"The problem with this event is that it affects every road of the county," "It’s a sinking feeling to know that if someone calls 9-1-1, we’re not going to be able to reach them," and "We don't know what we don't know," said by Joe Pelle, Boulder County Sheriff of one of the affected areas. These are words you don't want to hear when you have loved ones in the path of destruction.
Loveland, Ft. Collins, Greeley, Lyons, and other smaller towns are severely impacted by the flooding. The Big Thompson River, the same that flash flooded in 1976 and killed 143 people, has destroyed everything near the narrows of the canyon. Other portions along the river are not as bad, but portions of missing highway are isolating more people where it's the only way out.
In Longmont, portions of railroad served as levy and dike to protect some neighborhoods, while other sections of railroad (and neighborhoods) lay completely underwater. See the raw footage:
If the weather cooperates, I'm speculating the damage to railroad infrastructure and the counties' roads will take months to fully repair. I hope, for Colorado's sake, that I'm wrong. That's not nearly as bad as the potential cost in lives, which stands at 3 but could definitely climb in the next few days and weeks. I'm praying the break in the weather holds.◊
Showing posts with label service disruption. Show all posts
Showing posts with label service disruption. Show all posts
Saturday, September 14, 2013
Friday, September 13, 2013
Front Range Flooding Affects BNSF, UP
There have been widespread road closures due to flooding, including I-25 in both directions from Denver to the Wyoming state line. In my experience, any disruption that affects a road will affect a railroad to some extent, with an emphasis on proximity to the source. This holds true for this week's craziness. Greeley--I've just learned--is inundated.
Erosion fascinates me. Water under pressure does amazing things. Canyons thought to form over millennia can happen within days, as witnessed on Mt. Saint Helens, given the right pressure, viscosity and debris. Dams thought secure can overtop and within minutes begin to tear open. And as witnessed this week on network TV, roads can be eaten out from under cars while people sit inside unaware and in grave danger.
Considering the weight of locomotives, cars and cargo, imagine what a pair of rails need to stay solid. Railroads are only as good as the ballast beneath them. Still, there's something else I noticed today.
When you look at the state's railroads, perhaps the most densely developed railroad corridor is the northern Front Range, the piedmont between Denver and Wyoming, and ground zero for our disaster. Clearly, the worst place to have a flood in Colorado--as far as rail is concerned--is right there. It's development fueled the 19th and 20th century economies for Colorado and the rest of the mountain states. History runs thick. This area saw the first rail connection for Denver and the then-Territory of Colorado with the rest of the nation on the Pacific railroad. These rails served the introduction for thousands of travelers making their way to Colorado for a holiday or a new life to settle as a pioneer.
Ironically, Amtrak's Pioneer traveled the same rails, but in the opposite direction from Denver northward to Seattle until the early 90s. Since then, only the California Zephyr continues to grace Denver's presence. While Amtrak hasn't issued any information regarding the status of the daily Zephyr, both Class I railroads in Colorado have issued statements.
BNSF issued a more detailed statement today regarding specific locations, saying,
You can bet the MOW gangs are going to have a time making the weak sections solid again.
Stay dry, folks! Hopefully, we've seen the worst of it.◊
Colorado's Woes Owed to Historic Rainfall
While Colorado has had occasional and rare stretches of showers and overcast skies, the rainfall this week has shattered records. In some places, over half a year's worth of rain fell in a few short days. No one I know can recall this kind of flooding ever happening here. Ever.Erosion fascinates me. Water under pressure does amazing things. Canyons thought to form over millennia can happen within days, as witnessed on Mt. Saint Helens, given the right pressure, viscosity and debris. Dams thought secure can overtop and within minutes begin to tear open. And as witnessed this week on network TV, roads can be eaten out from under cars while people sit inside unaware and in grave danger.
Considering the weight of locomotives, cars and cargo, imagine what a pair of rails need to stay solid. Railroads are only as good as the ballast beneath them. Still, there's something else I noticed today.
Colorado's cities (red) and railroads (dashed lines). Quick and ugly map created on nationalatlas.gov The northern half of the Front Range Urban Corridor is highlighted. |
Ironically, Amtrak's Pioneer traveled the same rails, but in the opposite direction from Denver northward to Seattle until the early 90s. Since then, only the California Zephyr continues to grace Denver's presence. While Amtrak hasn't issued any information regarding the status of the daily Zephyr, both Class I railroads in Colorado have issued statements.
Class I Railroads Affected
Union Pacific issued a statement yesterday regarding the impact of the storms, indicating a likely delay of 24 hours for the affected areas including Limon, Colorado Springs, Commerce City, Rolla and Greeley.BNSF issued a more detailed statement today regarding specific locations, saying,
The track at South Colorado Springs, Colorado is out of service due to washout. South Colorado Springs, Colorado is approximately 72 miles south of Denver, Colorado. The main track is expected to return to service later this evening, Friday, September 13, 2013.
The tracks at Boulder, Colorado and Loveland, Colorado are out of service due to multiple washouts. Boulder, Colorado is approximately 30 miles northwest of Denver, Colorado, and Loveland, Colorado is approximately 52 miles north of Denver, Colorado. No estimated return to service has been issued yet. Customers between Broomfield, Colorado, and Dixon, Colorado, will not be serviced until track is restored.
You can bet the MOW gangs are going to have a time making the weak sections solid again.
Stay dry, folks! Hopefully, we've seen the worst of it.◊
Tags:
BNSF,
California Zephyr,
CDOT,
destruction,
Flood and Mud,
freight,
general transportation,
history,
Joint Line,
Moffat Route,
MOW,
passenger,
service disruption,
Union Pacific
Location:
Greeley, CO, USA
Thursday, June 28, 2012
BNSF To Protect Joint Line With Fire Train
According to Trains Magazine's News Wire, BNSF is sending a "fire train" to assist with protecting sections of the Joint Line threatened by the Waldo Canyon fire, which is currently threatening several communities, most notably Colorado Springs. The sections of the Joint Line under threat are actually owned by Union Pacific, which inherited the originally narrow-gauge main line of the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad in the UP-SP merger September 11, 1996. Despite this, BNSF's trackage rights go back to the USRA and World War I, and keeping the line in service is paramount to keep Powder River and Yampa coal flowing south to Texas.
Tags:
BNSF,
caboose,
coal,
Denver and Rio Grande Western,
Fire,
freight,
Joint Line,
MOW,
service disruption,
wildfire
Location:
Colorado Springs, CO, USA
Saturday, September 3, 2011
Amtrak Resumes Zephyr Service, ...Sorta
Since the accident last week, Amtrak hasn't been running the California Zephyr, owing both to the accident and damage from the floods further east. Today, Amtrak resumes service from Ft. Morgan west to the end of the line in Emeryville, California.
Location:
Fort Morgan, Colorado
Friday, August 26, 2011
Amtrak's California Zephyr Hits Crane, Derails - 22 Hurt
Photo: Nebraska State Patrol |
Tags:
Amtrak,
BNSF,
California Zephyr,
derailment,
passenger,
service disruption
Location:
Benkelman, NE 69021, USA
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Mudflow, Debris Shortens Route of Durango Train
Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad had to shorten its route today after high water and debris--mostly mud--from rains made a mess of things in the Animas River canyon. Tuesday's trips had already made it to Silverton when the mudflows occurred, tying up the track and forcing at least two trains to return to Silverton and wait for buses to take them from there back to Durango via US 550.
Location:
Durango, CO, USA
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