http://www.kfyrtv.com/News_Stories.asp?news=50178 "In Minot, ND alone, they are preparing for a crest of 1564.4 feet above sea level next Monday. That is over 10 feet above where the level is at now and a new record for the city." The dikes are only a few feet above the current water line, now 1554' above sea level. Normal flood stage is reached at 1549'. http://www.kmot.com/News_Stories.asp?news=50191&yr= "Amtrak is suspending service on its Empire Builder line between St. Paul, Minn., and Havre, Mont., because of Souris River flooding in North Dakota. Tracks in and around Minot have been closed because of what officials say is likely to be historic flooding. Amtrak says that effective Tuesday, service is suspended between St. Paul and Havre and no alternate transportation is available between those cities. " Can the EB not detour from StP to Bismarck, along the old NP, to MT?
A nice webcam that faces the river,a nd not coincidentally, the BNSF mainline, directly behind the Minot SOO Line depot: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/kx-news-live-minot-river-camera#utm_campaign=synclickback&source=http://fbmltabmaker.serw5.com/tabs/tab.php/&medium=8603924
Interesting- The National Weather Service for our region just announced that this spring was the coolest in thirty six years. Which accounts for a good amount of the snow melting and running off. There was fresh snow just above Marias Pass only a few days ago. When we stopped at BNSF Summit (5215 feet) ten days ago, it was trying to flurry. Logan Pass in Glacier Park is still not open and some are starting to wonder if it will this year! This is the route of the famous GN RY Going-To-The-Sun Road and Park visitor center up on top. A big tourist draw which we need to have open for those travel dollars it brings in! Last word was the center is still only accessible by snow cat. So, there is still plenty of snow yet to melt! Boxcab E50
Sick amounts of water yet to come. Here's BNSF running at restricted speed thru downtown Minot, courtesy of the KMOT webcam:
The river levs are not up very much (for now), but secondary dikes are going up around critical infrastructure all over the city. The BNSF crew change facility, just east of thie view above is diked. The current river level is 1555.65' above sea level (1539 is normal, 1549 is flood stage), but huge releases from upstream dams will bloat that level to about 1566' in the next day or so. Some dikes are built as high as 1570'. The upstream reserviors are brimming with huge rainfall and melt runoff, and it all has to go somewhere.
An email from BNSF to some MRL people stated that they expect the river to crest at 6-7 feet above the top of the rail on the 25th and remain that way for 2 weeks. BNSF has sent additional power to MRL for helper service, including 3 ACe's, 2 70MAC's and 1 GE. Detour traffic will be what MRL can handle and what BNSF can get crewed on and off of MRL.
We just need someone to give us heads up notices, so railfanning can happen. I'd like to get in a few hours, maybe early next week. Which sub, what, when, etc? Boxcab E50
The last eastbound thru Minot: http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/264836_2149466138893_1313536775_2555278_53434_n.jpg "Photos of KX News Minot By Steven Welch ยท In this photo: "The Mouse that Roared" BNSF 4838 East leads the last train to roll through downtown Minot before MOW took the second mainline out of service this afternoon, while the National Guard frantically continues to build emergency secondary levees to prevent the extremely swollen Souris/Mouse (Souris is French for Mouse) River from destroying more structures. While standing on the 3rd St overpass, the mood was definitely very eerie but at the same time, there was a sense of panic with everyone who walked by, even the members of the National Guard... Due to the flooding, BNSF is detouring Eastbound trains via the ex-NP line through Glendive, MT Mandan, ND and to Dilworth, MN. Westbound trains are running via the ex-MILW line, through Aberdeen, SD. Amtrak service has been cancelled between Saint Paul, MN and Havre, MT. "
CP west of Minot is washed out: http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hpho...88816894_100000961335254_566408_6553357_n.jpg
Current river level: 1559.57' above sea level. Projected crest: 1564.5'. BNSF has officially shut down the mainline thru Minot. More CP washout: http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/267473_1945100840770_1639981522_1876737_7405561_n.jpg
Those rails look a bit rustier than I'd expect. I wonder how much traffic there is on the old Soo Line via that route? And if this might end such? Boxcab E50
I don't know what the current traffic level was, but when I was there, it wasn't nearly as heavy at BNSF traffic thru Minot. No more than 10 trains a day, I would think.
Three more feet to the crest, but this shows how bad the flooding is near the BNSF main, the crew change facility, and Broadway bridge. The ring dike in center right in the crew change house, the main bends along the river to the left, the huge dikes in foreground are to protect the Broadway bridge. It is their #1 priority to protect. Without it, the city would be toally separated. http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hpho...9065095_100000469652653_1020654_8308078_n.jpg
Over the past couple of weeks, I've noticed a lot of MRL engines that I haven't seen for some time. Went thru Laurel yesterday and saw an SD9 working in the yard. I don't remember the last time I saw one of those, And there were a lot of extra BNSF engines sitting on the service tracks. There are also a bunch of SD40's going by my house now.....most of them in very shiny paint (but the old roaring lion scheme) so I'm assuming MRL is raiding their storage.....possibly covering the MRL traffic while the SD70's and SD45's are assisting the added BNSF trains? It's nice to see the 40's again.....it's been a number of years. Definitely more traffic on the MRL line right now.
I hope MRL won't get power short. A few failures and the pressure on remaining units.... I'm hoping for a message late Monday, to know of movements Tuesday. Maybe make a dash down to the Tenth Sub or Fourth. See what is happening! Boxcab E50
Today, facing the BNSF and CP main (foreground, lower right), the Broadway Bridge, and northern Minot: http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/267533_2077421768863_1044568535_2434014_3853680_n.jpg The diked Amtrak depot is out of picture to the left.
