ICG Swing span-Bridge over the Missouri River at Omaha,Council Bluffs.

[Anonymous]

Most of you Railfan's or anyone in Omaha & Council Bluffs might already know this but, I know that the UP has been for sometime has been running a loaded coal train into C.B,iowa,then they back it up into the Amtrak Depot then down to Gibson yard and they run the load up to OPPD up in noth Omaha to have it unloaded. I have heard that it would easer to run it over the old ICG branch over into Nebraska over that old Swing Span,But I was thinking that,that old timer wouldn't hold up to the Heavy Tonnage,Right
Now that the BNSF gave up the contract to the UP and the UP has it now, Oh Boy sure wouldn't it be nice to sure have the old Mo-pac river line still intacked right about now.But back to the shifting coal train.I know that the UP is paying the BNSF to make this long pain staking move and yet the UP already knows how much how of a pain this realy is but,Isn't there a better way the UP can find a simpler way to try to ease this pratice or will the UP continue to do the coal train shift? I also understand that the city of Omaha wants to convert this old bridge into a TRAIL. I don't know what is going on anymore!
But my Big Question is: Do you think that the UP might someday use that old ICG Bridge or the UP continue to the Coal Train Shift at Omaha?
Thanks.

[kwboehm]

Is the swing machinery caput? I had heard that they close the bridge something like twice a year to make sure it was still operational. Or is that a practice that no longer takes place? Also does the IC even go into there anymore or not cuz of the bridge? And if they don't how come they didn't remove the crossing when they re-did Abbott Dr.?

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by kwboehm

Is the swing machinery caput? I had heard that they close the bridge something like twice a year to make sure it was still operational. Or is that a practice that no longer takes place? Also does the IC even go into there anymore or not cuz of the bridge? And if they don't how come they didn't remove the crossing when they re-did Abbott Dr.?

As far as I know and far as I have seen the CNIC still delivers box cars to some where past the Abbott Drive crossing on to the east side. At least that part of the line is still active! But not much is left of north Omaha at all[:(].

[Anonymous]

Ya I have noticed that there is still a lot of rail activity up in north omaha.
I still think it's funny that alot of stupid truckers keep slamming there trailers into that bridge just south of the water treatment plant too,That old CNW main line.