BNSF Targets Bombing Run...

[SALfan]

Nukes are the answer.

I remember reading that serious study was given nearly 50 years ago to nuking a nice gentle grade from Los Angles to the east. Building the interstate highway system prompted the study, but the railroads were to be considered for the resulting right of way as well.

Edwin Teller was advocating nuclear fusion reaction as the agent to move mountains. The underground explosions would not send much fallout into the atmosphere, but the blast trailings and eventual corridor would be hotter than hell for a hell of a long time.

Too bad.

A nice clean explosive of such magnitutude would eliminate a lot of steep grades and high altitude passes. Imagine a "water level" route from Chicago to Seattle with only an even drop in evelation the length of the entire route from Lake Michigan to the Pacific Ocean.

Where is Dr. Strangelove now that we need him?

A couple of thousand trainloads of TNT would probably give the same result.  Think of it - years and years of spectacular blasting work.  TNT train derailments would probably be pretty rough, though. 

[Victrola1]

Think of it as a linear Grand Canyon of the North.

Stand on the hillside looking down at all those smaller than N gauge trains at the bottom of the ditch. Drainage may add to the view as pierced aquafiers drop thousands of feet to the trench running along side to Seattle.  

It would not take much more to make a sea level canal.

 

 

[trainboyH16-44]

Something similar is used in Roger's pass....which the CPR abandoned in 1916 after a particularely tragic avalanche. The trans-canada highway now goes through the pass, and with over 10 metres of annual snowfall, 105mm shells are regularely lobbed up onto avalanche slopes from concrete pads to stop monster avalanches like the one that happened in the 1910s, killing almost 100 people when it struck a passenger train...or the many others that wiped out trains and towns in the pass...
http://www.backcountrysafety.com/a_rogers-pass-avalanche-control.php

[Anonymous]

As someone else mentioned, the use of artillery or air cannons to lob explosives onto dangerous spots is a well-established practice.  It has been done on ski slopes in Colorado and other parts of the country for years.  I do think that BNSF ought to pay the bill, but otherwise, there is no good reason for anybody to get too upset about it.

[JSGreen]

Latest update, from the Missoulian:  (only part of the article is presented here....)

Glacier National Park officials recommend alternative to bombing
By MICHAEL JAMISON of the Missoulian

WEST GLACIER - Glacier National Park officials have balked at a proposal by railroaders that would have protected train tracks from avalanches by bombing the park's wilderness backcountry.

Instead, park officials recommend that Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad build snowsheds over the line, noting that “historically, the railroad constructed snowsheds in this area to protect trains.”

That's according to a draft environmental impact statement released this week, in response to a BNSF request to conduct avalanche blasting within Glacier

. 
The controversial proposal drew fire from many critics, including Steve Thompson of the National Parks Conservation Association.

After an initial review of the park's snowshed recommendation, Thompson applauded the decision, saying “it's really very consistent with the Park Service mission.”

Gus Melonas, spokesman for BNSF, said the company had not yet had time to carefully analyze the lengthy document.

Clearly, however, the snowshed recommendation fell far short of the railroad's initial request.

[Lyon_Wonder]

Maybe BNSF will acquire some of these:)

[JSGreen]

Now THAT would put  a new slant on  the War Bonnet.  Dont suppose they'd dare paint 'em as War Pumpkins, do ya? .