CN's bridge over the Mississippi river spillway that was closed in January when spillwy was opened is now burning. At least 750 feet reported destroyed as of 1600 CST. Could be repairs started fire ? One has to wonder with the present state of CN's finances if CN will even repair the bridgel. Do not know how much longer and distance will continue to burn ?
How Amtrak will handle this major service disruption is ripe for pure speculation.
1. Turn train at Jackson ? That's What is happening today.
2. Terminate at Memphis ?
3. Run train to Hamond turn right to Baton Rouge and go to NOL ? CN HMD - BTR dark class-2 limited sidings. CN BTR - NOL bad track. KCS BTR - NOL better but getting track rights and how those Pols in BTR would like the service.
4. Run CNO to Meridian on good track ( ~ 95 miles ) and then either connect to Crescent or run separately to NOL.
5. run JAN - Hattiesburg ( ~ 90 miles ) on ex IC ( KCS ? ) but track conditions unknown. Then on t NOL.
6. Other possibilities ?
http://www.wwltv.com/story/news/local/2016/02/13/amtrak-riders-diverted-jackson-due-fire-tracks-near-spillway/80338172/
many pictures
http://www.nola.com/traffic/index.ssf/2016/02/fire_burning_along_i-10_near_b.html
That second news link mentions workers grinding rail. A rail grinding train is always a source of sparks and little fires along the track. Timber trestles have lots of little niches where the spark can smoulder away unnoticed for a while before it flares up, by which time the crew will have advanced substantially. No doubt "statements" are already being taken.
750 feet of wooden trestle is nothing for CN. If this was a bridge over a major river I think I would be concerned. Something like this I would think could be funded out of petty cash.
Since the 5:00 PM news the TV stations have been reporting that the fire is out, but they haven't updated their on-line sites. This is a cellphone picture of the TV screen showing the damage:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/paulofcov/24382035924/in/dateposted-public/
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"A stranger's just a friend you ain't met yet." --- Dave Gardner
Paul of Covington Since the 5:00 PM news the TV stations have been reporting that the fire is out, but they haven't updated their on-line sites. This is a cellphone picture of the TV screen showing the damage: https://www.flickr.com/photos/paulofcov/24382035924/in/dateposted-public/
CSX had a similar trestle fire at the conclusion of the Maintenance Jamboree on the NO&M when a trestle system was set on fire by one of the welding contractors. As I recall, it took nearly a month for the trestle to be replaced. During the outage, traffic was detoured over the NS between Birmingham and New Orleans - the same detour that was used when the NO&M and M&M subs were destroyed by Hurricane Katrina.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
A few more pictures:
http://www.nola.com/#/7 (Edit) This link has been changed. See below.
One of the reporters commented that creosote burns readily and is difficult to put out. Apparently it's so.
Balt, I assume NO&M is New Orleans-Mobile. What is M&M, Mobile-Montgomery?
Unconfirmed reports by train tracker showed 58 going to NOL - Meridian - Jackson Saturday. Now 7 hours late.
Paul of Covington A few more pictures: http://www.nola.com/#/7 One of the reporters commented that creosote burns readily and is difficult to put out. Apparently it's so. Balt, I assume NO&M is New Orleans-Mobile. What is M&M, Mobile-Montgomery?
http://www.nola.com/#/7
Johnny
Interesting that CN set its trestle on fire and gave the workers extinguishers to put it out. Sounds like arson to me. Welders are notorious for lighting fires: burned down an historic house in Minnesota, lit one of our old railcars in our musuem, etc. And were not prepared to put out a fire. CN: post a fire watch with a tank car full of water (extinguishers put out wastebaskets). Bet they will have a whole host of excuses for their stupidity!
This link shows some of the damage:
http://www.wwltv.com/story/news/local/2016/02/14/massive-fire-near-spillway-extinguished/80371882/
Unconfirmed report says CNOL will be turning at Jackson until further notice. Is the OBS crew Chicago based or New Orleans ? This will free up a train set but how will the maintenance presently done at new Orleans be re allocated ? Then what happens to personell at NOL ?
Read one report of 4000 + feet destroyed with another 1000 maybe heavy damage ? What is total length ?. Might be right time to completely rebuild this 10 MPH max speed ?
The repairs may take a while since Army corp of engineers may require review and changes to any building / rebuilding plans over the major spillway. When SOU RR rebuilt its lake Ponchatrain tressel SOU took 2+ years to increase weight capacity of an in service bridge.
Maybe a longer term solution until CN bridge rebuilt is to restore rail JAN - NOL by way of JAN - Hattiesburg - NOL ? Anyone know how quickly this could occurr, the track layout, allowed speeds, sidings, state of repair of the ~90 mile KCS JAN - HGB route ?
Could KCS be required to take the CNO under a directed service order ? What agency would issue same ? FRA . US DOT, STB. or other ?
blue streak 1 ..... Read one report of 4000 + feet destroyed with another 1000 maybe heavy damage ? What is total length ?.
..... Read one report of 4000 + feet destroyed with another 1000 maybe heavy damage ? What is total length ?.
From Google Earth, total length is about 11,800 ft; but there are earth "fire stops?" every 1000 ft or so.....
from the Far East of the Sunset Route
(In the shadow of the Huey P Long bridge)
Unconfirmed reports idicate bridge almost repaired and CNO will operate over it Tuesday. We will see ! ! Maybe CN earlier ? ?
I drove (to visit family) from BR to NO yestreday (2/21/16), using I-10. I saw crews & equipment on the tracks, but could not tell (at highway speed) any structural damage, nor any obvious new supports.....
I'll be riding the CNO in July so hope all repairs are done by then, sure don't want to spend a lot of time on a bus when I want to be on a train. I'm going down to visit a friend and redeeming Amtrak Guest Rewards for a free trip. Will be my first time on CNO. Parents and I went down on IC years ago, but riding on a "pass", we were not allowed on any direct train, had to change at Memphis, but same route as I recognize the town names like McComb, MS
Todays' train tracker (http://asm.transitdocs.com/) at 3:30 PM, shows 58 and 59 on time into and out of NOL. 58 is 13 min late at Hammond, LA and 59 is 23 min late at Hammond. Seems like the track is open.
This bridge will be repaired in no time!! It's my understanding the approval has just been given to use the City Of New Orleans for continuing service to Orlando, Fla. The last I heard, few areas between Pensacola, Fla and Tallahassee, Fla needs track upgrading by CSX along with adding P.T.C. Amtrak is now waiting for funding from Washington.....be sure to contact your favorite politicians to get the high ball route, expedited.
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