Signs of the Times: from Progressive Railroading's November-December 1963 Issue (12/24/1963)
12/24/2023• Under compromise drafted by the House Commerce Committee on President Kennedy's proposal to free the railroads from much of the Interstate Commerce Commission's rate regulation, the railroads wouldn't be given broad rate freedom, but they would be exempted from ICC rate regulations on the hauling of agricultural goods, the way most barbers and truckers currently are.
• All forms of piggyback service are legal, according to a report from two ICC examiners. In their report, the examiners said railroad piggyback service is one of the most dynamic formulas for transportation of freight this country has ever seen. They recommended the commission erect no road blocks to slow its growth.
• In 1964, railroad purchases will amount to about $2.5 billion, Santa Fe Railway Vice President F.J. Steinberger said during recent meeting of the AAR's Purchases and Stores Division in Chicago. Of that sum, materials and supplies purchases will reach about $1.5 billion and capital goods including rolling stock will be about $1 billion, he said.
• The Missouri Pacific is using a helicopter in a new, precise and efficient method of controlling the growth of vegetation along its right of way. Flying at low altitudes, the helicopter sprays with a high degree of accuracy and speed, railroad officials said.
• Freight-car loadings in 1963 are expected to top 1962's 28.7 million total by about 100,000 cars, according to the National Association of Shippers Advisory Boards.
• In 1961, U.S railroads operated 217,000 miles of track; more than all European countries combined; moved 563 billion ton miles of goods, again more than all combined European roads; generated $7.7 billion in revenue, almost double the amount generated by European roads; and earned more than $382 million for their shareholders compared with deficits for all European roads, according to data compiled by General Motors Vice President R.L. Terrell. Further more, U.S. roads achieved these totals with 717,543 employees, less than half the number of the employees of all European railroads combined, according to Terrell.