La Crosse, Wi area railroads shut down??

[dknelson]

 [As I type this it is raining hard again... thinking it is time to build a bigger boat.]

40 days and 40 nights starts to sound just about right, doesn't it?  If you are bringing on the animals two by two, please leave the mosquitos behind this time.

Dave Nelson

[rocky367]

 Had the local pass by my work this afternoon, so I'm guessing that the yard is starting to open up a bit that they can start doing the local run. My wife works at a Kwik Trip in LaCrosse and says that she is seeing alot of dumptrucks that aren't from the area running back and forth on the highway all evening.

[Lord Atmo]

Hehehe, I got two BNSF trains on the WC last night. Atmo gets foiled again....Hehehe.

Alec

i get more trains than you anyway.

and it seems i'm getting an ICE detour headed for Altoona as we speak. it left lebanon at noon today and i wouldnt doubt if it showed up here soon enough. i'm trying to find more info as it comes. i MUST see this train! 

[mttcrlsn]

Main track 1 was put back in service about 3am this morning with trains passing at crawl speed to walking speed. Both westbounds and eastbounds are using this with eastbound running reverse main to Genoa.  Main 2 is still out and they are dumping rock as of 16:00. The area is being referred to as the "big hole" or "big dig" due to the tons of rock it is taking to fill.  Additionally because the area is so wet and saturated more fill and tamping will be needed on both tracks over the coming weeks.

Highway 35 remains closed as the staging area for equipment (note that I have seen Hulcher trucks with Oklahoma and Texas plates).

BNSF has still been sending detours via the CP today even with the opening. I observed 3 eastbound Z trains heading onto the CP this afternoon.

[As I type this it is raining hard again... thinking it is time to build a bigger boat.]

[woody9]

2:45 p.m. Just saw my first BN run through on the CP/Metra line to Elgin. East bound pigs and trailers with punkins and warbonnets in the lead. Held at Galewood to clear some Metra traffic and then to Cragin junction. 

[wctransfer]

Hehehe, I got two BNSF trains on the WC last night. Atmo gets foiled again....Hehehe.

Alec

[WSOR 3801]

Looks like a CP/ICE detour has gone on the UP Adams line.  A westbound, with 1 CP SD40 or -2, followed by 2 ICE SD40-2s.  Past Lebanon WI mp 282.5 Adams Sub at 1200.  Looked fairly long.

[woody9]

Any ideas on how all of this may effect the 2816 excursions for next week?

Can anybody help me with schedules and routes in the Chicago area for 2816? Coming from Milwaukee to Chicago on 30th, where does whistle ban start? Where will engine layover 30th&31st?

 Thanks

Woody9

[Los Angeles Rams Guy]

I've heard others speculate on the abandonment of the east end of the DM&E, but color me a skeptic.

Firstly, DM&E isn't saying much, even about the extent of the damage, let alone their future plans for the line. Anything out and about now is pure speculation. That doesn't make it incorrect, but take it for what it's worth.

Secondly, a lot of DM&E customers, even after the IC&E merger, have continued to route trains to the CP and UP interchanges at MC Jct. and Winona, respectively. Yes, it's true that the majority of DM&E's traffic goes south at Owatonna and down onto the IC&E, but there are still healthy trains running this route. They're correct in saying one per day (east one day, west the next is the typical schedule), but that's still a lot of revenue.

Thirdly, this line will play squarely at the center of the Powder River Basin project. It offers DM&E direct access to key power plants in Wisconsin, including key big plants at Weston and Columbia (Portage). Both those plants are served by CP (Weston is also served by CN), and with DM&E having a shorter route than UP or BNSF, they'd have a good shot at underbidding.

I've been wrong before, and I'm a little biased because this is one of my favorite sections of the DM&E — very scenic — but I just don't see it in the cards. Only time will tell, however...

A right bloody mess indeed for CP. As reported on the news wire, in addition to Garvin Brook, the Whitewater River bridge at Weaver, while still intact, has had its approaches washed away. Those are two key bridges of respectable size that will keep the Golden Rodent down for a while. I bet now they're wishing they had a transfer track in the northeast quadrant of Grand Crossing at La Crosse. I'd imagine CP's ID crews will get sick of the run-around move in a big hurry...

Andy Cummings
Associate Editor
Trains Magazine
Waukesha, Wis.

