Comments on: CSX: Atmore Crossing Work Should End This Week

By: Baebae

Baebae — Fri, 20 Feb 2015 23:34:17 +0000

this is better than a fiery derailment…anytime….look at what happened in West Va this week…new track thru the city of Atmore…the last time that happened was in 1988…new rail and ties and switches….now in 2015…our tracks were 27 years old
….how many are still driving their cars from 1988

By: I Asked

I Asked — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 14:10:38 +0000

I personally talked to the guy in charge at CSX of this project because I wanted answers. I bothered him while he was eating lunch at Busters. Turns out he’s a former resident of Atmore and he told me he understands the frustration but that he was just working the plan that was approved by the city months ago. I feel bad for the guy and his men getting so much flack from residents of his former hometown. I bet he’s glad he don’t live here no more – how embarrassing. I am embarrassed that I bothered him. He said that CSX plans this work up to a year in advance and an independent firm is hired to get with the city with the plan. The city approves the plan MONTHS in advance. The plan included the timing of crossing closings and he said while he knows it seems ridiculous that they had to close so many at once it is simply the way it is done because of the process of all that had to be replaced, the machinery involved, etc. After talking to him it seems to me the city dropped the ball in informing citizens and business owners in advance. Regardless the work is being done for safety. We citizens need to remember that we are a railroad town – Williams Station Day is more than a day to buy arts and craft items – it’s a celebration of our railroad history in Atmore. But I am glad the work is almost over.

By: Crossing Guard

Crossing Guard — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 13:26:07 +0000

I don’t think anyone in Atmore would want CSX to neglect their rails or their crossings….yet how much concern went into minimizing the disruptions to residents and downtown businesses? I guess they think we should all just be glad it didn’t take any longer than it took…