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Starlight train now cancelled from Sacramento to Klamath Falls with bus bridge

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Starlight train now cancelled from Sacramento to Klamath Falls with bus bridge
Posted by blue streak 1 on Wednesday, June 30, 2021 3:59 AM

From Sacremento - Klamath Falls bus bridge due to fire.  6/29 - 7/01.  Cannot get Amtrak delay tweet to link..  The UP  Dry Canyon bridge which is a steel bridge with timber cross ties burned .  At present UP does not know exent of damage to steel frame. 

UP: General Announcements

If this is a major problem UP might need to use the inside gateway again.  It would seem that route neeeds upgrading as an alternate route.  There has been several closures of the UP (SP) route in past years. 

e5fnofmveamkhrj-jpg.23271 (450×600) (amtraktrains.com)

The track dip in the above picture may mean something??

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Posted by PNWRMNM on Wednesday, June 30, 2021 6:55 AM

Streak,

The 'Inside Gateway' is mostly BNSF, with some UP trackage rights. Are you proposing that BNSF should spend its money just in case UP has a problem?

I am 99.99% confident each has detour rights on the other. The instant and immediate problem with detours of this length is lack of crews.

Mac

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Posted by Overmod on Wednesday, June 30, 2021 7:06 AM

Ironic that the fire that damaged the bridge occurs during a prolonged severe hot spell, near Hotlum... Laugh

I don't think this was a 'bridge fire' as much as a wildfire around the bridge that ignited the ties.  That I suspect is why there is extended concern about the steel in most of the structure.  It will be interesting to see how they proceed in this weather if functional replacement is necessary.

For me, your linked picture requires sign-in.  Is there a source that doesn't?

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Posted by blue streak 1 on Wednesday, June 30, 2021 1:44 PM

OH-OH  This does not look good.  Do we suspect that every bridge member is going to need some kind of testing ?,

ad46f9ea-225e-4e75-a09d-8bd9c1f8cc4d-jpeg.23284 (777×600) (amtraktrains.com)

Who will take first train across or will they use remote (DPU) unit(s) to cross ?

This line has had several long disruptions.  It may be that the federal Government may supply funds to upgrade the inside gateway ?  Please correct  any of these recollections.

1.  understand will not take double stacks ?

2.  No signaling ?

3.  Short sidings

4.  what kind of dispatching ?  Train order ?

5.  How many qualified UP crews ?

6.  How long to qualify enough UP crews to use route ?

 Found pictures of fire damage with some of UP RR.

Lava Fire photos: see the desolation left behind (mtshastanews.com)

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Posted by Overmod on Wednesday, June 30, 2021 2:17 PM

Scroll down to the bottom of the Mt Shasta link for a picture of the end of the bridge.

Yes, that's likely to involve testing all the bridge members.  And could be interesting to watch if a substantial number of them need replacing -- as may be likely.

On the other hand, if the fire was fast-moving the ignition of the bridge ties may not reflect damage to the actual bridge steel.

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Posted by blue streak 1 on Wednesday, June 30, 2021 3:06 PM

Starlight now showing cancelled thru July 14th.

Select your trip from Emeryville, CA to Seattle, WA

Advanced SearchOpen

Departure

Wed, Jul 14
Compare Fares
DEPARTS
10:04p
 
Canceled
to21h 52m
ARRIVES
7:56p
Thu, Jul 15
DetailsSelect
 
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Posted by blue streak 1 on Wednesday, June 30, 2021 3:15 PM

Overmod =sorry about the Kalmbach IT system over  writing your post.  Will not let me edit or delete. IT please fix these problems.

Note cancellation is between Sacremento and Klamath Falls right now but in future who knows ?

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Posted by Overmod on Wednesday, June 30, 2021 3:25 PM

I'm not sure what it is about Amtrak's formatting that drives Kalmbach wild.  It renders exactly the same goofy way on a phone that it does with desktop browsers, so it's a fundamental code error... but perhaps Amtrak using something nonstandard.  

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Posted by blue streak 1 on Monday, July 5, 2021 11:25 AM

Starlight passengers can ride Cascades Seattle = Eugene.  No bus bridge to SAC,   Here is Amtrak service announcement  thru July 14th.