It may take awhile but I feel fairly confident that the DME's line west from CK Tower will eventually get rebuilt.  There's a lot of work there, obviously, but it's simply too important of a link to let go and it's an important I/C point as well for my employer (CPRS) - coal or no coal.  The ICE mainline from La Crescent southward (what I affectionately call "my mainline") will probably be O.O.S. for a month, perhaps a little more but it will get rebuilt and will be just fine.  It isn't the first time that CP's River Sub and ICE's Marquette Sub have taken hits from water.  Anyone remember the Mississippi River floods of '65 and '69?  I do as the MILW had to reroute trains onto the Cedar Rapids-Calmar branch thru my hometown of Edgewood, Iowa (only wish I had shots of THAT action) for good periods both times.  Shoot, both segments took hits a few years back when the River flooded again.  Now this latest hit is probably like the flood every 150 years and it did a lot of damage but somehow things will get rebuilt again.  

[blhanel]

I take it last night's round of storms didn't cause any setbacks?

[Noah Hofrichter]

BNSF is confirmed to have one main open, from somebody in La Crosse. Apparently they've been running westbounds like crazy this morning.

Noah

[dknelson]

Whoever coined the phrase "a picture is worth 1,000 words" sure hit the nail on the head.

I have serious doubts in my mind that we are going to see steam over these lines in the coming few weeks ....  darn.

Dave Nelson

[Noah Hofrichter]

Wow Matt! Those are some of the best photos I've seen yet from this whole thing, both from the detour side and the washout side. Absolutely great pictures. Thanks for sharing them.

Noah

[blhanel]

WOW.

also to you, mttcrlsn.  Batten down the hatches, more rain is coming.

[rocky367]

Thanks folks, I just seen the pictures on the WKBT TV 8 website from their viewers and thought that a picture is worth a thousand words.

 Goose Island is the LaCrosse county park bordering on the Vernon County line on the very end of LaCrosse. If looking on a map for it, find county road K and Hwy 35 and you've found where it is. Stoddard is to the south and LaCrosse is to the north.

I'm a ham operator and get the hazardous weather outlooks from the National Weather Service and the last one was making it sound like that the rain is going to be coming again along with some wind, hopefully it misses the area and goes way to the north like Duluth and the northern half of Wisconsin..

[mttcrlsn]

From Monday

 

Detours have been running via the BNSF St. Croix Sub and then via the CP Sub. BNSF has managed to remove the trains that were stranded at Goose Island and is working to fill the holes and the missing 150 feet of causeway. They have a ballast train from Galesburg working from the south and another working on the north end. They also have a dump train with gravel fill and are using dump trucks to drop in boulders. The La Crosse City Track (old passenger main) at Herrington (milepost 295 - aka my back yard) is being used as a loading point for gravel. Trucks have been hauling since late last night making the neighbors happy about the noise.

 

http://www.carlsonphotos.net/gallery/albums/trains/flood/GK7S6276.jpg

http://www.carlsonphotos.net/gallery/albums/trains/flood/GK7S6286.jpg

http://www.carlsonphotos.net/gallery/albums/trains/flood/GK7S6289.jpg

http://www.carlsonphotos.net/gallery/albums/trains/flood/GK7S6294.jpg

http://www.carlsonphotos.net/gallery/albums/trains/flood/GK7S6300.jpg

http://www.carlsonphotos.net/gallery/albums/trains/flood/GK7S6304.jpg

http://www.carlsonphotos.net/gallery/albums/trains/flood/GK7S6307.jpg

 

 

BNSF Z train at Bangor, WI

http://www.carlsonphotos.net/gallery/albums/trains/flood/GK7S6327.jpg

http://www.carlsonphotos.net/gallery/albums/trains/flood/GK7S6332.jpg

http://www.carlsonphotos.net/gallery/albums/trains/flood/GK7S6334.jpg

 

BNSF eastbound Z train on the interchange to the CP yard

http://www.carlsonphotos.net/gallery/albums/trains/flood/GK7S6341.jpg

 

CP road switch pulling the BNSF through the interchange. Multiple 6 axle power is restricted from being used (must isolate all but one unit or push & pull)

http://www.carlsonphotos.net/gallery/albums/trains/flood/GK7S6346.jpg

http://www.carlsonphotos.net/gallery/albums/trains/flood/GK7S6361.jpg

 

The remains of the CHCPTL that was stuck at Goose Island

http://www.carlsonphotos.net/gallery/albums/trains/flood/GK7S6358.jpg

 

BNSF yard - "No room at the inn"

http://www.carlsonphotos.net/gallery/albums/trains/flood/GK7S6363.jpg

http://www.carlsonphotos.net/gallery/albums/trains/flood/GK7S6364.jpg

 

