BY DENNIS LINAM
DEC. 12, 2014
Chickasha Chicks Upset at Union Pacific Railroad, because of another 2 hour wait at the Ada Sipuel Rail Crossing…
Fighting Mad Chicks!
East Ada Sipuel Avenue Union Pacific train tracks has been a concern of the city, residence and commercial contractors in Chickasha for a few years, and it seems that nothing has changed.
East Ada Sipuel Avenue (2014) provided by Google maps
Two weeks ago the news team was confronted by a few residents who claimed that the Union Pacific train blasted there horn waking people on both sides of town. The sources also explained that multiple times throughout the week, early mornings and after lunch, the train tracks at Ada Sipuel and Genevieve were blocked in excess of an hour or more, at least once a day during school and church.
To verify the source information the news crew showed up at the intersection of Ada Sipuel Dec. 15, 2014. Upon arrival the train had already been blocking the road.
We videotaped over an hour and 40 minutes of the Union Pacific train blocking this very intersection on December 15 between the hours of 12:32 to past 2 PM.
(We also received two local interviews which can be found at: http://1drv.ms/1IX13aq)
East Ada Sipuel Avenue (2014) Taken by Dennis Linam
The train was blocking over four miles of the eastern side of the city. From the north of town 2840 all way back to the intersection of E. Grand Ave. and Road 1370.
After waiting at Ada Sipuel Avenue for an hour the news crew drove north to State Road 1232 and noticed that train engine 8643 was parked on the tracks outside of the Chickasha Union Pacific office.
The news crew, at approximately 2:30 PM, went inside the Chickasha Union Pacific substation and ask for the supervisor and was issued into his office.
When asked for statement he told the news crew that the public affairs office would contact us by phone.
What is the City Doing? Stuart Fairborn (2014) retrieved from http://gardnernews.com
At approximately 2:45 PM the news crew went to the city manager’s office and asked Stewart Fairburn about the situation.
The city manager stated that he had multiple conversations with Union Pacific about the train blocking intersections in town but had not achieved a favorable reaction from Union Pacific.
Fairburn requested, citizens that were blocked, to immediately call 281-350-7771 or 281-705-0173 to report the blockage.
At 4 PM the news crew called Union Pacific’s Director of Corporate Relations and Media, Jeff DeGraff and asked for a company statement about the blockage on Ada Sipuel.
(Taped phone call with DeGraff link: http://1drv.ms/1IX1ilM)…( 2nd half of tape UP1)
DeGraff stated, “We keep a log of all concerns of blocked crossings that are called in, and we went back earlier and we could not find any calls, complaints, or concerns that were made about that crossing.”
The news crew asked DeGraff why the train engine would be parked next to the North Chickasha Union Pacific office for over an hour blocking Ada Sipuel Road.
U. P Engine (2014) Taken by Dennis Linam
DeGraff stated, “Unless there is a mechanical issue, it may be an area where trains are pulled off so others can get by further down the line. It may also be a situation where we have to change our crews out by mandate.
DeGraff said that he would call the news crew back with an explanation, but as of 12 AM December 16 no explanation has been made for the almost two-hour blockage of Ada Sipuel Street or previous blockages.
At this time, if you get blocked behind a train at Ada Sipuel Street, it is important to call these numbers immediately because the more complaints Union Pacific receives the quicker they will move the train.
It is sort of like when the electricity goes out, most people do not wait two hours before they call someone, and you as a citizen of the city of Chickasha should not have to wait either.
Link to supporting evidence: http://1drv.ms/1wEApg1
News team’s Call log to Union Pacific Railroad’s public relation.
1. 4 pm 20141215 (recording under UP 1)
2. It is now 12 AM CST in the morning and I have not received another phone call from Union Pacific in response to the hour and 45 minute blockage.
U. P Contact Information:
AR, LA, OK, TN, TX
Union Pacific Contact List
http://www.up.com/aboutup/contact/
Mail can be sent to any employee c/o the postal address.
Company Mailing Address and Phone
Union Pacific Railroad
1400 Douglas Street
Omaha, NE 68179
UP Main Number: 402-544-5000
UP Operator: 888-870-8777
Reporting Unusual or Suspicious Occurrences and Environmental Hazards
Please call 1-888-UPRRCOP (877-7267) to report hazardous materials releases, personal injuries, criminal activities, illegal dumping, or other environmental incidents.
Reporting Rough or Damaged Grade Crossings
To report rough crossings, or crossings blocked or obscured by vegetation (non-emergency situations only) within the state of California, please call (916) 789-6114.
To report emergency grade crossing blockages or damage, please call 1-800-848-8715.
Emergencies
Report Emergencies – Contact U.P. Police 1-888-877-7267
Jeff DeGraff
Director, Corporate Relations and Media
24125 Aldine Westfield Road
Spring, Texas 77373
Phone:
281-350-7771
Cell:
281-705-0173
281-705-0173
Update December 18
“One important area that rail transportation has an impact on is roadway congestion,” okladot.state.ok.us. “Nearly 278 million tons of freight is transported over Oklahoma’s rail network each year.”
With this in mind, DeGraff of Union Pacific, said that he would call the news crew back with an explanation, but after 4 days still no Company explanation has been made for the almost two-hour blockage of Ada Sipuel Street or previous blockages.
Winona seems to be having the same problem – read about their Blockage.
Comments Retrieved from Classic Hits 105.5 Facebook page
Classic Hits: Yes, thank you 🙂 If you look at the orignal raw footage found on the OneDrive link, noted in the written artical, there were at lease 4 engines on all tracks. It just so happend that yours was outside the office. I did see someone in the drivers seat while filming. I went inside to ask what the problem was, but the manager would not give me the information, you have presented. I was told to contact Union Pacific for any information. I called DeGraff from U.P. and he stated, “We keep a log of all concerns of block crossings that are called in, and we went back earlier and we could not find any calls, complaints, or concerns that were made about that crossing.” The news crew asked DeGraff why the train engine would be parked next to the north Chickasha Union Pacific office for over an hour blocking Ada Sipuel Road.DeGraff stated, “Unless there is a mechanical issue, it may be an area where trains are pulled off so others can get by further down the line. It may also be a situation where we have to change our crews out by mandate.
DeGraff said that he would call the news crew back with an explanation but as of 0730 AM December 17 no explanation has been recived. I am glad you have provided the answers we were asking for. Something to think about is excessive train crossing blockage seems to be a reoccurring issue in Chickasha, based on the statements from the city manager, and recorded presentations at council meetings in the past.
At this time, if blocked behind a train at Ada Sipuel Street, or any crossing, it is important to call 1-800-848-8715 immediately because the more complaints Union Pacific receives the quicker they will move the train.
It is sort of like when the electricity goes out, most people do not wait two hours before they call someone, but the citizens of the city of Chickasha should not have to wait excessively either. Thanks for the great experienced baced information! 🙂 DL Dec 17th 8:56am
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Mickey Tryon This happens all the time in both that site, and the one on North 4th and Tryon Rd (at the arms).
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Deborah Pipkin good im glad some one is saying something about it. The train holds us up all the time. We live out north of town and I have waited on the over 20 min before, and i just went the long way around.Reply · 9 hours ago Dec. 18th
Chickasha, Oklahoma News 