Dispatchers have enough to worry about (stuff that is happening) to forever worry about "what ifs". If you try to plan for every what if, then nothing will move at all.
It's been fun. But it isn't much fun anymore. Signing off for now.
The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.t fun any
Any time Streak wants to explain how BNSF can mitigate water and gravity problems that start off the R/W, I'm sure he will enlighten us. BNSF has spent a healthy chunk of change trying to monitor slide prone areas with strain gages, slide fences and monitor wells in alluvial deposits that litter that area of the country along with extra patrols during and after rains. (and then there is all of the $$ spent rebuilding cuts and fills)
Besides,what happens when the next slide prone area lands on the other side of the tracks before you get to the next crossover in that curvy, hilly country.
blue streak 1 Another mudslide on the BNSF from Everret - Seattle hit the last 3 cars of the Empire Builder Sunday. No injuries but last 3 cars ( dinner, 2- coaches ) knocked off rails. A picture that I cannot now find showed the Builder on the track closest to the hill side. There are 3 tracks shown on the picture. Why did BNSF not dispatch the passenger train on a track closer to the lee side ?? That was left had runnig as well. The slide did not cross over to the center or far side tracks. Maybe BSF trying to protect a freight train ?
Another mudslide on the BNSF from Everret - Seattle hit the last 3 cars of the Empire Builder Sunday. No injuries but last 3 cars ( dinner, 2- coaches ) knocked off rails. A picture that I cannot now find showed the Builder on the track closest to the hill side. There are 3 tracks shown on the picture. Why did BNSF not dispatch the passenger train on a track closer to the lee side ?? That was left had runnig as well. The slide did not cross over to the center or far side tracks. Maybe BSF trying to protect a freight train ?
Dispatchers must lack the ESP needed to know when and where a mudslide is going to happen.
I'm sure PTC will address that, too.
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