Western Railroad Discussion > New Years Day dawns bitterly cold on the Arizona Divide

New Years Day brought record cold to the southwest. The National Weather Service office in Bellmont, AZ, west of Flagstaff on the Transcon, hit -30 as New Years Day dawned on the Arizona Divide.

The extreme cold (for AZ) wrecked havoc on train operations. The scanner chattered non-stop as train crews, dispatchers and mechanical forces dealt with the impacts.

A 10,000 ft stack train was stopped between Chalender and Maine on main 2 with air line and train check failure problems in a location made inaccessible due to the snow. I felt for the conductor walking the train in the pre-dawn darkness, deep snow and frigid temperatures searching for the issue. Complicating the situation, at least four trains and Amtrak #4 were trapped behind the stopped 10k ft stack while crews attempted to get frozen crossover switches operational, which they eventually did, allowing traffic to run by on main 1, but not before incurring significant delays to the traffic jam. Other air line and EOT issues afflicted some of these other trains as well.

The radio chatter indicated similar problems further to the west with delays to Amtrak #3 as well. I have never seen the Transcon in such a mess due to cold weather.

Over the last couple of days, I learned my digital camera does just fine sitting for hours on a tripod in subzero weather.

Here are a couple of shots from my New years Day.

1 NWS Flagstaff Bellemont Weather web page at 0514 showing air temperature of -27.7 F

2. Temperature history for last 36 hours shows the extreme cold from 3 AM – 8 AM

3 Temperature reading of -29 F in my truck at Chalender at dawn.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/09/11 15:37 by qnyla.

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4. Traffic waits at dawn.

5. Amtrak #4 finally moves through Maine.

6. A Z finally through the mess.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/01/11 21:59 by qnyla.

7. Amtrak #4 nears Flagstaff.

8. Amtrak #4 rolls through Darling.

9. Amtrak #4 approaches Winslow.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/01/11 22:01 by qnyla.

I love number 8 I'll vote for photo of the day

Fantastic shots!

I went through there westbound the previous morning (12/31). Luckily we didn't have any problems!

Nice story and photos!
Hope it warms up for everyone soon!
Thanks for going out in the cold and sharing your shots with us.
Todd Montgomery
Eugene OR

Good Lord, John - When John mentioned what you had encountered, I can't even imagine what "layering" would have done for you. Your efforts are simply beautiful. Main thing is I hope that you are OK. My lungs hurt just thinking about it.

Thank you for your dogged determination - it really paid off.

Happy New Year to you and your family,

Bob

ATSF100WEST......Out

Great images, thanks for posting!

Great shots is some pretty nasty conditions! Very nice work! thanks for your efforts!

Pretty stuff. I especially like the one with the snow capped peak in the distance.

John,

As always, a nice set of pictures. Particularly like the first one.

John

As always John, great work! The shot near North Guam is spectacular!

-Brian-

Another shot at -29 F, waiting to move.

Looks like another frosty day on the Seligman Sub, not as cold today.

http://thechiefway.com/seligmanwebcams.html

http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/fgz/vws/wxo.php?wfo=fgz

Worthy of your own website . . : >) . . difficult to top the quality of those photos.

What an extraordinary effort! And as always excellent results. You make any effort I have ever made look trivial! Beautifull photos. Glad you survived to entertain us another day. Happy New Year.
JB

Great shots all! I can feel your cold even as I write this. Since it's near zero here in southern Idaho again today and having been in similar conditions as yours in Montana, and rounding the horn in South America I know just how much that frigid air can sting. Now, if UP would only run some trains here, I might be induced to go out and take a few pics. Unfortunately, there hasn't been but 2 trains past MP-351 in the past 24 hours. Gonna be a show when they do start up again. Bob

Great sequence of shots there John. You were rewarded by beautiful, even though cold, weather. Thanks
Lothar
Corinth, TX

Looks like #4 was out your window the whole way home John. Outstanding images as always and thanks for the show.
—Mac

i have only 3 words for these images...

AWESOME !!!!!!!!!!!!!!


AWESOME !!!!!!!!!!!!!!


AWESOME !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Very nice! Thanks for braving the cold! I live in Montana and am very familiar with the stuff. I did some chasing in the same kind of cold just a little before Christmas, and went skiing in it New Years Eve! Just got to keep those layers on.

Take Care and stay warm out there!
Happy New Year and thanks again!

Mariah Rich