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Trainsmag.com just reported that a nine car derailment on Nov. 24 in the little falls, Minn., By BNSF Freight Train M-LAUGAL 1-24, bound from Laurel, Mont, to Galesburg, Ill., delayed Amtrak's eastbound Empire Builder buy more than 10 hours. An Alternate route from Staples, Minn., to Boyston, near Superior, Wis., and then down to Minneapolis, was considered, But BNSF officials say Amtrak decided to keep the train on its normal route, holding it at Staples until it could get through the Little Falls yard. Another delay was incurred when the Empire Builder's dining car developed HEP problems near Winona, Minn., and the car was repositioned to the rear of the train.
On Friday morning, Nov. 28, a 15-mile stretch of the BNSF Hi-Line between East Glacier and Browning,Mont., was subjected to wind gusts of up to 100 mph, delaying BNSF freights, as well as the eastbound Empire Builder, by more than four hours. Subsequent delays made the Amtrak train almost 20 hours late arriving into chicago.
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Only one comment about keeping the train on its scheduled route: the Amtrak engineers are unlikely to know the route unless it is a common diversion and thus would have required pilot engineers from the host railroad (BNSF presumably) to be in the cab over the diversion. This may have taken more time to organise than simply waiting, perhaps.
Geoff M.
Posts: 2426 | From: Apple Valley, CA | Registered: Sep 2000
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Some thoughts here: As has been noted elsewhere, trains are about the closest thing to an all weather transport system as there can be. However, as Don Phillips has noted in articles in a certain magazine, it has become the policy of companies such as CSX to avaid running anything if a storm with strong winds is approaching. The Builder is on BNSF rails all through Montana, and with their less-hostile attitude towards Amtrak ( one might even write that they actually have a slightly positive attitude vs. the passenger rail service provider, but that's open to debate), I'm tempted to wonder what's changed. Is it the litigous atmosphere in the US these days? are the RR's afraid to let commuter trains and Amtrak over the rails during inclement weather for fear of lawsuits? Or, is it some sort of operation challenge? I guess the days of being the closest thing to all weather transport are gone, if they ever existed to start with.
Edit: apparently even the mighty BNSF now brings traffic to a standstill when winds approach hurricane severity. They had a train of grain cars get blown off the rails earlier this fall, hence the new company policy. My attitude just stems from the fact that I remember times during the 1980s where the winds along the High Line had gusts of over 100 MPH, and the Builder still ran, as if to defy Mother Nature. The route goes through an area known for its "Chinook" winds, the season of which goes from November to April. How will this new practice affect the EB' stimekeeping? Will the company need to install "wind sheds," like the snow sheds of other routes?
[This message has been edited by CG96 (edited 12-02-2003).]
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Reminds me of the song "Four Strong Winds" by Ian & Sylvia ("dnsommer" will like this one....): "...But by then it would be winter, there ain't too much for you to do, and those winds sure can blow strong way out there....."
Posts: 2428 | From: Grayling, MI | Registered: Mar 2002
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Dave, Dave, Dave, my son!...... Where were you during the "folk craze" of the 60's? Remember the era of Peter, Paul, & Mary, the New Christy Minstrels, the Kingston Trio, Gordon Lightfoot, etc, etc.? Ian Tyson & Sylvia Fricker are Canadian folk singers who had several hits during the 60's -- "Four Strong Winds" was probably their best-known, and was written by Ian, I believe. Their best known other song was probably "Early Morning Rain." I have several of their albums -- they are now long divorced, but I think Ian Tyson is still popular in Canada. Any Chanuck railfans out there?
But, no, Dave -- Neil Young did not write "Four Strong Winds."
P.S. I know we are getting off-topic, but on my trip on VIA's Canadian in 1999, on Canada Day, a bunch of people in the dome car were singing various national anthem songs, such as "O Canada," "God Save the Queen," and others -- one group sang a song called "Nova Scotia Farewell," which I had heard before -- on an Ian & Sylvia album! (way off topic -- I have also heard Ian & Sylvia's "Nova Scotia Farewell" on Radio Margaritaville!)
OK, let's get back to train talk now!!!!
Posts: 2428 | From: Grayling, MI | Registered: Mar 2002
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Here's an article I saved from this fall. (Reprinted because the link is now dead):
October 17, 2003 Strong winds derail train, closing hi-line route across Montana EAST GLACIER, Montana — Strong winds pushed over 25 cars of a westbound freight train as it crossed a trestle near here early Friday, closing Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway’s main Hi-Line route across the state. The derailment occurred at the same location as two previous derailments — one in 2002 and one in 1991 — both of which were blamed on strong canyon winds. BN spokesman Gus Melonas said there were no injuries in Friday’s mishap, and no hazardous materials were involved. Glacier County Sheriff Gary Racine said strong winds in the area also knocked down trees and power lines and caused scattered power outages in parts of Cut Bank and surrounding areas. "It was really whipping this morning," he said. "To knock over train cars, you know it has to be howling." Melonas said the derailment occurred shortly after 4 a.m. as the westbound freight train with two locomotives and 75 cars was crossing the Midvale Trestle, a low bridge on the western outskirts of East Glacier. The cars that derailed were all flatbed cars carrying double-stacked steel containers, Melonas said. One of the containers was carrying auto parts, but the others were empty, he said. Eleven of the cars ended up in the ravine, and five of the empty containers landed in the creek, Melonas said. Melonas said a BN crew was on the site Friday morning and officials expected to have the track cleared and repaired by Friday afternoon. Amtrak’s eastbound and westbound Empire Builder passenger trains, which use the track, were being held until the line is repaired, Melonas said. Melonas said the Midvale Trestle area is notorious for strong winds that can come up without warning.
------------------ _________Thë Çhîeƒ _|_|_|_|_
Posts: 190 | From: Fort Worth, Texas | Registered: Dec 2002
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