track curvature andimproving safety features at road crossingsalong the mainline track. Constructionfrom the Anchorage railyard throughElmendorf Air Force Base is underway.Final design and construction on other seg-ments is expected to start this summer. Thisseries of projects is scheduled for comple-tion in Fall 2003.

In Seward, passenger and freight operations have been separated with a refur-bished passenger dock and construction of a new freight dock.

The new train station at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport should beready to receive passenger trains as soon as next summer. Pictured above are con-crete columns to support bridges over South Aircraft Drive and the airport’s out-bound loop lane, as well as elevated track leading into the station. Bridges will beinstalled in the fall.

IN THE INTERIORDenali Depot — Facilityexpansion includes a largerplatform, a new access roadand parking facilities, site landscaping, baggage handling shelters and two passenger queuing shelters.Construction contracts shouldbe bid late this year.

Fairbanks IntermodalFacility — An environmentalassessment of the project isunderway. The projectincludes an intermodal depotadjacent to the railroad operation, an additional passenger mainline track, anda balloon track for easier trainturn-around. The conceptdesign should be completethis summer with the con-struction contract bid laterthis year.

Fairbanks/North Pole By-pass ReconnaissanceStudy — A study completedlast December examined a$90 million construction proj-ect to re-locate mainline trackfrom the Fairbanks Airport toNorth Pole, thereby eliminat-ing 48 road/rail crossings. The Railroad is seeking publicinput through a series ofmeetings and is examiningadditional route alternatives.

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lot has changed since1918 when the AlaskaRailroad carried its firstpassengers by steamengine north from Sewardto Anchorage. Today,Alaskans still rely on rail fortransportation. And forthose seeking a truly

Alaskan experience, rail travel is asmuch about the adventure as it is thedestination.

Many Alaskans take advantage of theRailroad’s “flagstop” service betweenTalkeetna and Hurricane Gulch. Theonly flagstop service in the nation, this

operation provides a vital transportationlink for rural Alaskans traveling tofavorite fishing holes, remote cabinsand other adventure spots along a 55-mile stretch. The service runs Thursdaythrough Sunday during the summer.

For those who want to see it all, there’sa new summertime special showcasingInterior Alaska via a 4-day, 3-nightjourney from Anchorage to DenaliNational Park and Fairbanks. This rail-up, fly-back, all-inclusive package is just$599 per person (a 15% discount),based on double occupancy. The offeris valid through September 15, 2001.

With all of its spectacular destinations— Seward, Whittier, Anchorage,Wasilla, Talkeetna, Denali andFairbanks — the Alaska Railroad offersmany ways to enjoy and transit Alaska.Guests can build their own multi-dayitineraries that include overnightaccommodations and a wide variety ofoptional excursions, such asflightseeing, fishing, river rafting, etc.

Call the Alaska Railroad for moreinformation at (907) 265-2494 or (800)544-0552. Visit the web site atwww.alaskarailroad.com.

YOU’VE JUST GOTTA RIDE THIS TRAIN!Railroad delivers on destinations and expectations

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f fishing, hiking or otheroutdoor activitiesshould take you nearrailroad tracks thissummer, pleaseconsider these wordsof wisdom from a long-time railroader,

“Railroad equipment is bigand heavy, none of it stopsreal fast, and if you putyourself in front of it, theresults are obvious.”

National statistics confirm themagnitude of danger existing whenpeople mix with trains. Each yearnearly 500 people are killed andanother 450 are injured whiletrespassing on railroad tracks.

In Alaska, during the past year, apedestrian was killed when he was

struck by a train near Talkeetna,and a woman was seriouslyinjured when her snowmobilewas struck on the track near

Wasilla. There were also manyclose-calls between trespassers and

trains. More facts to consider:• People cannot always hear trains

approaching, and if you are on anATV it’s almost guaranteed you won’thear an approaching train, nor its100 decibel horn.

