Was there a wreck or something?

[Wyonate]

Hello- 

I am just wondering if antone knows why things are so slow around my area.  I live in northern Wyoming, bottle neck of the Powder River Basin, and noramlly there is 50-70 trains a day running through here, but the past few days its been slow, very slow.  Maybe 15 trains a day.  Any one have any interesting news?  Comments?

[tree68]

I'm guessing here, but it could be ripple effect from the mudslide.  Traffic that would go west, then south, may be going south first.

[Wyonate]

I'm guessing here, but it could be ripple effect from the mudslide.  Traffic that would go west, then south, may be going south first.

Where was the mudslide?

[rixflix]

where HAVE you been? UP in Oregon.

RIX

[CShaveRR]

Nate, are you on the northern (BNSF) end of the basin? 

I don't think the slide has anything to do with any slowdown that involves the Powder River Basin.  Detour moves wouldn't be likely to enter Wyoming any further east than Granger, if that far.  However, these detour trains are making life miserable for velocity-minded people in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Utah.

[Doublestack]

UP had 2 shut downs this week west of you due to the earthquake at Wells.  Had to shut down and inspect track. (NorCal - Salt Lake route.)

[trainboyH16-44]

UP had 2 shut downs this week west of you due to the earthquake at Wells.  Had to shut down and inspect track. (NorCal - Salt Lake route.)

Earthquake, you say?

Elaborate.

[Wyonate]

where HAVE you been? UP in Oregon.

RIX

Hey man, I live in Wyoming.  Our news comes by pony express. lol.

[Wyonate]

Nate, are you on the northern (BNSF) end of the basin? 

I don't think the slide has anything to do with any slowdown that involves the Powder River Basin.  Detour moves wouldn't be likely to enter Wyoming any further east than Granger, if that far.  However, these detour trains are making life miserable for velocity-minded people in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Utah.

Yep, northern BNSF end.  We do get some PGEX trains, but not enough to slow traffic down this bad.  I know coal haulage rates go down a little this time of the year.  But I used to work for a coal mine and I can't picture any mine slowing down enough to keep pace with this kind of traffic.  One other thing I was thinking was, did the new DM&E line go in?  Becaude that would do it.  As of 1 year ago, I know AMES Construction got the bid to do 265 miles of new track coming into the PRB. From Wall, S.D. to (I think) to Newcastle, Wyoming.  But 265 miles in a year?  I thought it was a 2 year job.  Any info on that?

[Murphy Siding]

Nate, are you on the northern (BNSF) end of the basin? 

I don't think the slide has anything to do with any slowdown that involves the Powder River Basin.  Detour moves wouldn't be likely to enter Wyoming any further east than Granger, if that far.  However, these detour trains are making life miserable for velocity-minded people in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Utah.

Yep, northern BNSF end.  We do get some PGEX trains, but not enough to slow traffic down this bad.  I know coal haulage rates go down a little this time of the year.  But I used to work for a coal mine and I can't picture any mine slowing down enough to keep pace with this kind of traffic.  One other thing I was thinking was, did the new DM&E line go in?  Becaude that would do it.  As of 1 year ago, I know AMES Construction got the bid to do 265 miles of new track coming into the PRB. From Wall, S.D. to (I think) to Newcastle, Wyoming.  But 265 miles in a year?  I thought it was a 2 year job.  Any info on that?

DM&E is still just on the drawing board at this point, with no real guarantee it will happen.

[Anonymous]

How deep is the snow up there ?

[JSGreen]

UP had 2 shut downs this week west of you due to the earthquake at Wells.  Had to shut down and inspect track. (NorCal - Salt Lake route.)

Earthquake, you say?

Elaborate.

Wells, Nevada, Thursday....this article from Bloomberg.

Magnitued 6.3, no injuries reported.  BUt I am pretty sure they would want toinspect some bridges....

[chad thomas]

I must be missing something, How cold a slide in Oregon or a earthquake in Wells possibly affect the PRB?

[Wyonate]

How deep is the snow up there ?

Well we had a good one about a month ago, 20" but, on the ground now...... spoty, 4" here and there, and bare ground. This was shot Friday and its trying to snow now but we'll see.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-CoEP5BktU

This was one of maybe 8 trains all day.  And it was really weird seeing a Dash 9 in a coal consist.  Normally around here its all big AC units and the DC units are all EMD....?  Maybe a power shortage, I doubt it but....  ????  Traffic has picked up a little, but not anything like last week.  I made a short slide show on http://thetrainzstation.freeforums.org/golfingrobert-well-t390.html That was all shot in 3 hours. And it never slows down, its always like that.  Don't know why things are so slow, possibly an earthquake, mudslide, a wreck, I don't know whats going on. 

[Wyonate]

Well, I found a clue.  There is a train owned by UCEX headed west loaded, when it gets to Billings it will be rerouted to where, I don't know.  I will need to look up UCEX in rrarchives.com or .net and see were it is going.  UCEX is not a usual train for around here.  Ok, evedently its headed for Edwardsville, KS.  This is not normal. lol :)

[miniwyo]

Nate, I havent seen anything down this way that might strike me as odd. They are running trains like you would not believe!

[Wyonate]

Nate, I havent seen anything down this way that might strike me as odd. They are running trains like you would not believe!

Huh?  I checked with a few connections a have and nobody knows of anything.  It just strikes me kinda odd that it would all the sudden just basicly stop.  Strike maybe?  And the UCEX that ran through this morning?? Huh?  I'm still digging. lol I hope curiousity don't get me on this one.  My house faces the track, I don't miss a train :) The MTPX come through as usual, its kind of a local, it just runs to Billings, normally 2 SD60s and about 65-70 cars.  But the long haulers are very slow.  Still.

[miniwyo]

You know... It might be that you are up in BNSF Country, And all I have here in RS is the Armor Yellow Borg. But I am still not seeing much change in service either from the slides or the quakes. Actually, I am kind of impressed. They havent parked a train in town for more than a few hours in months as opposed to parking one or 2 for a week here and there.

[Wyonate]

I don't know.  Its picked up a little now, I don't belive its back up to par.  I planned on goingout today and recording more trains (found a new spot).  But if they ain't running.......well I'll just have to wait :)

[Wyonate]

Well, I guess confusion might get me.  Everything is back to normal.  There are two trains on the siding in front of my house right now and another one headed up Parkman Pass, and one more chasing it.  Don't know??? Still curious though. lol  Things are back to normal, house is shaking and my foundation is crumbling once again. :)