 

The BNSF Z in the CP yard

http://www.carlsonphotos.net/gallery/albums/trains/flood/GK7S6366.jpg

http://www.carlsonphotos.net/gallery/albums/trains/flood/GK7S6368.jpg

 

 

BNSF Z trains on the CP at Medary

http://www.carlsonphotos.net/gallery/albums/trains/flood/GK7S6377.jpg

http://www.carlsonphotos.net/gallery/albums/trains/flood/GK7S6382.jpg

http://www.carlsonphotos.net/gallery/albums/trains/flood/GK7S6385.jpg

http://www.carlsonphotos.net/gallery/albums/trains/flood/GK7S6400.jpg

http://www.carlsonphotos.net/gallery/albums/trains/flood/GK7S6403.jpg

 

 

CP power for 486 running around it train on the main so it can push into the CP yard. BNSF 823 which pull the remains of the CHCPTL prepares to head west now symbol the LAWPTL.

http://www.carlsonphotos.net/gallery/albums/trains/flood/GK7S6406.jpg

http://www.carlsonphotos.net/gallery/albums/trains/flood/GK7S6414.jpg

 

 

Loading the dump train on the City Track.

http://www.carlsonphotos.net/gallery/albums/trains/flood/GK7S6425.jpg

http://www.carlsonphotos.net/gallery/albums/trains/flood/GK7S6431.jpg

[mttcrlsn]

There has been many emails sent around with questions of what the damage is to the railroads, are detours running, can the steam train run here next week or October, will the DME rebuild.... The following images should put this into perspective as to the real impact on the people who made it (7 dead so far), including this image of items next to the railroad crossing in Stockton.
http://www.carlsonphotos.net/gallery/albums/trains/flood/GK7S6489.jpg

Now to start the tour:

Minnesota City looking west from 61. DME bridge crossing over the road CP bridge location is in the background.

http://www.carlsonphotos.net/gallery/albums/trains/flood/GK7S6444.jpg

 

The CP Minnesota City bridge - what is left. Note the missing sections in the water.  The first one is about 50 feet away from the original location, the second is hundreds of feet up the creek from where it was. Yes this is supposed to be a creek a couple inches deep. According to the homeowner that was nice enough to allow us this view the water was up to the top of the bank where we were standing - that is a good 30 feet plus up. He lost a shed and may lose his garage and home if we get more rain.

http://www.carlsonphotos.net/gallery/albums/trains/flood/GK7S6452.jpg
http://www.carlsonphotos.net/gallery/albums/trains/flood/GK7S6454.jpg
http://www.carlsonphotos.net/gallery/albums/trains/flood/GK7S6458.jpg
http://www.carlsonphotos.net/gallery/albums/trains/flood/GK7S6459.jpg
http://www.carlsonphotos.net/gallery/albums/trains/flood/GK7S6462.jpg

 

A stranded CP grain train at Minnesota City
http://www.carlsonphotos.net/gallery/albums/trains/flood/GK7S6466.jpg

 

Minnesota City looking north from 61. DME tracks on the left, the expanded creek on the right.
http://www.carlsonphotos.net/gallery/albums/trains/flood/GK7S6472.jpg

 

DME bridge in-between Minnesota City and Stockton. Intact but abutment is scoured.
http://www.carlsonphotos.net/gallery/albums/trains/flood/GK7S6475.jpg

 

Stockton, MN
http://www.carlsonphotos.net/gallery/albums/trains/flood/GK7S6484.jpg
http://www.carlsonphotos.net/gallery/albums/trains/flood/GK7S6485.jpg

 

Looking toward Stockton down hill
http://www.carlsonphotos.net/gallery/albums/trains/flood/GK7S6491.jpg

 

Tracks up the hill from Stockton
http://www.carlsonphotos.net/gallery/albums/trains/flood/GK7S6497.jpg
http://www.carlsonphotos.net/gallery/albums/trains/flood/GK7S6498.jpg
http://www.carlsonphotos.net/gallery/albums/trains/flood/GK7S6501.jpg
http://www.carlsonphotos.net/gallery/albums/trains/flood/GK7S6503.jpg
http://www.carlsonphotos.net/gallery/albums/trains/flood/GK7S6505.jpg

 

