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Home > Blogs > Hamilton News and Issues > Archives > 2008 > April > 02 > Entry
Trains, trains and automobiles
I spent a few minutes stuck behind a train this morning. In Hamilton, I’m sure I wasn’t alone.
Some 108 trains a day go over the High Street overpass on average and additional trains run on the city’s other tracks.
I get a lot of anonymous phone calls, but I once got one about the abundance of trains in Hamilton. Although he never gave me his name, the caller did bring about an interesting question: What compensation does this city get for all these trains?
City Manager Mark Brandenburger’s answer was equally interesting.
Nothing.
Once upon a time - before interstates and airplanes - it was very beneficial to a city to have rail access. That’s how Chicago became the Mecca of the Midwest. (Coincidentally, Hamilton is nicknamed Little Chicago, but it has more to do with the fact that Chicago mobsters liked to summer here back in the Roaring 20s than it does with railroads).
But in the technological age, CSX owns the railroads and the land around them and just runs its trains through city’s like Hamilton across the county. The city cannot even paint the overpass they sit on.
I understand that knowledge doesn’t make sitting behind a train any easier, but at least know that the city isn’t lining its pockets because of it.
Permalink | Comments (4) | Post your comment | Categories: Roads
Comments
By Josh
April 2, 2008 1:31 PM | Link to this
I’m not sure I understand your point. Are we supposed to feel better because the city is not making any money off the trains? If we have to suffer then the city should too? Personally, if I have to wait for the occasional train, I’d rather the city in which I live made money off it than for no good to come out of it at all. Then you write a blog about how the city has no money for roads…you can’t be satisfied that in one case the city is not making money and in another case complain that the city does not have enough money. Make up your mind.By Josh
April 2, 2008 1:32 PM | Link to this
I’m not sure I understand your point. Are we supposed to feel better because the city is not making any money off the trains? If we have to suffer then the city should too? Personally, if I have to wait for the occasional train, I’d rather the city in which I live made money off it than for no good to come out of it at all. Then you write a blog about how the city has no money for roads…you can’t be satisfied that in one case the city is not making money and in another case complain that the city does not have enough money. Make up your mind.By Rich
April 2, 2008 4:10 PM | Link to this
Whether or not the city gets direct $$$ from CSX or Norfolk Southern, there are obvious benefits from the presence of railroads. Several industries in Hamilton still use rail transportation to some degree (SMART Papers and Mohawk are just two). In addition, if the city plays its cards properly, rail access along the main CSX line running through the heart of Hamilton can play a significant role in the redevelopment of several large brownfield properties. Rail access can be a real plus for certain industries, although the days of heavy manufacturing have probably passed in this region. In any case, we need to play up whatever assets we do have, and good rail access is just one of them!By Doug
April 5, 2008 1:42 PM | Link to this
is a law on the books on how long a train can block the road and if so why is it not being enforced I have sat for atleast 15 min. or longer at laurel ave