 

 

Coast Starlight Trains Canceled Between Seattle and Sacramento until mid-July

Friday, July 2, 2021 1:30 PM EDT

 

Amtrak Cascades Trains Provide Substitute Transportation Seattle-Eugene

 

Trains 11 & 14 are unable to operate between Seattle and Sacramento due to a temporary track closure by the Union Pacific Railroad. Until on or about July 14, these Amtrak Coast Starlight trains will operate only between Los Angeles and Sacramento.

Customers booked between Seattle and Eugene are welcomed aboard Amtrak Cascades trains. No other substitute transportation is available. Refunds are being provided.


Customers with reservations on trains that are being modified will typically be accommodated on trains with similar departure times or another day. Amtrak will waive additional charges for customers looking to change their reservation during the modified schedule by calling our reservation center at 1-800-USA-RAIL.

The most up-to-date train status is availble on Amtrak.com and in the free mobile app.

Follow us on Twitter for real-time service information:

  • @AmtrakNECAlerts for service information in the Northeast Corridor (Acela, Northeast Regional and other corridor services).
  • @AmtrakAlerts for service information outside the Northeast Corridor.

Subscribe at Amtrak.com/DelayAlerts to receive automated email or text message notifications if Amtrak trains are behind schedule at specific stations.

This information is correct as of the time and date above. Information is subject to change as conditions warrant.

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Posted by timz on Tuesday, July 6, 2021 6:57 PM

Have you seen the pics of the damage? Nothing is going to be running Black Butte to Klamath Falls in ten days.

Rumor: UP isn't going to fix the bridge -- they're replacing it.

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Posted by blue streak 1 on Wednesday, July 7, 2021 11:47 AM

timz

Have you seen the pics of the damage? Nothing is going to be running Black Butte to Klamath Falls in ten days.

Rumor: UP isn't going to fix the bridge -- they're replacing it.

 
Wonder if the present cooper rating is not what UP desires ?  If so they probably already had plans of what was needed.   The biggest problem is if UP is replacing the bridge is getting the proper steel for the rebuilding ?  Foundations probably woulde not be a problem  New foundations can be installed while waiting for the steel?
Wonder if UP would not allow 4014 across the bridge ?
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Posted by BaltACD on Wednesday, July 7, 2021 2:13 PM

blue streak 1
 
timz

Have you seen the pics of the damage? Nothing is going to be running Black Butte to Klamath Falls in ten days.

Rumor: UP isn't going to fix the bridge -- they're replacing it. 

Wonder if the present cooper rating is not what UP desires ?  If so they probably already had plans of what was needed.   The biggest problem is if UP is replacing the bridge is getting the proper steel for the rebuilding ?  Foundations probably woulde not be a problem  New foundations can be installed while waiting for the steel?
Wonder if UP would not allow 4014 across the bridge ?

They MAY be replacing it with a existing bridge on a out of service or abondoned trackage that UP still owns.  Piers can be adapted to the requirements of a 'transferred' bridge.

UP has moved bridges to repair incidents in the past.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by YoHo1975 on Friday, July 9, 2021 12:25 PM
I'm not sure they have an out of service span that would make the fit. Honestly, Amtrak service not withstanding, having an outage on the Shasta part of the cutoff is better, because they are just detouring to K-Falls. Which is why they haven't redirected anything up CORP this time. Though one does wonder if they wouldn't want to fund some improvements on the Siskiyou pass line just to make it handle the big power better. (aka, track upgrades, but not tunnel upgrades)
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Posted by blue streak 1 on Thursday, July 15, 2021 5:10 PM

Spell check strikes again

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Posted by blue streak 1 on Thursday, July 15, 2021 5:11 PM

Latest up date from Amtrak

SERVICE ALERT: Coast Starlight Train 14 departing Los Angeles (LAX) on 7/15- 9/7 will operate as a bus between Sacramento (SAC) & Klamath Falls (KFS) due to a track closure. All intermediate stops will be made. For reservation assistance please call or text 1-800-USA-RAIL.

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