• A fully loaded freight train traveling49 miles per hours (a common trainspeed in open country) can takemore than a mile to stop.

• Danger exists even if you not on thetrack — freight trains can have loosemetal banding that could strikepeople near the track.

• If a locomotive engineer applies theemergency brakes in an attempt toavoid hitting you if you are on thetrack, it substantially increases therisk of a train derailment,endangering the crew, passengers,and anyone near the track.

• Trespassing on railroad property is aClass B misdemeanor punishable by90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine.The Alaska Railroad propertygenerally extends 100 feet on eachside of the track.

• Railroad special agents and local lawenforcement officers patrol andwatch the tracks for trespassers.

The men and women of the AlaskaRailroad wish you and yours a safesummer, full of good times and goodmemories.

PEOPLE AND TRAINS: AVOIDING AN ACCIDENTWishing Alaskan neighbors a safe summer

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ANCHORAGE, AK

PERMIT NO. 500he Alaska Railroad Corporation(ARRC) recently named BillO’Leary as Vice President Financeand Chief Financial Officer. Hewill head the Financial Division,which is responsible for therailroad’s accounting and cashmanagement, purchasing andmaterials management functions.

“With Bill’s financial expertise and priorrailroad experience, he’ll hit the groundrunning,” said Pat Gambell, ARRC Presidentand CEO. “Through his work with the state the past 13 years,Bill gained invaluable insight into the whole gamut of railroadactivity – from corporate operations, fiscal administration and

regulatory compliance, to real estate transactions,vendor contracting, capital project oversight andpublic interaction.”

While O’Leary was employed by the state’sDivision of Legislative Audit, he was thesupervising auditor on all ARRC reviewsconducted between 1990 and 1998. As controllerfor the Alaska International Airport System since1998, he addressed many fiscal challenges facedby another self-sustaining, state-ownedtransportation operation.

Raised in Fairbanks, O’Leary is a veteran certified publicaccountant. He graduated from Monroe High School andearned a bachelors degree in accounting from UAF.

Bill O’Leary

NEW CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER NAMEDRailroad welcomes experienced CPA

TDID YOU KNOW? ARRC IS NOT “LIGHT” OR “HEAVY”In discussing urban and suburban public transportation one often hears references to “light” and “heavy” rail.Light refers to systems like those utilizing street cars, as Portland does in the downtown area, while heavyrefers to subway or elevated train systems, like Boston, New York, and Washington, DC. The Alaska Railroad isconsidered “commuter” rail and, as such, is governed by the Federal Railroad Administration (US DOT).

marked jump in freightoperations over the last 12months is indicative of theAlaska Railroad’s position as avital artery for the state’seconomic development. TheRailroad posted a 19% gain infreight-based revenues fromAugust 2000 to August 2001.

ARRC’s Alaska Rail Marine joint venturewith Seattle-based partner Lynden is payingbig dividends. The barge-rail service grew37% since last August. Increased demandrelates directly to increased activity on theNorth Slope.

Trailer-on-flat-car (TOFC) service is up 12%,thanks in part to a new contract with a

major grocer. This contract has spurredinterest among other shippers, building thepotential for future growth in this sector.

Petroleum movement is up 8% from thesame time last year. The Railroad typicallyhauls over 100 tank cars per day fromWilliams Alaska Petroleum’s North Polerefinery, south to the Port of Anchorage.Safety and efficiency should improvefurther once construction of a loop trackaround William’s port facility is complete.

Booming construction in south centralAlaska pushed gravel operations to one ofthe historically highest levels. Escalatingdemand may require more hopper cars tobe added to the fleet.

Coal was the only commodity toexperience a downturn this past year.Finding more efficient ways to move coaloverseas will be key to expanding the

export business toKorea and othermarkets. In-statecoal movement alsoslowed in 2001,largely due to FortWainwright’sclosure from April toOctober torehabilitate itsfacilities. As theinstallation re-opens,

the Railroad expects modest growth in thissector.




