track closures UP and BNSF

[blue streak 1]

All the weather problems have affected both RRs in significant ways.  We have not heard too much probably because of the remoteness of the incidents.  Much closure info has come from the many Amtrak and commuter cancellations.

It appears both RRs will need to implement detours for an undetermined amount of time which may become clearer in a few hours or days ?  How the RRs will operate the detours will become interesting especially the question of qualified crews which may vary sub division to sub division due to local rules.  Questions of recall of any furloughed persons, transfer previously qualified persons from other locations, moving downgraded engineers back from  conductor positions,  operating trains with one qualified and one person from other locations to be qualified are all important . 

North to south:  BNSF shows three slides

http://domino.bnsf.com/website/updates.nsf/updates-service-consumer/C4B362200CBC5A4B862580C2006C8552?Open

Marias pass.  What comparsions to these landslides to previous ones ? Did any go over present snow shed slide protections ?  Did any go past area where old snow shed slide buildings were removed ?  Were there new slide locations not previously protected ?  And of course how soon will slide threats expire ?

MRL----  How is the MRL handling some detours and how many can they take considering the above questions.  Does BNSF have trackage rights on MRL if MRL runs out of crews ?

How long will the SEA - Everett and PDX - Tacoma lines be out of service ?  Will trains have to be reclassified at Spokane to separate cars to go over Stampede pass to SEA.  What about double stacks and auto carriers which cannot clear tunnel over Stampede ?

Will BNSF route any traffic over the southern transcon ?

The floods around Wells has closed both of UP's old SP  &  WP routes. Again how long to open first route ?  Is Donner and Feather river routes stablized once Overland route reopened ??  Are we to expect diversions on both the Columbia River route and the Las Vegas routes <> Bay area ?  Any on the Sunset route ?  Bailey yard might need to reclassify some trains ?

All this should make for a long article in a future trains magazine.

[BaltACD]

As I have stated in the past.  RR's when forced by Moms Nature to repair their plant to open critical routes can do so with amazing speed as under the reality of a complete shut down until repairs are effected - no expense is spared in getting the line reopened.  I will be full employment for all contractors in the affected areas, with incentives for the contractors to delay jobs they are already working on to perform RR work instead.

[PNWRMNM]

blue streak 1

Marias pass. What comparsions to these landslides to previous ones ? Did any go over present snow shed slide protections ? Did any go past area where old snow shed slide buildings were removed ? Were there new slide locations not previously protected ? And of course how soon will slide threats expire ?

MRL---- How is the MRL handling some detours and how many can they take considering the above questions. Does BNSF have trackage rights on MRL if MRL runs out of crews ?

How long will the SEA - Everette and PDX - Tacoma lines be out of service ? Will trains have to be reclassified at Spokane to separate cars to go over Stampede pass to SEA. What about double stacks and auto carriers which cannot clear tunnel over Stampede ?

Streak,

The avalanches on Marias Pass are SNOW, not land or landslides. That said, an avalanch often brings down trees, which a rotary snow plow can not digest.

Please learn to spell Everett WA. It does not have the final "e" you consistently add.

Mac McCulloch

[Bruce Kelly]

For track charts showing precise snowshed positions go here, and scroll down to Hi Line Subdivision Pages 5-6:

http://www.fobnr.org/profiles/BN1993/NorthernCorridor/Montana.pdf

One of the later avalanches this week was described as being near MP 1163 by some sources, and MP 1162 by official BNSF sources. Either way, there's ample room for avalanches to hit between the existing sheds at those locations because new chutes have developed over the decades since those sheds were built or extended.

Back when I did a story on the sheds and their avalanche history for Railfan & Railroad, my research led to a multitude of resources showing the extensive monitoring that's been done on this stuff, a few of which are linked here:

http://arc.lib.montana.edu/snow-science/objects/issw-2006-747-756.pdf

https://parkplanning.nps.gov/document.cfm?parkID=61&projectID=12355&documentID=24072

After clicking the "...parkplanning.nps..." link, scroll down and click on the link for the "Final EIS" file; it may take a minute to download. The front cover aerial image illustrates pretty clearly what BNSF is up against in that canyon. It was taken after they had cleared snow that overshot the east end of Shed 7, but you can see the rest of the avalanche debris above and below the shed. The maps accompanying these docs show how a new avalanche chute above Shed 7 has developed over time, aiming diagonally across the first one, and depositing directly onto the open tracks at the shed's east end. Similar problems are shown taking shape elsewhere in the canyon.

 

[David1005]

If the "floods around Wells" referees to the dam break east of Wells, the WP is not effected and is being used as a detour. The mainline south of Sacramento washed out today derailing a train. About 14 cars in the river. The WP line between Sacramento and Stockton is usable as a detour, but is not easy to get on in Sacramento.  Requires a back up move. 

[David1005]

If the "floods areund Wells" referees to the dam break east of Wells, the WP is not effected and is being used as a detour. The mainline south of Sacramento washed out today derailing a train. About 14 cars in the river. The WP line between Sacramento and Stockton is usable as a detour, but is not easy to get on in Sacramento.  Requires a back up move. 

[blue streak 1]

Its not going to be easy for UP --  pictures 2 & 4 instant views

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865673016/Flooding-from-breached-Nevada-dam-affecting-road-and-rail-routes-to-Utah.html