Ice bridge on south end of La Crescent. We did not observe any washed out bridges (this one was thought to be gone). Most have missing approaches that need fill.
http://www.carlsonphotos.net/gallery/albums/trains/flood/GK7S6508.jpg
http://www.carlsonphotos.net/gallery/albums/trains/flood/GK7S6512.jpg
http://www.carlsonphotos.net/gallery/albums/trains/flood/GK7S6513.jpg
http://www.carlsonphotos.net/gallery/albums/trains/flood/GK7S6518.jpg
http://www.carlsonphotos.net/gallery/albums/trains/flood/GK7S6522.jpg
http://www.carlsonphotos.net/gallery/albums/trains/flood/GK7S6527.jpg

 

CP detour off the BNSF meeting a BNSF CHCTAC detour that will head over to the BNSF soon.
http://www.carlsonphotos.net/gallery/albums/trains/flood/GK7S6536.jpg

 

BNSF CHCTAC passing the La Crosse Depot
http://www.carlsonphotos.net/gallery/albums/trains/flood/GK7S6542.jpg
http://www.carlsonphotos.net/gallery/albums/trains/flood/GK7S6547.jpg

One more BNSF Z train with new power waiting at Medary (yes the sun poked out for a few minutes but was gone soon).
http://www.carlsonphotos.net/gallery/albums/trains/flood/GK7S6554.jpg

 

For the record I live next to the BNSF in La Crosse at milepost 295 (main washout area is at 290-292). At home I got about 15 inches of rain and water in the basement.

[blhanel]

Looks like the La Crosse area is in the crosshairs again for tonight- quite a complex of storms headed that way on radar.

[solzrules]

to the forums, Paul, and thanks for sharing all those unbelievable pictures!  BTW, where exactly is Goose Island from La Crosse?  I've been up through there many times, but don't remember it, and it's not on my atlas map.

Nice post!

That really helped in order to get an idea of how bad this really was for the RR's.

[Anonymous]

That stack train (if it is at Goose Island) is just a mile or two south of the 35/61 junction.  I turned around there to head back into town after a northbound suprised us.

[blhanel]

to the forums, Paul, and thanks for sharing all those unbelievable pictures!  BTW, where exactly is Goose Island from La Crosse?  I've been up through there many times, but don't remember it, and it's not on my atlas map.

[Lord Atmo]

yeah... bummer UP is short of crews to handle extra traffic, the Altoona yardmaster told me this personally, but he also commented it's still possible.

[rocky367]

Hello from West Salem, not seeing any replies from someone in the know in LaCrosse so I guess I'll have to do. Here's what I know from the scanner and news sources here in the LaCrosse area:

1) Drove across the hwy 16 bridge heading to the north on my way home tonight and there is one CP train (intermodal) sitting under the bridge. I'm also going to lump the DME in with this one as I can't tell which line is what in the pictures I'm going to link to. Also not sure of the damage to the west but here is details and photos:

http://couleeonline.com/upload/photos/19/1963.jpg

http://couleeonline.com/upload/photos/17/1769.jpg

http://couleeonline.com/upload/photos/17/1774.jpg

http://couleeonline.com/upload/photos/17/1719.jpg

2) From what the paper is saying there is the one BNSF train derailed by Goose Island, HazMat was called out on Sunday morning to evaluate as it seems the whole train was hazardous material. Everything was found proper, but it is out in the middle of the swamp making work hard. Here's various details and photos:

http://www.wkbt.com/Global/link.asp?L=166107

http://couleeonline.com/upload/photos/18/1834.jpg

http://couleeonline.com/upload/photos/18/1832.jpg

http://couleeonline.com/upload/photos/18/1830.jpg

http://couleeonline.com/upload/photos/18/1825.jpg

http://couleeonline.com/upload/photos/16/1697.jpg

http://couleeonline.com/upload/photos/17/1707.jpg

http://couleeonline.com/upload/photos/17/1710.jpg

http://couleeonline.com/upload/photos/17/1712.jpg

LaCrosse Tribune article: http://www.lacrossetribune.com/articles/2007/08/20/news/03hwy35.txt

3) ICE tracks south of LaCrescent took a major hit from the photos and from talking to people at work that finally managed to come up Hwy 26 today. Do know that a house/shed and mud did land on the tracks near Brownsville. Various details and photos:

http://couleeonline.com/upload/photos/20/2000.jpg

http://couleeonline.com/upload/photos/19/1953.jpg

http://couleeonline.com/upload/photos/18/1863.jpg

http://couleeonline.com/upload/photos/18/1869.jpg

http://couleeonline.com/upload/photos/17/1763.jpg

4) For the person looking to bike ride down Hwy 35 south, not sure on the status on when it will be open, I do know they are busting their tails to get it open, but from a local that lives down that way that I talked to at work is that there are houses on the road and that in spots the road is totally missing. Even if they get it open this week I don't know how good of a shape it will be to ride.  Slideshow from the LaCrosse Tribune of the area: http://www.lacrossetribune.com/shared-content/story_tools/slideshow/?type=slideshow&id=35

Sorry for the long first post, just alot of info/picture links to help everyone see what has to be contended with over here. I am trying to find a few more pictures that I saw yesterday but can't seem to find the right link that showed more of the railroads problems. Hope this helps everyone!

