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With apologies for copying from another forum, an interesting situation is developing due to weather for #5 (and 6) in the Sierras. Seems some folks may be just stuck in Reno with no other options.
If I may quote from trainorders what is evidently coming from Amtrak(?):
"TRAIN 5 THAT ORIGINATED CHICAGO ON JANUARY 2, AND TRAIN 5 ORIGINATING CHICAGO JANUARY 3, MAY NOT BE ABLE TO PROCEED PAST RENO. PASSENGERS ON THESE TRAINS ARE BEING TOLD THAT THIS MAY BE THE CASE. ALTERNATE TRANSPORTATION IS NOT POSSIBLE AND WILL NOT BE PROVIDED."
Evidently anticipating more snow than UP can plow. Stay tuned.
cubzo Member # 4700
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Well if was gonna get stuck, I could think of worse places.
palmland Member # 4344
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Guess they don't want a train stuck in the snowdrifts on Donner Pass. Was it UP/SP's SF Overland that was trapped for several days in the 50's not far from the scene of the tragic events of the Donner party from a century earlier?
TwinStarRocket Member # 2142
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The tragic events of the Donner party did occur nearby, but the Bob Evans' Scrambler was introduced many years later.
Gilbert B Norman Member # 1541
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Here's more on the 1952 incident noted by Mr. Palmland:
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TwinStarRocket, your comment about the Scrambler disaster nearly caused me to exhale merlot through my nose. That was very mean. :-)
I have just come from Amtrak's Web train status site -- looks as if No. 6 is being held at Roseville and No. 5 at Reno for the duration of the storm. Not much to do at Roseville, is there? Reno is more interesting.
It's not just the snow that is playing havoc with the line over the Hill -- all that rain on the west side is bound to do funny things to the roadbed.
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Mr. Norman-what a good find to discover that Trains article on line. Thanks. Wouldn't it be great to have all the classic Trains articles available in cyberspace. DPM would have loved it.
I noticed that the article mentions Trainmaster R.(Dick) D. Spence. I had the pleasure of talking with him a few years ago shortly after he retired from an illustrious railroad career. What a way for a green Trainmaster to be introduced to mountain railroading.
Henry Kisor Member # 4776
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Looks like No. 6 made it over The Hill today after all. Amtrak's train status reports it left Reno 4 hours 2 minutes late.
Southwest Chief Member # 1227
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The last time it rained like this in Southern California, I was on the Coast Starlight. The roadbed washed away somewhere near Goleta and our train stopped in San Louis Obispo. Turned out we were the last southbound Starlight for quite some time. Hope this doesn't happen again.
Mr. Toy Member # 311
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The storm hit us hard on the coast. We were listening to the police scanner all day. Reports of trees down, power lines down, or trees falling into power lines were coming in every three to five minutes from 9:00am until after 3:00pm. I haven't seen this much wind and rain in a single day for a very long time.
I missed it, but my wife heard on the scanner something about mudslides on the tracks between Oakland and Martinez. Anyone know about that?
Henry Kisor Member # 4776
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According to the Amtrak website, No. 5 tied up in Emeryville a little more than 2 hours late yesterday. Probably speaks well for those doughty UP rotary plow crews on The Hill.
Henry Kisor Member # 4776
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On Saturday No. 5 got into Emeryville 4.5 hours late, and No. 6 departed Reno 6.5 hours late. But they got through. Must have been an adventure.
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