TUG BOAT RUNS AGROUND, 3 BARGES HIT UNION PACIFIC BRIDGE AT THEBES, IL!!!

[UPTRAIN]

Train traffic was still shut down as of 22:07 CDT across the UP bridge that crosses from Missouri near Scott City/Illmo into Thebes Illinois, the barges struck the bridge about 21:30 CDT. This is a HUGE structure. For those of you who don't know how big it is... http://uptrain.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=57701 ...like I said, IT'S BIG, and that is a fourth of the bridge from three quarters of a mile away!!! This is a major lifeline for the UP, this is the ex-SSW (Cotton Belt) Pine Bluff, AR-East St. Louis, IL mainline. This line passes about a mile from my house and trains were already stacking up at the time I wrote this...I live about 85 miles from the bridge and. This was broadcast on the 10:00 KFVS12 (Cape Girardeau, MO) News and I was already hearing scanner chatter..I'll try to keep you updated.[V]

[Anonymous]

Wow, sounds like there is going to be quite a mess here.....

I suppose crews are probably starting to die on hours too.....

[Anonymous]

Ya sounds like!
Ya please keep us updated. (OUCH)

[JoeKoh]

zach
keep us updated.
stay safe
Joe

[jchnhtfd]

Oh good grief. That may take a while... there should be some interesting reroutes set up, though!

[kevarc]

Do you have a link to a news story on this? I have searched the news and the TV station you listed and could find nothing.

[Anonymous]

I recall a fire in Flagstaff that stacked trains both ways in 3 states for 2 weeks.

I dont think the news media is too interested in this story. Trains are running fine in Arkansas where I am although alot of traffic goes St. Louis.

[kevarc]

Yeah, but I think this would have been all over trainordors.com and the railroadforums and there is nothing in either.

[dehusman]

By the time this thread started the problem was pretty much resolved and things were going back to normal.

Dave H

[jchnhtfd]

Thanks Dave for keeping us up to date! Collisions with bridges tend to be that way -- either pretty minor and things can roll after the structure is inspected, or pretty major and things don't roll for weeks. Glad this seems to have been one of the former kind...

[Anonymous]

According to a UP spokesman, 4 barges hit the bridge at about 6:45 a.m. The railroad issued slow orders until an inspection could be completed. Service was returned to normal at about 10:50 a.m.

[gabe]

QUOTE: Originally posted by David Lustig

According to a UP spokesman, 4 barges hit the bridge at about 6:45 a.m. The railroad issued slow orders until an inspection could be completed. Service was returned to normal at about 10:50 a.m.

Boy, I know I am not a bridge specialist/engineer, but a slow order until they figure out if there is damage!?!

I would not like to be the train crew that had to slowly creep their X-ton train over that bridge to find out if there is something wrong.

Gabe

[Anonymous]

What is the name of the AMtrak the plumetted off a bridge...

because a bardge had hit it?

i think this was back in '88 if i'm not mistaken... or was it '92?

[Anonymous]

The UP had already inspected the area where the barge had hit and the civil engineers determined there was no damage to the bridge. Knowing that the impact area was ok, trains were slow ordered to 10 mph while crews inspected the rest of the bridge.

[Anonymous]

Good to hear that everything has worked out.

[Anonymous]

Yeah, glad to hear everyhting is back in shape.

pardon the pun.

[espeefoamer]

QUOTE: Originally posted by kevinstheRRman

What is the name of the AMtrak the plumetted off a bridge...

because a bardge had hit it?

i think this was back in '88 if i'm not mistaken... or was it '92?

That was the Sunset Limited.It was September 22nd 1993.I remember that because a friend pointed out that it was on his 50th birthday.[:0]

[UPTRAIN]

Yeah, on the CSX, an engineer from Gulf Shores, AL was killed in that, buried a P40 in mud and muck, yeah they got it back in service and trains are obviously going smoothly here.

[CSXrules4eva]

[banghead] That's a big OPPS for the barge carriers, and a big OH NO for UP. But I hear everything is under control thanks to the civil engineers and UP. I wonder has UP though about activating a possible lawsuit against the carrier??