RAILforum: Earthquake!

This is topic Earthquake! in forum Western US at RAILforum.

To visit this topic, use this URL:
http://www.railforum.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi/topic/7/189.html

Posted by Mr. Toy (Member # 311) on :

About one hour ago, at 10:00pm Monday night, we had a good sized earthquake on the Central California coast.

Preliminary news reports indicate it was a 5.2 magnitude quake centered 3-4 miles south or southwest of Gilroy. That would place the epicenter very close to the UP line between Gilroy and Watsonville. If inspections find any track damage tonight it could affect the Starlight tomorrow.

------------------
Trust God, love your neighbor, and never mistake opinion for truth.
-Mr. Toy

The Del Monte Club Car

Posted by PullmanCo (Member # 1138) on :

Only 5.2 ??

That's only enough to shake the dishes, knicknacks, and dust.

6.5 ... that's an earthquake. In point of fact, it's a killer earthquake.

Febraury 9, 1971 ... Sylmar, CA.

------------------
The City of Saint Louis (UP, 1967) is still my standard for passenger operations

Posted by MPALMER (Member # 125) on :

In the LA area, whenever there is a quake of at least 4.0 they run trains at reduced speeds until all the local lines have been inspected. A similar guideline probably applies to the Bay Area.

Posted by Konstantin (Member # 18) on :

Even though I am a little off the subject, I just had to reply when I read PullmanCo's post. I was in that 1971 Sylmar earthquake. I lived in Chatsworth at the time. It was scary.

5.2 could still bad enough to realign train tracks enough to cause trouble.

------------------
Elias Valley Railroad (N-scale)
www.geocities.com/evrr

Posted by PullmanCo (Member # 1138) on :

So was I ... a 9th grader at Parkman that year.

I lived under a window until that day. By bedtime, my folks permanently removed my bed to an interior wall.

Regarding what you said ... BNSF and UP should then keep Sperry cars close at hand.

John

quote:
Originally posted by Konstantin:
I lived in Chatsworth at the time. It was scary.

------------------
The City of Saint Louis (UP, 1967) is still my standard for passenger operations

Posted by salmon_beach_amtrak (Member # 1585) on :

5.2??? That's nothin'!

Remember the 6.8 in Western WA? Feb. 28, 2001, 10:58 AM...now THAT was scary!!! Our power was out for a few days. I didn't see much train traffic that day since they were inspecting the Nelson Benett Tunnel that is about 1500 feet away from my house. There were trucks going in and out throughout the rest of the day. No damage to the almost 100-year old tunnel, and the traffic went back to normal the next day. Just think if you were on the Starlight that day-- it is usually IN THE TUNNEL at THAT EXACT TIME!!! Wouldn't that be a difficult cleanup if the tunnel broke? That would also mean no trains for a long while...

[This message has been edited by salmon_beach_amtrak (edited 05-27-2002).]