Trains.com

Geologic anomaly threatens UP track in CA

1382 views
5 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    January 2003
  • From: Kenosha, WI
  • 6,567 posts
Geologic anomaly threatens UP track in CA
Posted by zardoz on Saturday, January 5, 2019 1:28 PM

Also threatend are a petroleum pipeline, Verizon fiber-optic cables, and parts of state highway 111.

https://www.livescience.com/63998-mud-pool-creeping-across-california.html

Scroll to the 6th paragraph for the beginning of the segment regarding the tracks.

An interesting video at the end of the article, focusing on the effect the hole is having on the railroad.

  • Member since
    January 2019
  • From: Henrico, VA
  • 9,728 posts
Posted by Flintlock76 on Saturday, January 5, 2019 3:17 PM

This reminds me of a very interesting and profound quote I read once...

"Geology becomes geography when the geology turns into something man can use.  The trouble is, geology just keeps happening irregardless of mans wishes."

  • Member since
    July 2010
  • From: Louisiana
  • 2,310 posts
Posted by Paul of Covington on Sunday, January 6, 2019 12:28 PM

   That's weird.    I never thought of geysers traveling before.  I wonder  if the ground some distance behind the geyser would be stable enough that they could eventually relocate the tracks on that side.

   Also, he said that they didn't expect an earthquake and that seismic activity had decreased.   I think I remember seeing some time ago that earthquakes tended to be preceded by a lack of minor tremors.

_____________ 

  "A stranger's just a friend you ain't met yet." --- Dave Gardner

  • Member since
    June 2009
  • From: Dallas, TX
  • 6,952 posts
Posted by CMStPnP on Sunday, January 6, 2019 6:06 PM

Why can't they build a suspension bridge over it?

  • Member since
    December 2007
  • From: Georgia USA SW of Atlanta
  • 11,919 posts
Posted by blue streak 1 on Sunday, January 6, 2019 7:50 PM

Wonder if the geologists think UP can relocate tracks to position above where mud hole was first found years ago  ?

  • Member since
    September 2011
  • 6,449 posts
Posted by MidlandMike on Sunday, January 6, 2019 10:27 PM

The mud hole could migrate back to the old position.  A typical geologic solution would be to drill an interceptor well to provide a path to vent the gas/fluid to the surface in a controlled manner.  The article seems to indicate some of this was done, but no info on how serious the effort was.  It gets expensive really fast.

Join our Community!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

Search the Community

Newsletter Sign-Up

By signing up you may also receive occasional reader surveys and special offers from Trains magazine.Please view our privacy policy