That's really scary. Had the Amtrak train hit that instead of the CSX local there would have been unbelievable damage and casualties. I agree that the perpetrators should be harshly punished.
I hope so too Boxcab and Mike. Because of its interstate nature, I think crimes involving railroads are often a Federal matter. I'm guessing that there're some heavyweight investigators working this case. I hope they have some solid clues to work with. The line is open again, albeit with a slow order. At dusk, I caught this heavy ballast train moving north toward the site. Those big GEs make a lasting impression on the eyes and ears! They're ET44AH's and the 'H' stands for Heavy.
Yes, the H Version weighs 8 Tons more and is built for high traction at lower speeds. It's also equipped with other features such as software modifications, steerable trucks and some sort of gizmo that blasts high pressure air on the railhead ahead of the lead axle, perhaps to dry wet rails. Cool stuff.
Russ, what is the function of those beauties? CSX didn't use anything like these during their rebuild of the M&NO after Katrina.
They are just tamping the ballast to precisely level the track. It clamps onto the rail and moves it up or down (or sideways) to the correct position while the tamping rods shake the ballast to allow the movement of the track. Gone are the days of the Gandy Dancers.
The following report mentions that there was also a tree across the tracks. Wonder if the nefarious plan was to simply drop a tree across the tracks and leave, but the perpetrator had to flee the scene without the bulldozer when the freight train showed up? Or did someone just want a tree and things went very badly awry? http://www.chronicle-independent.com/section/41/article/48128/
Thanks Point353. The story you found is from a small rural newspaper, yet it's better written and more factual than the larger media outlets in my area. The CSX local is called at around 4PM and passed by the site earlier. Whatever idiot set this thing up had quite a few hours to put things in place. I'd hoped that law enforcement would have arrested the culprit(s) by now.
Sorry for no Photos of the Week on Sunday, but I was busy taking what was my first ever Amtrak trip. Only rode from Denver to Glenwood Springs (returned yesterday), but my was it an enjoyable experience. Shot the photo below on Monday the 7th of the late running westbound CZ. Also shot a few other photos too, so I might make a thread sometime soon.
Thanks! That is probably the shot I am most pleased about. I'm just glad I finally was able to get out and flex my underused photographic abilities!
You got that right! Nice cool crisp fresh air with the occasional waft of diesel exhaust. Mmm-mmm-good... Jenny.
On a rainy 03/31/17 at Three Bridges, NJ, a UP GE ES44AC handles an NS local on the former LV main. Toto, I've a feeling we're not in Kansas any more.
NS 1046 and IAIS 153 work hard up the east wye with 40 grain loads and an empty coal train at Yocum Connection coming off the Cedar Rapids Sub and on to the Iowa City Sub. August 11, 2017. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
