So, I posted in the thread on the Lava Fire and the lost UP bridge, but the Dixie Fire has enveloped the Feather River Canyon. Currently dangerously close to Quincy. Keddie is in the middle of it.
There's been news articles about UP using the fire train in the Canyon, but I cannot find any News Stories aboutthe line being shut down. It ABSOLUTELY has been shut down with major infra damage, but unlike the lava fire, this hasn't been reported.
I take the lack of reporting to indicate that they haven't lost the Keddie Wye or any of the other Iconic major bridges YET, but still. And that means UP and BNSF are shut down.
And that was the routing much of UP's N-S traffic was beign diverted to. So where is it going now? And BNSF is routing through Denver, where are their N-S trains going? Down the joint line and over the Transcon? Presumably this is putting pressure on Donner.
Sitting here in Roseville, aside from the Valley sub being quiet, it's been hard to quantify the changes.
Curious if anyone knows more.
There was speculation on Altamont Press discussion board that UP may choose to get rid of the Canyon Sub rather than Rebuild again. Curious what people here thing of that.
I don't have any knowledge of the area so commenting would be a waste of time - I know that doesn't stop others, but it does stop me.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
This was 4 days ago, UP trying to save the wye. I'm assuming they succeeded (Facebook link for those that don't like facebook) https://www.facebook.com/100009288782788/videos/pcb.1918214558341338/966339427496645
From what I have read, the UP was able to protect the Feather River Canyon trackage. There may be some minor damage to repair, and this kind of fire results in trees falling over for weeks after the flames ard controlled, which may block the tracks. But the canyon should be open soon as the fire is controlled. I do not believe the BNSF did as well with the High Line. They may have had at least one of the steel bridges damaged.
On the Rochelle cam yesterday I watched for five hours and saw only one real UP train, an eastbound stack that appeared to have international boxes. There was another odd train that only had three box cars pulled by three big locomotives. UP usually runs at least a train an hour on average through Rochelle, if not more, these days. Fires impacting traffic this far east?
As I recall most of the ties in the Canyon are concrete. I did hear that there was some tunnel damage. I think the tunnels are either rock or concrete lined. There may be some wood retaining walls at the entrances. The bridges and turnouts are wood ties.
To update what I posted earlier, I just finished listening to the Incident Management Team 7:00 pm briefing. They said that there was a tunnel damaged, but it was the Elephant tunnel, which is a tunnel on highway 70, not a railroad tunnel. It appears that the report that a railroad tunnel was damaged by the fire was a misinturption of available data.
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