We've had a lot of headlines recently about derailments and collisions, but incidents caused by severe weather may not get reported.
This afternoon the radio has been abuzz with flash flood warnings along the Yuma sub, generally heading northwest. About an hour ago water was reported at or above ballast height near the brand new crossovers at Wister MP 658, and now 'some rails and ties are in mid air'. Sounds like the new culverts could not keep up as a lake grew along the north side towards MP 662. MOW forces are currently assessing the damage as DS 244 stuffs a lot of sidings in the area. Amtk #1 is currently on time near Benson, AZ but .....
UPDATE: for over two hours both mains have been OOS between MP 658 and MP 665. After cleanup of some on-track debris, main 1 is being returned to service with a 25 MPH speed restriction. Sounds like they dodged a muddy bullet.
Links to my Google Maps ---> Sunset Route overview, SoCal metro, Yuma sub, Gila sub, SR east of Tucson, BNSF Northern Transcon and Southern Transcon *** Why you should support Ukraine! ***
NE side of Salton Sea, parallel to Hwy. 111.
Thanks for sharing, and the Google map with markers, etc.
- Paul North.
Early in the AM of Monday they are running on main 2 between CP Wister and W Niland, don't know why they had to change. No doubt at sunrise a lot of MOW equipment will get busy on the damage.
For a change Amtrak #2 is less than an hour late and it looks like it will meet #1 along the 2MT by the Salton Sea.
Hear anything else about all this, Mike?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- K.P.’s absolute “theorem” from early, early childhood that he has seen over and over and over again: Those that CAUSE a problem in the first place will act the most violently if questioned or exposed.
As of today all seems back to normal. Monday looked like a busy MOW day with blocks out of service west from Niland all the way to Beaumont. Having two tracks with CTC keeps things moving while repairs are made, an especially good investment in flash flood country.
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