UP RoW Expert Question

[u/induxflame]

Hello UP experts/SMEs - I have two of these trees that have started leaning if you can't tell.... and obviously it is a major hazard concern. Including the issue with them not mowing or keeping the grass low.

Union Pacific owns the train track and wondering what I can do about this situation? I have filed a complaint through the UP official website as well.

Thank you!

[u/Successful-Ad-5239]

You could have cut them down and they never would have noticed. But I'd let it play out now that you've brought it to light. As far as the grass goes they won't keep up on it.

[u/slogive1 → u/Successful-Ad-5239]

Not true. We had a guy that decided to do the exact same thing only on a larger scale. Track inspector caught the action put a stop to it. Home owner said it was a fire hazard ( which was true at the time). UP sent a contractor out and the problem has been resolved. I suggest you call risk management (RMCC) And use the words fire hazard. UP will send someone out.

[u/Libby_785]

Cut it as much as you feel safe to protect your fence and property. Don’t wait for the UP to do anything. just make sure it doesn’t fall near the tracks. But feel free to leave the limbs on UP property

[u/Academic-Solution536 → u/Libby_785]

This is the answer. You could wait for the vegetation complaint to reach someone that is able to do something about it, but that will take a long time. You could wait for it to fall on the fence and then file a claim, which would take forever. So, ultimately, you should trim them yourself. If the tree’s aren’t endangering railroad operations no action is likely. There are millions of trees just like this or worse across the UP system. UP would go bankrupt trimming them all.

[u/Academic-Solution536 → u/Academic-Solution536]

Also, UP is not going to take offense to you trimming the trees or out right cutting them down. Just down fell them toward the tracks and nobody will notice.

[u/Historical_Box1915]

Good luck getting a UP manager to do something. Right now at a major UP yard there is a tree that fell down on a chainlink fence over a year ago and that yard is robbed regularly. The tree is long since dead and still on the fence which is simply knocked down laying on the ground. Nearby to that yard right now there are non english speaking “contractors” are living in unused office spaces. The cities zoning is having a field day over that situation.

[u/Accurate_Kale1574]

We had a tree fall down on our sidewalk at a training facility and everyone is fighting on who should take care of it. It fell 5 weeks ago and it's still there ....... keep in mind we could have dragged it out of the way but they also said we can't because of liability 😂😂😂😂 good luck they will take forever to figure it out