Fairbanks/North Pole By-passReconnaissance Study

Whittier EquipmentMaintenance Facility




Anchorage Yard Expansion


Improved Sidings & Signals

Avalanche Control System


For updates or comments onthese projects, visit theAlaska Railroad web site atwww.alaskarailroad.com

Alaska Railroad Corporation3rd Quarter, 2001


FREIGHT OPERATIONS ON THE RISEARRC hauls more fuel, pipe, groceries, gravel than last year

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Tank cars leased by Williams Alaska Petroleum.

CAPITAL PROJECTS IMPROVE OPERATIONS, SAFETY Yard expansion, equipment and facility upgrades to benefit customers

Three passenger locomotives, sent outside for powerupgrades, returned to duty late this summer.

Part of the bluff bordering the Anchorage Rail Yard isbeing excavated to relieve crowded operations, by makingroom for additional track and improved landscaping.

The new siding at Pittman (north of Wasilla) was fin-ished this summer, adding a turnout lane for passing trains.

The bridge over the Anchorage International Airportoutbound lane will be installed prior to Spring Break 2002.

Construction got underway on the 5-mile double trackproject in South Anchorage. Of the four bridges along thestretch, only the bridge over Campbell Creek needs newconstruction (planned for winter 2001-02) to accommodatea double track.

he Railroad has released a draft of its SouthCentral Rail Network Commuter Study &Operations Plan. The study, prepared byWilber Smith Associates with HardingLawson Associates, Debbie BloomConsulting, Nancy Whelan Consulting andCraciun Research Group, offers acomprehensive look at developing thepotential of a commuter rail system. Issues

addressed by the study include funding, ridership,

operations, infrastructure, and management.Electronic copies of the draft study are on-line atwww.AlaskaRailroad.com. To obtain a hard copy pleasecall Stephenie Wheeler at 265-2671.

The deadline for public comment is Wednesday, Oct.31. Once public comments are considered andincorporated into the study, ARRC’s Board of Directorswill approve the final draft and forward it to the FederalTransit Administration.

ARRC RELEASES DRAFT COMMUTER RAIL STUDYAnalysis looks at market, infrastructure, costs and funding issues

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A GATX contractor repairs a worn tank car truck. Truck assemblies hold the railcar wheels. Nearly 70% of the 400+ fleet of tank cars leased by Williams wererepaired or replaced this summer.

hanks to a cooperativeeffort with the AlaskaRailroad, 274 of the 409tank cars leased byWilliams Petroleum Alaskaunderwent repairs thissummer, significantlyreducing the risk ofderailment.

Rail car “trucks” (i.e. the assemblieswhich hold the wheels) were thefocus of repairs. Wedges fit into thetruck assembly and act as shockabsorbers, dampening the effect ofbumps. This prevents the wheelfrom bouncing off the track.

During a derailment risk assessmentperformed this spring, inspectorsdiscovered more wear thanexpected on a number of thesewedges, alerting them to the needfor truck repair or replacement. Thiswas accomplished during July andAugust.

Owned by GATX, the cars eachhold from 24,000 to 26,000 gallonsof fuel. The Railroad moves over100 tank cars per day, hauling fuelfrom Williams’ North Pole refineryto the company’s port facility inAnchorage.

TANK CARS GET SAFETY OVERHAULDerailment risk reduced for rail cars carrying fuel

TARRC’S LEASEHANDBOOKARRC has published a newLease Handbook, giving com-munity leaders, planners andcommercial parties a guide tothe process and opportunitiesspecific to leasing AlaskaRailroad lands.

Much of the ARRC’s land sup-ports rail operations and pro-vides the mainline right-of-way from Seward toFairbanks. The remaining landis available for commercialand community use throughleases and permits.

The handbook provides infor-mation regarding the leaseprocess and the timelineassociated with a lease appli-cation. It also lists applicationrequirements for commercialleases and public leases.

