Union Pacific

Queen crossing to remain bumpy

Written July 31st, 2017 by Hasso Hering

Comments: 10 responses.

Albany’s busiest railroad crossing on Queen Avenue will be improved for safety one of these days. But it won’t be soon, and when it’s done it will still be a bumpy ride for cars.

Posted in: Commentary, News
Tags: ODOT-Rail, Portland & Western, Queen Avenue crossing, Rick Shankle, Union Pacific

Site seen as valley’s link to big ports

Written February 7th, 2017 by Hasso Hering

Comments: 13 responses.

The sprawling Millersburg site where International Paper shut down and demolished the Albany Paper Mill still sits mostly empty, presumably awaiting a buyer. But some local officials have visions of turning the place into an intermodal shipping hub that would bypass the troubled Port of Portland and link the valley to the world.

Posted in: Commentary, News
Tags: intermodel hub, International Paper, Millersburg site, transportation, Union Pacific

The passing parade: Military gear

Written May 28th, 2016 by Hasso Hering

Comments: 3 responses.

I was on the section of Seventh Avenue paralleling the Union Pacific’s mainline. And I nearly jumped over the handlebars when a UP freight, pounding up the tracks behind me, let loose with its horn, twice. Then I stopped and watched a long line of war-fighting equipment being hauled north.

Posted in: Uncategorized, Videos
Tags: Albany cycling, military equipment, Military transport, Union Pacific

Quiet zones in Albany: Better not

Written December 4th, 2015 by Hasso Hering

Comments: 7 responses.

Albany has been a railroad town since 1870. Some people don’t like the sound of that. Train horns at crossings bother them. But turning the entire city into a “quiet zone” might cost in the neighborhood of $14 million.

Posted in: Commentary, News
Tags: Albany City Council, Railroad quiet zones, Union Pacific

Railroad safety on Cox Creek Path

Written January 18th, 2015 by Hasso Hering

Comments: no responses.

This is something you don’t see all that often: Flaggers keeping an eye on traffic where Albany’s Cox Creek Path ducks under the Union Pacific mainline.

Posted in: Commentary, News
Tags: Cox Creek path, Union Pacific

UP permit issue stalls new path

Written June 6th, 2014 by Hasso Hering

Comments: 2 responses.

If you’re anxiously waiting for that new bike and walking path under the Pacific Boulevard overpass — and even if you’re not — you’re going to have to wait a while longer. Construction was to have started in May. But nothing’s going on at the site. The reason: The project apparently needs a permit from the […]

Posted in: Commentary, News
Tags: Albany Station, ODOT, station path HP Civil Inc., Swanson Park, Union Pacific

No, the track’s not clear yet

Written May 24th, 2014 by Hasso Hering

Comments: 3 responses.

So I’m sitting in a queue at the Queen Avenue crossing, one car back. Just when the switch engine looks like it’s about to clear the road so we can go, a Union Pacific freight barrels through on the track we can’t see, on its way south.

Posted in: Commentary, Videos
Tags: Portland & Western, Queen Avenue crossing, Union Pacific