Passenger Trains > Zephyrs holding, track washout between Helper and Prvo UT

 SERVICE ADVISORY: California Zephyr Train 5 which departed Chicago (CHI) on 8/7 will hold outside of Helper (HER) due to a track washout between Helper (HER) and Provo (PRO). Updates to follow as more information becomes available.1 reply 1 retweet 3 likes     

1. [b]Amtrak Alerts[/b]‏Verified account @[b]AmtrakAlerts[/b] 3h3 hours ago   SERVICE ADVISORY: California Zephyr Train 6 which departed Emeryville (EMY) on 8/8 will hold at Salt Lake City (SLC) due to a track washout between Provo (PRO) and Helper (HER). Updates to follow as more information becomes available.0 replies 0 retweets 5 likes     
2.  

Reminds me of 1983 Thistle, UT, which went on for 3 or 4 months, and the railroad relocated. 

Does anyone know how severe the washout is? I’m departing Chicago on 5 today. A detour across Wyoming is always interesting to this railfan.

Posted from iPhone

steve4031 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Does anyone know how severe the washout is?
> I’m departing Chicago on 5 today. A detour
> across Wyoming is always interesting to this
> railfan.
>
> Posted from iPhone

My wife had told me last night that Highway 6 through Spanish Fork canyon was closed due to a mudslide.  Didn't think at the time to check on Amtrak, the UP (ex-DRGW) tracks parallel the highway through the canyon.  The slide or slides seem to be in the area that burned last fall, and there have been some intense thunderstorms this week.  Road might open at 10am Mountain today, so would think the track could open today as well.  Too bad I have to work today, could catch 5 & 6 within minutes of each other if I could find the right spot.

https://www.ksl.com/article/46613511/utah-flooding-causes-mudslides-evacuations-and-closes-little-cottonwood-canyon

Nathan

Nathan,

Your information is very helpful. I did not even consider the possibility of the tracks opening later today. I was just hoping today’s 5 out of Chicago goes. Could care less if I’m going through Wyoming. I’m on a train. And I kind of like the overland route.

Posted from iPhone

It was 5 hours late leaving Denver on Thurs
 

#6 crew is getting ready in SLC to go east via helper

Are any Amtrak engineers qualified on the UP Overland Route ?

if they did go that way, they would require a pilot, amt den crews were qualified as far chian-den segment, but this train going via helper, reopen est 10 am
 

#6 that's holding Salt Lake City should be able to make it all the way to Chicago and not cause any issues with equipment availability/turns. However, Train #5 that's heading to Emeryville currently sitting in Helper, UT - to be released shortly and continue on its way, will be travelling 15 hours late. That's going to cause issues for turning the equipment at Emeryville. Either this trainset or the one behind it will likely be held at Reno and short-turned there to become #6.  

jp1822 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> #6 that's holding Salt Lake City should be able to
> make it all the way to Chicago and not cause any
> issues with equipment availability/turns. However,
> Train #5 that's heading to Emeryville currently
> sitting in Helper, UT - to be released shortly and
> continue on its way, will be travelling 15 hours
> late. That's going to cause issues for turning the
> equipment at Emeryville. Either this trainset or
> the one behind it will likely be held at Reno and
> short-turned there to become #6.  

One of the the other posts said 5 will turn in Reno. Think that is the second time in the past four weeks.

Nathan

Looks like 5 & 6 are going to pass just below Soldier Summit.  

Nathan

And nobody was out to catch them with pics? Bummer!

ProAmtrak Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> And nobody was out to catch them with pics?
> Bummer!

That silly thing called "life" keeps getting in the way...

PHall Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> ProAmtrak Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > And nobody was out to catch them with pics?
> > Bummer!
>
> That silly thing called "life" keeps getting in
> the way...

Yep.  It was not a quiet Friday at work, or I would have been able to slip away for the hourish drive out to Soldier.  I was so busy I didn't even get a chance to take the 10 minute drive over to the tracks to see 6 come through town.  And by the time 5 finally showed up, I was taking my two youngest to ride the ponies - as promised.

Nathan

Nathan

It would be so much easier (as far as video/pics are concerned) if they could just schedule these washouts near areas heavily populated with railfans. 



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 08/09/19 22:48 by chidino.

info was plenty for me,glad to see atsf121's priorities were proper

Steve Donaldson
Pacific Grove, CA