Western Railroad Discussion > UP Cascade (Oregon) Shut-down - Tunnel Collapse!!!

No real details yet but from a very reliable source.

From what this very reliable source has said there has been a tunnel collapse somewhere between Oakridge and Cascade Summit. From what he says they're looking at perhaps 2 weeks or so before re-opening (subject to change). Since they were working on Tunnel 11 that may very well be the culprit. Due to his position I'm sure he is very busy but I'm hoping he'll come up for air long enough for an update.

Complete speculation here but the last time there was a projected long shutdown in the hill UP detoured over the BNSF's Oregon Trunk. Possibly this time also??? Could be interesting.

I'll add more if I hear more.

Update - it is Tunnel 11.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 05/29/18 19:29 by Railbaron.

They won't be daylighting Tunnel 11 - or any of the other tunnels in that area.

The source I heard this tidbit from says right now they're evidently looking at 2 weeks. The curfew was to be effective until 2230 tonight but evidently something serious happened and things have gone from bad to worse.

Originally this line was going to be shut down for 2 days to "rehab" Tunnel 11 and was to re-open tonight. Obviously "something" went wrong. Here is that original thread:

https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?1,4561229



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/29/18 16:42 by Railbaron.

Railbaron --
Has anyone been hurt -- or worse? Gosh, I hope not!
Thanks for the info.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/29/18 16:44 by Margaret_SP_fan.

Margaret_SP_fan Wrote:
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> Railbaron --
> Has anyone been hurt? Gosh, I hope not! \
> Thanks for the info.


I had that same concern as people were no doubt in it. Being retired I am not as "in the loop" as I used to be but this source is usually dead on so something bad happened. Hopefully he'll give an update soon.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/29/18 16:44 by Railbaron.

I just wonder How close is the BNSF Oregon Trunk and BNSF Gateway sub from Completing CTC Signaling
from WIshram WA all the way to Keddia CA on ALL former Dark Territory ???
Just curious in light of this sad development.
I hope ALL work forces are OK after this scary event
---Daniel

The ZLCBRB 28 is being turned around at Draper and coming back south to Roseville as the ZDRBRB 29 so it can be rerouted east to Salt Lake City and then north/west to Portland. Other reroutes are happening as well including the ILCTMX via Portola and the MRVHK.

Amtrak is not showing service disruptions yet.

There are evidently 2 trains already in Klamath Falls that were staged for re-opening tonight but now that won't be happening. No word on what they'll do with them; re-route over BNSF, send them back to Roseville, re-lay the Modoc. <LOL>

They also called a work train out of Eugene to head up there.

Also, the train delays are showing the cause as "Tunnel 11".



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/29/18 18:37 by Railbaron.

Could they divert via Shasta route to Chemult/BNSF OT? Or is that out of picture due to signal issues?

Well, there is always the Siskiyous, but Plate "C" cars only.

Railbaron Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> No real details yet but from a very reliable
> source.
>
> From what this very reliable source has said there
> has been a tunnel collapse somewhere between
> Oakridge and Cascade Summit. From what he says
> they're looking at perhaps 2 weeks or so before
> re-opening (subject to change). Since they were
> working on Tunnel 11 that may very well be the
> culprit. Due to his position I'm sure he is very
> busy but I'm hoping he'll come up for air long
> enough for an update.
>
> Complete speculation here but the last time there
> was a projected long shutdown in the hill UP
> detoured over the BNSF's Oregon Trunk. Possibly
> this time also??? Could be interesting.
>
> I'll add more if I hear more.


Got confirmation 1 UP train each direction over the Oregon trunk our first SB over the trunk is the MPDRV leader is 7831 as for NB I don't know what is coming this will continue till the 6th or until fixed

Posted from Android



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/29/18 18:49 by OTSub.

A bus bridge KFS-EUG seems most likely.

Posted from iPhone

Railbaron Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> There are evidently 2 trains already in Klamath
> Falls that were staged for re-opening tonight but
> now that won't be happening. No word on what
> they'll do with them; re-route over BNSF, send
> them back to Roseville, re-lay the Modoc.
>
> They also called a work train out of Eugene to
> head up there.
>
> Also, the train delays are showing the cause as
> "Tunnel 11".

BNSF route north of Chemult cannot handle double stacked containers. Siding lengths also restrict train lengths. Northward are kept short while southward are generally full size.

Rob

This morning they had a Z and 3 MT freights go north, after Amtrak. Curious how they deal with the loaded doublestack.

There's a freight in the Canyon right now, we'll find out soon what it is. The RR Radio Feed for the Chico area should be interesting.

+ well, nothing has passed through town. Don't know if I heard a SB or if they parked it in the yard. Good time to sell that trackside real estate in Dunsmuir.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 05/29/18 20:57 by TCnR.

Bob Morris posted a shot of T-11 here: https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?11,4564028

http://www.union-bulletin.com/news/northwest/trains-rerouted-after-debris-falls-from-union-pacific-tunnel/article_67688731-91d5-542e-a991-3c6f3678449a.html

I think it's funny how UP simply described it as "debris" that fell making it sound like a simple clean-up. I have seen a photo, which unfortunately I can't/won't post without permission from the person I got it from, and it's a lot more than just "debris". I don't know the length of the "debris field" but it's floor to ceiling. As I said early on UP was telling locals they were looking at 2 weeks so we'll see.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/30/18 03:19 by Railbaron.

Here's my favorite way to experience Tunnel #11...

---

I know that T-11 has been the site of at least two derailments in the 1960’s and 70’s, both of which involved cars piling up inside the rock shed portion of the tunnel. Some of the original piers supporting the shed were replaced due to the derailments, not sure if this is where the issues are coming from, or not. Hopefully UP will post some photos of the work, as this is a pretty inaccessible area...

Edit: Here are some photos of the T-11 derailments:

http://spcascades.railfan.net/DERAILt11-1974.html

http://spcascades.railfan.net/DERAILt11-1962.html



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/30/18 07:20 by ats90mph.

mp345 Wrote:
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> Here's my favorite way to experience Tunnel #11...


mp345 I would call that the "Extreme Observation Car" experience. The view coming out of Tunnel 11 was chilling, everyone please stay safe! Gotta say UP has had to do some huge repairs and done an impressive job, so shouldn't be too long.
I have tomorrow and Friday off and was hoping to do some foaming somewhere, looks like the Oregon Trunk is it. The only time I spent time there I saw no trains, so anything is an improvement.

Tom Trent
Eugene, OR