The present heavy rains here in the Atlanta area has not closed any line although there are a few slow orders that are being taken care of as far as I know.
The bigger question is what is going to happen out west. The landslide in Washington state did not close any RR line (?) but there may be more landslides in Wa. The North Western Pacific line according to weather reports I've seen says that area could get anywhere from 3 to spotty 10 inches of rain.
Are there any other areas out there especially the SFO and LAX area that may have wash outs?
Rains are expected in southern California this week in the burned-out area north of LA. The news media reports that the state is expecting landslides, but I don't think the burned out areas are near rail lines.
Damage to rail lines is always the last thing state officials ever worry about -- too many houses built in precarious locations on the hillsides that should never have been allowed to be built where they are.
Blue,
Landslides are somewhat predictable. Unconsolidated sediments, clay layers, inclined rock blocks, underground water courses predispose an area to sliding. Some places these things are obvious, some not so.
BNSF main between Seattle and Everett is famous for land slides and here tends to be compounded by development on side and top of the hill. IIRC there are two relocations over a mile long into the sound to get away from the hills. The old NWP north of Willits has every possible problem with incompetent rock and high moisture at the bottom of a river canyon. About 100 miles of this line were washed out in the 1960's. Poor old SP would have quit right then but of course the ICC made them rebuild it. The old WP line is also at the bottom of a canyon. In times past every train was preceeded by a slide patrol, at least in the wet season. I do not know what their current practice is but would be amazed if they did not have some slide patrol in the wet season.
In Southern California problem tends to be floods causing washouts. The 1930's were not kind to SP and ATSF lines in the area.
Don't forget about slip-outs, where roadbed disappers from under the track. My uncle, who was a conductor on the line told me that the NP lost at least one fill on Stampede Pass due to a clogged culvert, and I think the BN or BNSF lost one the same way within the last 20 years or so.
In 1970 a rock slide near Staymen WA on the WO branch put two units and a few cars into the Columbia River in a January snow storm. Both guys in the cab were rescued, but it was a very close call.
Geological events are part of any railroader's job on anything but flat ground, or anywhere near a watercourse, most places in other words.
Mac
PNWRMNM Landslides are somewhat predictable. Unconsolidated sediments, clay layers, inclined rock blocks, underground water courses predispose an area to sliding. Some places these things are obvious, some not so.
Thanks for the NW locations. I guess everyone keep their eyes out for whatever trouble breaks and keep us posted and hope nothing much happens. Yes slip-outs are the ones most difficult to detect since slide fences may not be touched and the tracks remain connected not tripping the block signals.
Having grown up in the Pacific Northwest I even remember the Empire Builder being pushed into Puget Sound one morning and the trouble that line between Ballard and Everett always presented. I have been away from the Northwest for far to long and it is time to take another trip in that direction. It is raining buckets in the Central Valley today kind of brings back memories of Seattle.
Al - in - Stockton
PNWRMNMBlue, Landslides are somewhat predictable. Unconsolidated sediments, clay layers, inclined rock blocks, underground water courses predispose an area to sliding. Some places these things are obvious, some not so. BNSF main between Seattle and Everett is famous for land slides and here tends to be compounded by development on side and top of the hill. IIRC there are two relocations over a mile long into the sound to get away from the hills. The old NWP north of Willits has every possible problem with incompetent rock and high moisture at the bottom of a river canyon. About 100 miles of this line were washed out in the 1960's. Poor old SP would have quit right then but of course the ICC made them rebuild it. The old WP line is also at the bottom of a canyon. In times past every train was preceeded by a slide patrol, at least in the wet season. I do not know what their current practice is but would be amazed if they did not have some slide patrol in the wet season. In Southern California problem tends to be floods causing washouts. The 1930's were not kind to SP and ATSF lines in the area. Don't forget about slip-outs, where roadbed disappers from under the track. My uncle, who was a conductor on the line told me that the NP lost at least one fill on Stampede Pass due to a clogged culvert, and I think the BN or BNSF lost one the same way within the last 20 years or so. In 1970 a rock slide near Staymen WA on the WO branch put two units and a few cars into the Columbia River in a January snow storm. Both guys in the cab were rescued, but it was a very close call. Geological events are part of any railroader's job on anything but flat ground, or anywhere near a watercourse, most places in other words. Mac
Exactly! What is up wants to come down, and will come down sooner or later. Any good railroader knows where all the landslides and landslips are or likely to be on his railroad. They're usually quite obvious even if they haven't moved in a hundred years.
RWM
Landslide has closed SEA - Vancouver rail line . Not enough info yet.
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