The Ship Creek area inAnchorage and ChenaLanding area in Fairbanks areprime for business develop-ment. Leasable land inSeward could provide an idealfoundation for tourism entre-preneurs. In addition, thereare a number of areas afford-ing industrial opportunities asfacilities and business owner-ship changes hand.

The handbook is available atwww.alaskarailroad.com. Formore information, call theReal Estate Department at(907) 265-2670 .



ANCHORAGE, AK

PERMIT NO. 500he Alaska Railroad recentlycombined its Marketing &Logistics Department with itsPassenger Services Departmentto form the new Markets,Sales, and Services Division.Steve Silverstein, who led theMarketing & LogisticsDepartment, was named VicePresident of the new division.

“Consolidation of our freight andpassenger services will enhance coordination ofmarketing & transportation services, and our salesefforts,” said Pat Gamble, ARRC President & CEO.“Improved coordination will lead to efficiencies in thedivision and consistency in marketing efforts on both thelocal and national level.”

The organizational change centralizes consumer interfacewithin one location, and improves scheduling activities

for freight and passenger trains. The Markets,Sales, and Services Division will be locatedin the Railroad Depot offices at 411 WestFirst Avenue.

“Steve’s strong track record in thetransportation and logistics field is a valuableasset to the Railroad,” Gamble said. “He hasplayed an important role on our team, whichhas boosted ARRC revenues to record levels.Steve’s leadership of our new division willhelp the Railroad achieve its strategic goals.”

Silverstein has over 20 years experience in logistics andtransportation management, and is one of three certifiedmembers of the American Society of Logistics in Alaska.He serves on the Council of Logistics Management, andis a member of the Anchorage Chamber of Commercetransportation committee and the Statewide IntelligentTransportation Systems steering committee.

Steve Silverstein

FREIGHT, PASSENGER DEPARTMENTS CONSOLIDATEVeteran marketing, logistics executive heads new organization

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by Patrick Gamble, President & CEOeflecting back on 2001, theAlaska Railroad Corporation(ARRC) spent tremendous timeand resources to bolster its role as a vital artery for Alaska�seconomic development. Wevigorously pursued safe, respon-sive and financially soundoperations so the Railroad can be

the kind of partner the state, communitiesand businesses can depend on for growth.

To that end, ARRC made every effort toserve more customers and increaserevenues. We brought new services online.We enhanced environmental protectionmeasures, coordinated communityplanning, and took many capital projectsfrom the planning stage to construction.

Customers & revenue. Real estate provedto be a star performer. Gross revenuestopped $10 million for the first time � upfrom $9.28 million last year. Freightrevenue is also on a record-breaking courseto surpass $80 million. Gravel was up, oilfield freight exceeded expectations and arecord number of fuel cars were hauledfrom North Pole, breaking several daily,weekly and monthly thresholds. Passengernumbers were up slightly as well. Theserevenue streams are the backbone of ourwork force and our services.

New services. Part of our freight-endsuccess is due to a partnership establishedlast year with Lynden to provide bargeservice between the Lower 48 and ourdock in Whittier. On the passenger side,we established the Grandview train todeliver direct Seward-Anchorage service forcruise ship customers. A new web-basedpassenger reservation system goes on-lineby the end of 2001, promising Internetconvenience for customers and globalexposure for the Railroad.

Environmental measures. The Railroadsignificantly enhanced emergency and spillresponse through new equipment,employee training, and an overhaul of ourspill response plan. Crafted to meet newstate regulations, the plan has been filedwith the Department of EnvironmentalConservation and will be available forpublic review in January. ARRC also joinedAlaska Chadux Corporation, a primary spillresponse co-op, to augment internal spillresponse capabilities.

