St Joseph, Mi Swing Bridge Going Remote

[Tom49801]

From a conversation heard between Amtrak P370-12 & the St Joseph Bridge Tender on June 12th @ 21:16 the work that has been going on at the swing bridge (Grand Rapids sub-division at mile post CG87.6) is to convert the bridge operations to remote control. Phase 1 is done & Phase 2 is starting & supposedly the bridge will be remotely operated from the town of Evansville, Indiana. The completion date for the work wasn't mentioned, nor, how many phases are involved.

Lately, there has been a lot of radio conversations being heard during the day between the Bridge Tender, CSX Bridge Workers & "Contractors" (no company name heard). I thought it was work being done due to mechanical issues the bridge may be having & last night was the 1st time I had heard the work was related to converting its operations to Remote Control.

[DaveO]

I just searched the Federal Register. There were no entries regarding remote operation of that bridge.
I couldn't find on the Coast Guard website where remoting applications might reside.

[SD80MAC]

The Coast Guard still has to sign off on such a request, which I don't really see happening.

[GTW6401]

CSX does operate bridges remotely in other areas.

Most of the bridges in Tampa and Bradenton, Florida are controlled from the Alafia River.

[TSS]

Does anyone know what bridges are controlled by the center in Indiana? Relative to the St. Joe Bridge, do they open more or less often?

Personally, I would have concerns about a full-remote situation, but I think a hybrid model has some merit. For years, there have only been three bridge tenders. If one gets sick or goes on vacation, I would guess the other two have to work continuous 12 hour shifts until the third returns. That’s a terrible burden.

With remote control, the slow periods, nights and winters, could be delegated to the Indiana control center, and in the busy times—days, weekends, the summer—the bridge could be controlled locally. That way, local talent is retained, the local controls remain dusted off in case the internet goes down, but the local bridge tenders have some backup.

However, this is the railroad. I doubt they will be so prudent. It will probably be all or nothing, unless the Coast Guard mandates they retain a local operator on call.

[TSS]

Also: this isn’t the first time this rumor has popped up. Legend has it that when they did the first “remote control” work to move operations from the shack on the bridge to the blue shack on the shore, the ultimate intent was to transfer control to the dispatcher. It’s been more than a decade and it hasn’t happened yet. That doesn’t mean it won’t, but…

[Typhoon]

The Coast Guard still has to sign off on such a request, which I don't really see happening.

Why not?

[Tom49801]

Found this link for a news article regarding the St Joseph Bridge going to remote control:

https://wsbt.com/news/local/csx-railroa ... s-michigan

[GP30M4216]

Michigan has at least one remote-operation drawbridge, the Conrail Bridge over the Rouge River in Detroit. I’m not sure who operates it or from where-does CR Shared assets have its own dispatchers near Philly? Either way, the operational nuances are highly different between this and St. Joe. At CR Bridge, the train line is busy, and marine movements are fairly few. And the boats that would need the bridge raised are BIG. Freighters, tugboats, barges. Basically no recreational traffic would require a bridge lift. In St. Joe in the other hand, there are up to about 8 train moves a day, but a lot of water traffic. Plenty of recreational “mariners” use that harbor, and not all of them are knowledgeable about following the rules of the “road.”

Would the fact that this bridge is on a passenger line cause an additional level of scrutiny?

[SD80MAC]

People in the marine world are saying no way, people in the railroad world are saying absolutely. I guess we’ll see!

[Typhoon]

Michigan has at least one remote-operation drawbridge, the Conrail Bridge over the Rouge River in Detroit. I’m not sure who operates it or from where-does CR Shared assets have its own dispatchers near Philly? Either way, the operational nuances are highly different between this and St. Joe. At CR Bridge, the train line is busy, and marine movements are fairly few. And the boats that would need the bridge raised are BIG. Freighters, tugboats, barges. Basically no recreational traffic would require a bridge lift. In St. Joe in the other hand, there are up to about 8 train moves a day, but a lot of water traffic. Plenty of recreational “mariners” use that harbor, and not all of them are knowledgeable about following the rules of the “road.”

Would the fact that this bridge is on a passenger line cause an additional level of scrutiny?

I am not sure why Michigan would be special, however I see no reason for it. Take a look at the FEC/Brightline bridge in Fort Lauderdale. Way more traffic, passenger, freight trains and boating traffic, then St Joseph, and is controlled in Jacksonville. There is nothing to keep things status quo in St Joe.

[CSXT8390]

It is my understanding that the bridge tenders at St. Joe hold seniority positions as clerks. The clerk position has been eliminated across CSX (at least in the northern region) and as such they are legacy employees. They will remain in their job until they retire and when they do so, their positions will be eliminated permanently. I don’t know how much seniority the current bridge tenders have, but CSX would have to either find a new place for them or buy them out in order to eliminate their positions before they retire.