Western Railroad Discussion > Wildfires east of Amarillo

I heard the DS tell an EB leaving leaving the crew change at Winslow, AZ that all eastbound trains are limited to 45 mph from there to Belen.  He said the reason why is because trains were already stacking up at Amarillo because of the fires.  A little bit of info here with much more out there.  https://abc7amarillo.com/news/local/wildfires-day-2-four-active-wildfires-burning-in-texas-panhandle-evacuations-possible#

all over the west, we got snow in colorado today many places!

this week big fire between north Platte and cozad, north of the tracks, 50 mph winds

Cheyenne, air force academy some others.

Hopefully Amarillo gets some precip, don't see any,   perhaps the winds will die down there?

The North Platte fire was reportedly caused by a lawn mower.  Who on earth is mowing a lawn in February?
As seen on several weather channels, the Texas Panhandle fires look catastrophic.  Hope and pray for rain.

The upper Midwest and northern Plains have been dry as a popcorn fart for at least three years now. Rivers are as low as most people under 80 have ever seen. Actually other than anomalous years like 93 the last 40 years have been generally getting dry and warmer.

How about Devils Lake, North Dakota? Is it still rising like crazy?

Not even going to mention …

Regards

Posted from iPhone

Some Zs ad Qs being detoured via Fort Worth to get around the wildfire on the Transcon.  There are many fires in the Panhandle, some requiring evacuations.  Updated report-  https://abc7amarillo.com/news/local/wildfires-day-2-four-active-wildfires-burning-in-texas-panhandle-evacuations-possible#

mapboy

Any chance of freight detours over the pass that Amtrak uses.

usmc1401 Wrote:
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> Any chance of freight detours over the pass that
> Amtrak uses.

Zero

I saw a west bound stack train heading through Hutchinson, KS this morning on the passenger main to La Junta. Not sure what it's routing will be farther west. Reportedly is an LA bound train.

Posted from Android

maybe hop on the UP to Vaughn or something

Cumbres Wrote:
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> I saw a west bound stack train heading through
> Hutchinson, KS this morning on the passenger main
> to La Junta. Not sure what it's routing will be
> farther west. Reportedly is an LA bound train.
>
> Posted from Android

Got on the UP at Hutch

Main 1 should be reopening any moment now, Main 2 lost three spans at the bridge over the Canadian River and will most likely be OOS for several days

Posted from iPhone

Amarillo is having light snow at this hour. A good sign, yes?

Seventyfive Wrote:
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> The North Platte fire was reportedly caused by a
> lawn mower.  Who on earth is mowing a lawn in
> February?
> As seen on several weather channels, the Texas
> Panhandle fires look catastrophic.  Hope and pray
> for rain.
Well no rain or wind blows grass and other vegetation dry, also have grass that should be cut here just outside of Klamath falls OR its green. So dont see the problem with getting a mower to start one.

sparks on windy days causes problems

dan Wrote:
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> sparks on windy days causes problems

When it's dry you don't even need the wind.

Noon news said the fire in Texas is the largest ever in their modern history, burned over a million acres.

https://www.weatherandradar.com/weather-news/how-are-winds-and-low-humidity-linked-to-wildfires--59994de6-a0c2-4b44-8353-85f07b85dacb

66

PHall Wrote:
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> dan Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > sparks on windy days causes problems
>
> When it's dry you don't even need the wind.

not but easier to contain the fire, you see farmers burning weeds mowing them getting ready for the summer, ranchers burning slash in the mountains, and  they think they mitigating risks, but then they do it on high wind days...oops  there are days when the am is calm then things change, but anymore the NWS is on it , has the warnings out well in advance

                  Unless they have a real good explanation I bet a lot of these fires were set purposely. My son and I were 1/4 mile behind a young guy in a pickup a few years sgo who was tossing his version of fire settingbonbs out. Windy day and they were very effective. I would also bet my money there was more than a few setting these fires. Some burned only a half section, others jumped even dirt roads to get other fields and of course many were in thick dead grasslands and tumble weeds. That burns nearly like gasoline.