Western Railroad Discussion > UP on the ground in the Feather River Canyon

Just heard the BNSF Gateway Sub. DS tell a southbound to "tie it down at Keddie,
there are 12 cars on the ground, I think it is their train."

DaveL

Grain train on the ground. GSG5TR 20 - UP 7938. Don't have an exact location, but it is in the Virgilia to Belden area.

Just above Rich Bar. Nice view from the big pullout. NRC and dobbas just arrived. Cars nearly to the river with grain in the river.

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The bears and the deer will be very happy to get the food.

mleland Wrote:
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> NRC and dobbas just arrived. Cars nearly
> to the river with grain in the river.
>


NRC stands for? Dobbas is the contractor from Antelope.

Thanks,

Josiah

More in the next post.

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Sorry to see this, but along with the previous mentioned bears, we might get some good sized trout out of this too!

Jim Montague
IRVINE, CA
Train and Nature photo Art

NRC Environmental Services. The head end part of the train just cleared Belden with about 150 axles. They are going to Pulga to tie it down as they are close on hours of service.

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I'm glad that wasn't one of the UP's unit ethanol trains heading for the Bay Area or a BNSF Key train. Yikes. Can you imagine how that would play in the press with all of the anti-oil hysteria?

I'm not sure of the cause of this derailment but UP should really think twice about sending unit oil or ethanol trains through the Canyon during rock slide (rainy) season.

A number of years ago I was watching a BNSF manifest roll through Pulga eastbound and I witnessed a medium sized rockslide come down on the middle of the train derailing 1/2 dozen cars. Nothing in the river but it tied up the line for at least a day. Sometimes all of the technology in the world can't protect you from mother nature.

In the last photo, there is some fresh rock face above the train so some rock may have fallen and derailed this train. Not nice to fool Mother Nature!

Rob

Sure hope that's not GMO corn, the bears could turn into the next Jurassic Park!!!

Out

Thanks for the photos of the derailment, mleland.

Paul Birkholz
Sheridan, WY

mleland --
Thanks so much for being our man on the scene,
and for taking and posting those great pictures.

Man -- am I ever glad that slide did not come
down onto the lead locomotive! Glad no one
was hurt!

The fact that it wasn't hazardous materials won't stop them. They just point out that it could have been.


donner_dude1 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I'm glad that wasn't one of the UP's unit ethanol
> trains heading for the Bay Area or a BNSF Key
> train. Yikes. Can you imagine how that would play
> in the press with all of the anti-oil hysteria?
>
> I'm not sure of the cause of this derailment but
> UP should really think twice about sending unit
> oil or ethanol trains through the Canyon during
> rock slide (rainy) season.
>
> A number of years ago I was watching a BNSF
> manifest roll through Pulga eastbound and I
> witnessed a medium sized rockslide come down on
> the middle of the train derailing 1/2 dozen cars.
> Nothing in the river but it tied up the line for
> at least a day. Sometimes all of the technology in
> the world can't protect you from mother nature.

Steve Carter
Gig Harbor, WA
My Photography

NO landslide was involved at all !!
Broken rail?
Burned journal?
Remember, we are at that time of year when the days may be only 50 deg or so, but the nights are in the mid 20s
....also the sun on the rail is still hot......

DaveL

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In that first photo, where those guys in the yellow jackets are standing, it sure looks like the grade beneath the track might be compromised, maybe a washout or the trackage has been undermined?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/25/14 13:36 by cpn456.

Another view

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WOOOOOW.....what a mess!! Thanks for posting.

As previously said, it could have been worse though.....

I like how the last car standing has the reporting marks, AOK, lol.

Wonder will they just push those cars aside in just leave them or pull all them up back on the track. They should empty them in leave the load for the wildlife. An early xmas present.