Community involvement and planning.Our people have worked hard to bettercoordinate our planning efforts with thecommunities we serve. ARRC will soon benamed an official member of the Anchor-age Metropolitan Area Transportation Study(AMATS) Technical Advisory Committee

(continued on page 3)




Fairbanks/North Pole RailRelocation Study

Whittier EquipmentMaintenance Facility




Anchorage Yard Expansion


Improved Sidings & Signals

Avalanche Program


For updates or comments onthese projects, visit theAlaska Railroad web site atwww.AlaskaRailroad.com

Alaska Railroad Corporation4th Quarter, 2001

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YEAR IN REVIEWARRC pursues vital role in state�s economic development

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he Railroad�s new flexible,automated passengerreservations system is upand running. By the end ofthe year, travelers will haveinstant access to trainschedule, package and tourinformation, and the abilityto pay online via

www.AlaskaRailroad.com.

�We will have a much easier timeresponding to marketing needs andfeedback from our customers withthis software.� said Steve Silverstein,

VP of Markets, Sales & Services. �Iam impressed with the opportunitieswe have for tracking information aswell as offering flexible pricing andpackaging options.�

Developed with proven expertise,RailRes 2000 software was boughtfrom FSS Travel & Leisure Systems, aleader in developing affordablesystems for railroads worldwide. Thesystem can accommodate currentand projected needs, and capitalizeson consumer demand for Internetinformation and transactions.

NEW RESERVATION SYSTEM ONLINESoftware affords Internet perusal and purchase

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he job description for thoseinstalling the Alaska Railroad�snew state-of-the-artavalanche detection systemreads like a James Bond helpwanted ad:

Seeking physically fitapplicants capable of hikinglong distances on steep

terrain (45 degrees) with considerablevertical gain (2,600 feet above thetrack). Job may require applicant tospend nights on remote mountain siteswithout helicopter support. Previousmountaineering experience a plus.

Project supervisor Dave Hamre hand-picked a team of such rugged profes-sionals this summer. Their mission:improve the Alaska Railroad�s existingavalanche risk management system, andreduce risk to travelers, railroad andhighway personnel, and communities.

The Railroad�s Avalanche Programincludes a series of projects frominstalling early detection systems andbuilding new weather stations, topositioning remote-controlled blasterboxes and developing a multi-agencyforecaster network.

The prototype avalanche detectionsystem borrows technology used bySwiss Rail (Switzerland) and is the only

system of its kind in the U.S. It employsthree mountainside stations that sensemovement when an avalanche releases,and then triggers an alarm.

The Railroad just completed severalnew weather stations and enhancedexisting stations along the avalanche-prone route from Girdwood to MoosePass. Information from these stations isprocessed by new groundbreakingsoftware. The Railroad, Alaska Dept. ofTransportation & Public Facilities, andAlyeska Resort now have access to thesoftware, timely weather forecasts,avalanche observation data, and toolssuch as Doppler Radar and weathermaps.

Also recently completed was theinstallation of precision blaster boxesand additional howitzer guns � devicesused to trigger small snow slides to avertfull-scale avalanches.

STATE-OF-THE-ART AVALANCHE DETECTION Newly-installed prototype ready for winter duty

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OPEN HOUSES TOSHOWCASE PROGRAMOF CAPITAL PROJECTS

Anchorage Jan. 9Anchorage Depot 4-7 p.m.

Fairbanks Jan. 16Fairbanks Depot 4-7 p.m.

Wasilla Jan. 23Lake Lucille Inn 4-7 p.m.

Seward TBD

Includes overview of ARRC�sproposed program of capitalprojects for 2002, individualproject displays, fact sheets,and door prize drawings!

A blaster box is installed by an ava-lanche path near Girdwood.

he Alaska Railroad�s annual print is onschedule for a January release. Painted byAnchorage artist Debra Dubac, this year�simage depicts two SD70 MAC locomotivespulling interline freight on the trip fromWhittier to Anchorage. Dubac and thepainting are pictured above.

