Troy and Schenectady Railroad once crossed an Interstate Highway

The former Troy & Schenectady line was still operating when the Northway (I-87) was built (1960’s) and there still was a grade crossing on the Northway a short distance south of the “Twin Bridges” over the Mohawk River (this was probably one of only a very few grade crossings on an Interstate Highway in the United States). It wasn’t there long, as the line was cut back within a couple of years to an industrial site just east of Route 9. You can still see where the line passed under Route 9 perhaps a mile north of Boght Corners.

During the period that the line crossed Interstate 87 (ETT has a typo “89”) at Dunsbach Ferry, the following instruction appeared in the Employee Time Table under “special instruction 103 public crossings at grade: Manually controlled traffic signals:” “Trains or engine must stop in rear of stop sign and a member of crew must operate pushbuttons in manual control box. After traffic signals have been operating for at least twenty seconds train or engine may proceed over crossing, signals must be restored to normal position after movement over highway has been completed.”

See more about the T&S Railroad

UPDATE in 2012:

Railroad and trolley historian and author  Gino DiCarlo has done some research and actually found pictures of this crossing.

See his article on “CROSSING THE NORTHWAY”

 

Update June 3, 2012 from Gordon Davids:

The T&S Branch highway grade crossing was in place and active on opening day of I-87 in 1959. Traffic signals hung over the highway, and cross bucks were on each side of the road.

The state engineers told us at the time that the railroad was up for abandonment, and the state wasn’t about to spend the money necessary for a grade separation. They got a waiver from the Public Roads Administration (pre-FHWA) to permit the crossing for a limited period. I think they had to extend the waiver a few times.

I looked on Google maps street view today, and saw an aluminum pole alongside the northbound highway and an aluminum instrument case still in place just south of it. I’m sure that they were part of the highway signal system that protected the crossing.

Find out about Achievements and Fairpromise

 

Golf Equipment

See some great articles on belly putters, hybrid clubs, unusual putting styles, old names for golf clubs and also golf hotels.

Partnering With Suppliers, Vendors and Customers

In Lean Supply Chain Management and in Virtual Supply Chain Management discussions there are many references to “partnering”. Partnership means much more than just: purchasing parts from a supplier; contracting for services from a vendor; or selling products to a customer. In a partnership, both of you are “teaming” to help each other succeed.

It is not usually a formal partnership in the legal sense, but instead is an ad hoc  “virtual partnership.” Many times this is referred to as ”collaboration.” It is all about sending new customers or other beneficial resources, like cost savings, to your partner; and receiving benefits in return.

Read more: http://ec-bp.com/index.php/advisors/ec-bps-bloggers/565-partnering-with-suppliers-vendors-and-customers#ixzz1vZOn9YT8

What is a Social Supply Chain?

Social supply chain is using “social media technology” all across the entire supply chain : from supplier’s suppliers to customer’s customers. It means integration of social media technologies (collaboration, sharing) to connect and encompass the participants across the whole supply chain.

The customer-facing side of companies is getting busier. Customers use social media to connect with their peers from a marketing standpoint to promote and advertise their services and capabilities. Social media is now particularly important  in customer service environments. Consumers are able to communicate with customer service departments through Twitter and Facebook.

In the supply chain, companies have begun using social media to work with suppliers, vendors and customers. As an example, they can have discussions on issues and arrive at a concensus.

Read more: http://ec-bp.com/index.php/articles/industry-updates/584-what-is-a-social-supply-chain#ixzz1vUevV4ft

Tahawus: Railroad to a Mine, Does it have a Future?

Brief history of a railroad to a mine in the middle of New York State’s Adirondack Park. Part of the railroad (Saratoga Springs to North Creek) is a tourist line with dinner trains and ski trains. Will the last section to the  mine come back to life? See more about Tahawus

Circus Trains: The Second Greatest Show on Earth

Circus Trains: The Second Greatest Show on Earth

The circus and the circus train has always fascinated small children and grown-up railfans alike. Circus transportation has changed significantly in the last forty years. The second greatest show – that of moving the
circus by rail, begins even before the last performance begins.

If you ever thought of running away to join the circus,  meet New Britain native Joe Colossa. He didn’t run away, but joining the circus was an almost predetermined destiny for this fourth-generation circus worker. Colossa is the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus train master. He is like the ringmaster, but for the train.

Ringling Brothers Circus in West Virginia

The Circus Comes to Town! This early 1950’s photo came from KC Jones circus WebSite

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ec-bp was established in 2005 as the advocate for lowering the barriers to the adoption of EDI, and our email newsletter has been published every month since that time. Our focus has expanded beyond EDI to encompas the full gamut of supply chain practices and technologies. In addition, our readership  has grown to become the largest of any similarly focused publication, and has expanded to include more than 90,000 professionals involved in nearly every aspect of the supply chain.

Today’s supply chain is more than simple transport of EDI documents. The complexity of maintaining compliance with trading partners, managing the ever increasing amount of data, and analyzing that data to drive constant improvement in processes and service take supply chain professionals far beyond the basics of mapping EDI documents.