Rain and Flooding in So Cal

[MP57313]

So Cal is getting an "early" major rainstorm. Weathercasters say these usually don't show up until December.

Local radio (KNX) news reports included railroads this morning...

1. Metrolink service on the 'Riverside line' suspended due to water across the tracks. I *think* they are referring to the UP/LA&SL line (same one that had the derailment Saturday). Metrolink also runs on the BNSF/ATSF through Santa Ana Canyon but I don't think that's the line they meant.
2. Minor derailment in Ontario...did not say what line. Two UP lines (SP-Sunset and UP/LA&SL) run through Ontario.
3. Several reports of crossing gates lowered with no trains nearby...messes up rush hour traffic.

MP

[vsmith]

Yeah, its been a major mess out here, started raining last night at 8 and was a constant heavy downpour all night long. I'm up near the foothills and we got hammered last night, news said the front stalled right over us for a couple hours, bad day to doing anything...

[Mookie]

Think Dan is looking for you....

[vsmith]

Mookie, who me or MP?

[Mookie]

You - go to the cinder-*** posting. He is waiting for you there! As well as half the forum!

[mudchicken]

MP:

Watson Yard under water? (Long Beach/Carson BNSF entry into the port?, I Hi-railed thru there many times with water up to the bottom of the truck door north of Highway 1 by the Texaco & Chevron refineries)

How fared the new Alameda hole in the ground?

[MP57313]

QUOTE: Originally posted by mudchicken

MP:
Watson Yard under water? (Long Beach/Carson BNSF entry into the port?, I Hi-railed thru there many times with water up to the bottom of the truck door north of Highway 1 by the Texaco & Chevron refineries) How fared the new Alameda hole in the ground?

Have not heard, and it's tough to go snooping on a weekday, rain or shine. Those lines don't make the news.
Further news on the derailment was that it was on the south side of I-10, which makes it the ex-SP. No injuries, only a handful of cars.

[ericsp]

QUOTE: Originally posted by mudchicken

MP:

Watson Yard under water? (Long Beach/Carson BNSF entry into the port?, I Hi-railed thru there many times with water up to the bottom of the truck door north of Highway 1 by the Texaco & Chevron refineries)

How fared the new Alameda hole in the ground?

Chevron is in El Segundo. Are you refering the Shell refinery? It closed in 1992(?) and Unocal (now part of Valero) bought or leased part of all of it and is using part of it. Ironically, the Texaco refinery is now a Shell refinery as a result of the Equilon JV and the Chevron-Texaco merger.

[espeefoamer]

I tried to take Metrolink on the Riverside line today, but it was closed due to flooding[:(!].I wanted to check out the Wreck site.

[MP57313]

QUOTE: Originally posted by espeefoamer

I tried to take Metrolink on the Riverside line today, but it was closed due to flooding[:(!].I wanted to check out the Wreck site.

Bummer...I heard that on the news, but Metrolink did not have anything on its web site this morning. I sent them an email. The San Bernardino line east of Cucamonga was also closed due to some flooding.
Just heard this evening that all lines should be on the 'normal schedule' tomorrow.

[MP57313]

QUOTE: Originally posted by mudchicken
Watson Yard under water? How fared the new Alameda hole in the ground?

Made it out to Watson Yard this afternoon, just in time to see a short train of tank cars backing along to the UP interchange. Lots of mud & puddles but all seemed ok. Did not make it out to the Corridor slot. I imagine it is ok, otherwise we would have seen another stack train come through on the Harbor sub!

[mudchicken]

Heard from an old compadre still working for BNSF in the LA basin that Cajon had some minor washouts and ballast scour, but that was it. BNSF's rubber duckie apparently is soaked, battered and bruised but still working. If you bump into the BNSF Harbor Sub Track Supervisor out hi-railing, say Hi! to "da Killa"....

Spent several long nights watching the Texaco refinery at PCH burn and helped pull tank cars out of harms way. Was talking about the Shell refinery between Watson and PCH / West Thenard (Long Beach Branch, Allameda runs under the railroad right next to West Thenard diamond) as oppossed to the Wilmington branch that runs through Watson and then accross PCH a little further north.