�My up-close and personal approach to the paintingdemanded much detail and accuracy,� said Dubac. �Theforeground wildflower focus adds extra blasts of color to�big blue & gold� charging through the Portage-to-Potterblend of scenery.�

Dubac will be on hand to sign prints and posters in theAnchorage Depot noon-2 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 5, andin the Fairbanks Depot noon-2 p.m. the followingSaturday, Jan. 12. About 4,500 posters and 750 printsare made and are on sale at the depot ticket windows inAnchorage and Fairbanks. Posters cost $25 and printsare $50.

The first official Alaska Railroad painting was producedin 1979 by John Van Zyle. Since then, the annualrendition (except 1984) has evolved into a popularcollector�s item, with requests coming from all over theworld.

ARRC 2002 OFFICIAL PRINT READY FOR RELEASEAnnual Alaska Railroad rendition proves popular as collector�s item

WINTER SPECIALSDetails on these great WinterSpecials are on the ARRC web site� www.AlaskaRailroad.com.

Borealis Bound Weekend GetawayA complete weekend excursion! Busto Talkeetna, rail to Fairbanks, flyback to Anchorage. Lodging inTalkeetna and Fairbanks included.� $325 per person

Aurora Winter Rail SpecialOne-way rail to Fairbanks, overnightand return flight to Anchorage viaAlaska Airlines � $239 per person

Saturday Stowaway Special Round-trip rail to Talkeetna andovernight at the Talkeetna AlaskanLodge � $139 per person.

For reservations call 265-2494; or800-544-0552 outside Anchorage.

(continued from front page)(TAC) and has also been included in the Fairbanks Metropolitan AreaTransportation Study TAC. We are working with several other groups,including the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce, AnchorageEconomic Development Corporation and the Alaska 20/20 effort, toensure the Railroad�s vision complements and supports the overallplans and strategies developed by our state and municipalities.

Capital Improvements. Since 1996, federal funding has laid thegroundwork for building a more safe, efficient Alaska Railroad. Thisyear, we saw many years of planning materialize as construction gotunderway on several projects, some of which were completed. Thenew freight dock in Seward is up and running, track was straightenedon Elmendorf Air Force Base, double track is nearly complete in southAnchorage, new sidings were constructed along the rail line, and animproved avalanche detection and prevention system was installed.

Looking Ahead. Expect the Railroad to maintain the momentum. Forexample, new intermodal depots at Denali, Fairbanks and theAnchorage airport will greatly enhance passenger service and safety.Ongoing efforts to straighten track and automate train traffic controlsystems will increase our efficiency and speed. As we continue tomodernize infrastructure and hone operations, the Railroad willbecome more valuable as a partner Alaska can depend on.

T

Alaska Railroad CorporationP.O. Box 107500Anchorage, Alaska99510-7500


ANCHORAGE, AK

PERMIT NO. 500

THE RAILROAD WISHES ALL A HAPPY HOLIDAYRailroaders all along the line send holiday cheer to customers, communities

Cheryl SautelExecutiveSecretary

Stephan KesterDispatcher

Steve Love Healy

Roadmaster

Steve PerkinsFairbanksEquipmentOperator

Greg WyattCarman

Willow PeytonBusiness

Systems Analyst

John Leis Baggage Handler

Anabel ChavezAdministrative

Assistant

Sally VanderstarreFairabnks Ops

Support

Pam DotomainReceptionist

Chris Anderson

Real Estate Leasing

Davy RegisteEngineer

Diana BrakeProject Manager

Jim MurphyFairbanks Signal

Technician

Gerald ValinskeConductor

Pat GamblePresident/CEO

Heather StoneSeward Station

Supervisor

Paul GangstadAnchorage

SafetyTechnician

Robbie CaseyFairbanksCarman

Rodney FrankConductor

Rich HolzapfelFairbanks

Track Forman

Randy SpringsteedSeward

MechabanicalSupervisor

Documents

1st Quarter, 2001 NEW RAILROAD PRESIDENT NAMED C · 2017. 8. 11. · Alaska Railroad Corporation P.O. Box 107500 Anchorage, Alaska 99510-7500 PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID ANCHORAGE,