Passenger Trains > Bridge Over Troubled Waters

Hi,

It seems that quite a few times there is a high tide at
Elkhorn Slough and flodding around the Watsonville area.
This delays both freight and passenger trains while the
damage is repaired. Other than the cost,which may make
this a dumb question, why not build a bridge across
Elkhorn Slough or at least shore up the
rails, via a concrete ties or a concrete roadbed so that
heavy rains and/or high tides do not effect
rail transportation?


Howard Dean
Alameda, CA

Elkorn Slough is a Federal Protected Wetlands. Work has been done to replace creosolt pilings in recent years.

The flood problem only happens during the highest tides, certain times of the year. Recently we have had a storm surge.

Years ago, the ESPEE dumped rip rap and boulders prior to the higher tides. This can no longer be done.

I'm sure Carol Voss can help with more details..

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Roger

In the nearly 5 years we've lived here the highest tides have been around 6.9 feet-----this week we are experiencing 7+ feet high tides at the same time we have stormy weather and high winds. If MOW paid attention to the tide charts they could have been prepared with extra ballast etc. on hand at Watsonville to take care of the problem more promptly. The little tide books are available free at all sorts of places in Monterey county------I even sent one with all the extreme high tides marked to the DS 58 bunch in Omaha. And if you are really interested, you can check this website daily for the information.

http://tbone.biol.sc.edu/tide/tideshow.cgi?site=Monterey%2C+Monterey+Harbor%2C+California+%282%29

And no, Howard, there will be no bridge built over the troubled waters. Elkhorn Slough is a National Estuarine Research Preserve. Recently the UP had to replace a bridge and the environmental restrictions and monitoring were very tight. This is a very special place with thousands of invertebrate species, a stopping off point for migratory birds, a breeding ground for leopard sharks, batrays, a haven for seals and otters, and no railroad is gonna mess it up with a bridge, believe me.
C.
PS----and a merry everything to all----------

It is very sad that this society is so screwed up that they will not build a needed new double track high speed railroad bridge in order speed up transportation.

Such "environmental" thinking is in fact backwards. And does not reflect any real thinking-through the issue.

Other than a construction period, a high speed bridge of double track will need less maintenance; trains will pass more quickly; fewer autos on the road, etc.

There are important values other than slightly speeding up transportation over a short distance. An productive estuary of this sort provides a haven for many kinds of species, cleans and purifies the waters in the bay and coming into the bay, and provides a nursery for many acquatic species, including some that have great economic significance. We have destroyed many of these wetlands around the country and are paying for it now. I hope that people on this board, despite our common interest in railroading, are not so narrow minded as to think all other natural and social needs must yield to whatever the train demands.

Yep. Not a bad idea to protect Elkhorn. But in a totally different direction, watch for the plan to fill SF Bay for the SFO and Oakland airports. So much for the environment.

On top of which, the current rail line is on a fill, which BLOCKS tidal flow except thru a few openings. A bridge on pilings would be far preferable as far as estuary tidal action. Thus, as stated, enviro concerns other than the construction phase are counterproductive.

What is the rule for operating over submerged rails? I'm visiting
family near the ex-SP Coos Bay line, and parts of that occasionally
flood, but only a couple or five inches above the railhead. Under
what conditions, if any, can a train operate through floodwaters?

Unless they changed the rules you aren't supposed to run if water is over the top of the rail.
You also have to have inspections to insure that the track has not washed out and it is being masked by the water level.