About 4-5 days straight of pouring rain here in SF, so I assume it's coming down heavy out in the Sierras. We even had a tornado (sorta) two days ago! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22nh5VglqkI
Nice video of a waterspout. My only close up and personal experience with a waterspout was early one morning as I was driving to work. A waterspout came ashore in Biloxi, MS about 100 yards ahead of me. As it dissipated, hundreds of fish, about 1'-3' long, were dropped onto the roadway. It's amazing how slippery fish can be under the tires at 20-30 mph, kinda smelly later in a hot day, too.
Eeeeuuww. Stink! And now everyone knows where all the dead birds, etc, etc, really come from that fall from our skies. Such a (too) simple explanation... Hank- Do you realize you just ruined it for a bunch of conspiracy freaks, who would have us all believe the Martians are pouring dead fish on Earth because of our sins? :tb-wacky::tb-wacky::tb-wacky: Boxcab E50
The webcam at the Museum in Portola shows a good blanket of snow, probably at least 6-8". http://www.wplives.org/webcam.html The CalTrans I-80 cams are showing close to 2' near Truckee. http://magnifeye.com/webcams.php#i80
Mark, There was a tornado near Gridley just south of Chico today. So it is not only the rest of N. America that gets the fun weather.
They recently moved the plows around in Roseville, so I've been trying to keep an eye out with all this weather. Alas, I didn't get a chance to go buy today or yesterday.
YoHo, Be sure to get out and get some pic's. The guys on the BNSF board all said they wanted pictures of the BNSF rotaries, leaving Roseville, Ca. Grin! COL They want what...out of where? LOL Well, I think they realized the problem and started a new thread. Although, BNSF rotary action in snow country, would be interesting to witness. Seriously, If you are close enough and can get some pic's. I won't ask you to go up into the snow country to get photos of these snow blowers, making their own snow storm. You got to wonder what's up with all the stormy weather this winter. Seems it's hit just about every state and in some cases with a new twist. Let's hope this is winter's last blast. More then likely we will see some spring showers and possible flooding. It isn't over yet.
I think at this point my car would fall apart if I took it on I80 east past Roseville, much less actually up to the mountains. Anyway, my wife just texted me that she did not see the plows in the yard this morning, but don't get too excited, for those who know the area, my wife takes Foothills Blvd to work every morning, but the plows are kept up by the engine shop which is right next to the station by Washington, so she would have had to look over her shoulder to see.
At this time, Donner and I-80 are closed. The rotaries are still in Roseville. AMT #6 will go east today through the Feather River Canyon. A flanger was buried in a snow slide but the crew was able to get out. Yesterday morning there was a slide in the FRC, I don't know if they have that cleared yet or not. They are running trains to the FRC to go around Donner. They might have to make them shorter going east to make meets in the canyon, something UP is loath to do. At the moment it is clear, windy and cold in Reno. Greg
I believe the rotaries last ran in 1994/95 winter season. I thought they might in 2004/05 but they got away from running them by using bulldozers, spreaders and flangers. I haven't verified the numbers but one set is running with a pair of SD70ACe's providing the muscle power. The b units are still being used for the power to run the electrical motors on the rotaries. Also my understanding is I-80 is open for an hour at a time to personal vehicals then closed for an hour and all trucks are parked. UP thinks they'll have Donner open around mid day Saturday. We'll see. Greg
So, if the plows aren't being deployed, I guess they think their rebuilt SP style spreaders are still good enough. I thought the plows hadn't gone out since the 80s. Also, maybe I missed it, what' amt #6?
Greg, you say that Amtrak #6 will go thru FRC? I saw a full consist facing EAST today sitting in a siding in Sparks, NV. Not sure what number it was, but it seems that any move from Reno area now going east would be a shortened route. Were they running buses for the early part of #6 thru the snow area, then putting passengers on the train in Sparks? That seems like a REALLY long trip as I80 was shut down.
