Recreational Trail Advocates requested permission for access to the Kellar Branch right of way so they could “clean up trash” along a portion of the line. They were denied:
Dear David:
I am writing to respond to your request for our permission to allow the RTA [Recreational Trail Advocates] to clean up trash along a two mile section of the Kellar Branch, on Saturday, April 26, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. While I appreciate and support the RTA’s desire to take care of the environment in this manner, it is my opinion that this activity is only being scheduled as a publicity campaign to bring more attention to your group’s failed efforts to convert the Kellar Branch into a recreational trail. I am certain you would not support my Company operating a locomotive down a local bike trail. That being said, my primary concern is safety, and I do not think it is safe for people to be on an active railroad right of way, that is operated by two railroads. Depending upon business demands, either PIRY [Pioneer Industrial Railway] or CIRY [Central Illinois Railroad] may be operating a train that day, and it is my understanding that CIRY has storage cars on the line. Further, your people may or may not be properly trained or equipped to perform such work, nor have you shown any insurance coverage. Finally, you are advised that, as an operating Class III railroad, Federal Railroad Administration regulations require that people working on the right of way undergo Roadway Worker Safety training and pass an approved test. As an operating rail line, we maintain the track and roadbed in a manner that is safe for rail operations and trained personnel, but not for untrained individuals performing weekend publicity stunts. Therefore, I do not give my approval for your group to occupy the railroad right of way for this purpose. We believe that unauthorized entry onto the right of way would be unlawful, and we will have no alternative but to hold RTA responsible should any damage result from such entry. I would like to suggest to your group that there are many other areas in the community that would benefit from a clean up activity by your group and I hope you consider cleaning these areas.
Regards,
Mike Carr
[President/CEO, Pioneer Railcorp]
It’s worth noting that Pioneer is still willing to cooperate with efforts to build a safe recreational trail on the right-of-way adjacent to the tracks (there’s a committee working on that possibility now). They’ve also done improvements to the tracks to make operation of trains safe along the line. After Nichting’s infamous “Meigs Field” comment, I don’t blame Pioneer for being a little worried about letting trail advocates onto the line.
Now that is a well-written smack-down. LOL
Love it!! GFY RTA. I was going to say I’m surprised they had the nerve but the trail folks are anything if not pharisaical.
I recently spoke to FRA regarding this matter and it is definitely illegal to do this proposed clean up and also dangerous. I am very pleased that Mike Carr took the time to write them a very concise letter. Now it is up to them if they chose to disregard it and get arrested. This same thing goes for the rail/trail committee. Bill Spears Chairman of the committee has encouraged members to walk the track and I told him that it is a no-no, but he didn’t seem to think it was too serious. Maybe now he will give it a second thought and advise against it at the next committee meeting. The RTA group has gotten away with this for far too long and its time it stops before someone gets seriously injured or killed. It isn’t funny.
These railhaters (Hiker/Biker groups, RTA) have long bemoaned that the Kellar Branch is unsafe. Now they want to walk along the tracks again in violation of Federal regulations to do their publicity stunt. This is further proof that they are hypocrites and brainlessly talking out of both sides of their mouths. These jokers make me sick.
Free advice for the RTA:
You can maximize the impact of your publicity stunt by actually GETTING arrested.
You’re welcome.
Guess I’ll be the lone commenter on the other side for a minute. Surely didn’t sound like the tone of an individual genuinely looking for a beneficial joint use approach. If anyone is interested, this is the first draft that was cleaned up by Pioneer’s attorneys to get to the draft sent:
Dear David:
I am writing to respond to your request for our permission to allow the RTA [Recreational Trail Advocates] to clean up trash along a two mile section of the Kellar Branch, on Saturday, April 26, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. While I don’t really give a rat’s ass about the RTA or your goals, this is a great opportunity for me to get a little limelight again. Nice try on using your “clean up” as a publicity stunt. Please leave those type of tactics for my firm. While I publicly indicate support for a shared use of the right of way, I have no intention of ever letting anyone on it unless there is something in it for me. While I could care less if you were run over by a train on Saturday, I’ll pretend that my denial is due to your safety even though we both know that 99% of the time there are no trains on the tracks. My concern is even greater because all of your supporters are as dumb as a box of rocks and couldn’t possible get out of the way of a large locomotive traveling 5 m.p.h. While picking up trash isn’t exactly “working on the right of way”, let’s just say, as a point of misdirection, that Federal Railroad Administration regulations won’t allow it unless you have Roadway Worker Safety training and pass an approved test. Since your group doesn’t have this training (even thought it’s not relevant to what you were asking to do), I must regrettably not grant my permission to you. If you engage in unauthorized entry and damage our trail line while picking up trash, I’ll have no alternative but to hold you responsible so go clean up some other neglected area of town.
Up yours,
Mike Carr
Peo Proud — That was a pretty funny imaginary draft. I don’t doubt that some of those feelings were present when the real letter was written. However, I don’t think Pioneer is trying to get any “limelight,” but is rather trying to avoid it. And I don’t know of any publicity stunt the Pioneer has tried to pull. However, the RTA recently staged a publicity stunt at Vonachen’s Old Place when they had all the dignitaries out to stump for a trail-only use of the corridor, even though that’s been ruled out by the STB.
Like you C.J. – sometimes I like to employ sarcasm and play devil’s advocate. 🙂 My first draft of the “draft letter” I had to throw away since you’re a family blog!
I think Pioneer has used more than a few publicity stunts over the years in their interactions with the City of Peoria and in their fight to get back in the rail service business on the Kellar Branch.
But that aside….this letter didn’t give me any comfort that they truly will follow through on some of their “promises” to cooperate. They are as single-minded and self-interested as any other group.
considering how the RTA and the media have treated Pioneer and its employees, why would they harbor warm feelings for RTA? As shown by that goofy press conference CJ mentioned, the RTA has shown no indication it wants to compromise. RTA continues to peddle its false claims. Trust works both ways. When will RTA stop leaving fresh piles of its wisdom in the public press?
I wonder why this wasn’t in th PJS?
CW get serious. You don’t believe PJS would print such stuff do you? If in fact they did they would put a completely different spin on it and make Pioneer out the horrible unfriendly railroad that is preventing decent citizens from cleaning up the neighborhood. Boo hoo hoo
I wonder how Central Illinois Railroad responded to RTA’s request…or were they asked?