Paul

[t.winx]

I just heard that BNSF has now got 1 track open, don't know which one. I guess they ran some freights up from CHI to MIN over CN. I'm not leaving the scanner anymore tonight, I will not risk it. I don't think I could handle it mentally missing some piggybacks come through town.

[Soo 6604]

Has the BNSF cleared up their mess south of LAX yet, and what exactly is all wrong with the BNSF line. Is there washouts other than the one that derailed the Z-Train?

Paul

[Andy Cummings]

I've heard others speculate on the abandonment of the east end of the DM&E, but color me a skeptic.

Firstly, DM&E isn't saying much, even about the extent of the damage, let alone their future plans for the line. Anything out and about now is pure speculation. That doesn't make it incorrect, but take it for what it's worth.

Secondly, a lot of DM&E customers, even after the IC&E merger, have continued to route trains to the CP and UP interchanges at MC Jct. and Winona, respectively. Yes, it's true that the majority of DM&E's traffic goes south at Owatonna and down onto the IC&E, but there are still healthy trains running this route. They're correct in saying one per day (east one day, west the next is the typical schedule), but that's still a lot of revenue.

Thirdly, this line will play squarely at the center of the Powder River Basin project. It offers DM&E direct access to key power plants in Wisconsin, including key big plants at Weston and Columbia (Portage). Both those plants are served by CP (Weston is also served by CN), and with DM&E having a shorter route than UP or BNSF, they'd have a good shot at underbidding.

I've been wrong before, and I'm a little biased because this is one of my favorite sections of the DM&E — very scenic — but I just don't see it in the cards. Only time will tell, however...

A right bloody mess indeed for CP. As reported on the news wire, in addition to Garvin Brook, the Whitewater River bridge at Weaver, while still intact, has had its approaches washed away. Those are two key bridges of respectable size that will keep the Golden Rodent down for a while. I bet now they're wishing they had a transfer track in the northeast quadrant of Grand Crossing at La Crosse. I'd imagine CP's ID crews will get sick of the run-around move in a big hurry...

Andy Cummings
Associate Editor
Trains Magazine
Waukesha, Wis.

[t.winx]

I was planning on just biking along the side of highway 35. I have a road bike, so trails really arent an option, especially if thier soggy. I didn't even know there were trails along the river..

If my understanding is correct, BNSF is open north of lacrosse, but CP isn't, and CP trains are detouring over BN, while only a few regular BNSF trains are running. Is this correct? I'm just wondering if a stay at the Inn On the River in Trempeleau would be worth it.

Thanks for the help,

Tyler

[CNW 6000]

My local source (cousin) had his phone service knocked out so I can't give you any current info.  Before he lost service, we were on the phone and I asked about biking out there in the rain (he and I both do that) and he said the trails were pretty soggy.  Try calling the chamber of commerce out in LaX.  Unless you mean motorcycling...then I have no idea!

[t.winx]

Does anybody know how long the BNSF will be closed? I was planning on taking a little biking trip south of La Crosse along the river on Thursday, and with no BNSF trains the ride will be half as fun.

Anybody know the conditions of 35? I heard it was closed a few days ago.

Thanks

Tyler

[jgreen]

It appears that the CP's biggest problem is in Minnesota City, where a bridge has been washed out.  Between LSE and Red Wing, the line often runs just feet from the Mississippi.  While the Mississippi did NOT flood, the land is very soggy, and a lot of flooded streams flow into it.  The DME lost a bridge near Stockton, at least one house is now sitting astride its tracks.  In other places, the tracks are gone.  CP will need a couple of weeks, at least. DME may choose to abandon the line, according to local media, only one train a day.  The damage is extensive, and it is in valleys that are difficult to access.  Some parts of southeastern Minnesota received 17 inches of rain over the weekend.  Six people are dead, one missing.

jgreen