Western Railroad Discussion > Update: on BNSF Burlington, IA Bridge Damage!

The latest update on the damage done to the Burlington, IA BNSF Bridge that connects Iowa and Illinois is that yesterday they used two towboats to try to free the stuck barge. They were successful in freeing the barge only to have the barge break free again and slam back into the bridge again. Workers have said that there was no damage from the first crash but now there is damage from the second crash. I have not heard what damage there has been done yet.
They are going to sink the barge where it is at so that they will not have to deal with it until later when the river is back to flowing normal. It is above flood stage at this time making things very dangerous for workers.
There are no trains running at this time with trains backed up across Iowa. It is not known when trains will start to run again.

UPDATE: as of 10:30am today they are trying to off load some of the coal from the barge. The BNSF has said that they are going to try to open the bridge sometime today. They will only be using main two as main one is out of service.

Don't look for the CN to take much as they don't keep or have crews to run there trains most days.

So Amtrak 5 & 6 will get thru today?

Chico
http://www.heartlandrails.com

#6 is running across Iowa on the UP.

I heard # 5 from yesterday detoured via KC and the St Joseph Sub to Lincoln.

Drew Mitchem
Centralia, WA

Here is #5 taken today in Lincoln NE. This picture was taken just south of the Old Cheney street crossing on the St Joe sub.

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Thank you very much for that info Drew!
That sounds like a very interesting detour certainly for train 5 to take via La Plata MO to KC the direct to Lincoln NE.
---- Daniel

Drew_Mitchem Wrote:
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> I heard # 5 from yesterday detoured via KC and the
> St Joseph Sub to Lincoln.

bnsfengineer Wrote:
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>
> UPDATE: as of 10:30am today they are trying to off
> load some of the coal from the barge. The BNSF has
> said that they are going to try to open the bridge
> sometime today. They will only be using main two
> as main one is out of service.


According to an Associated Press story I read today, the barges had grain on them, not coal.