A Westbound UP manifest derailed about 12 empty cars on the inside of the horseshoe curve at Caliente around 01:30 this morning. The cars appear to have been pulled off the tracks and deposited on their sides. The derailed cars blocked the Cal-Bodfish Road crossing, destroying the West crossing signal. There appeared to be no track damage, therefore I would assume that the derailment was not track-related. There are trains backed up on both sides of the derailment, and from radio reports the line should be reopened around 12:30 today.
Same thing happened whilst we were there in 1998. But that time the track was damaged at the switch, and a section was cut out and a new piece fitted. The line was closed for about 7 hours, I think. Trains were backed up all the way to LA, the superintendent told us But boy, was it busy when things got rolling again
Trains are once again rolling, and as Alan stated it is likely a very busy afternoon for the Dispatcher. It looks like the line was closed for around 8 hours.
