I called in a report about the Blair bridge today that one of the "X" beams under the bridge on the Iowa side rusted and broke and is hanging loosely. I found this to be unsafe. So I called it in. I heard the Maintence worker on the Scanner just drove by and not even look. Wounderfull. So. What do I do next? I saw something that needs to looked at right away. But the UP doesn't even care. I tryed to be nice. So I give up. Any thoughs? Allan.
I'm surprised they didn't send the bulls in to interrogate you... The inspector likely didn't have a clue what he was looking for--the DS likely told him to check the bridge, and gave him no more info...
If nothing further is done, concerning that bridge, and there is any type of incident concerning a structural failure.... Am betting a jury would not be very favorable toward the RR. As they'd know the RR failed to adequately respond...... Not good. :sad: Boxcab E50
Thanks guys. I am trying. But they just won't listen. I am going to get a Digital photo of it tomorrow. I will post it tomorrow. Thanks anyways.
Allan, you did all that you can do....you reported the situation and someone in the section acknowledged your report. Sadly, the individual sent to check out the situation did not do his job. But this is no longer your responsibilty and if you went further, you might be doing more harm than good because you don't know what may be happening within the section organization. It's possible that the section foreman has had it up to here with this guy and is building a case to fire him. The foreman obviously took your report seriously, and may have inspected the problem himself beforehand. Then sent this employee out in hopes that he would do just what he did...report that there was no problem with the bridge. If I'm correct, and I hope I am, the foreman now has one more negative occurance to add to the guy's fitness report. Sooner or later, the foreman will have enough occurances to take up the line, or to personnel, or wherever he must go to get rid of this guy. Thanks for being involved and reporting a potentially dangerous situation in the first place......well done. :thumbs_up:
Whenever I was out on the Moffat Route, I would look out for rockslides, broken rails, ect. I figured that cell call could save a derailment. That, or simply taking a red shirt along, and when a train goes by, wave the shirt like a madman over my head, and hope the crew gets the message....
If you think it is truly serious contact a local TV Station and give them the information about who you talked to a UP and see what happens. It was not that long ago in Colorado someone reported a bridge issue that was ignored and a few hours later several people died when it failed and dropped onto their car. :secret:
That would certainly stir up a few hornets. Might be worth checking into the idea. Might also be interesting to then watch the PR people trying to smooth it over..... mg: Boxcab E50
It is possible that you don't have the whole story. Sounds like you told them, and then you saw a random maintenance worker drive by and not look at it. Did they tell the MOW guy? Is it possible that someone went by after you left? Unless you were working MOW it is unlikely to know for sure if they checked it or not.
Wow!! where did that come from! I would think in the case of a bridge they would look more to having a Structural Engineer come take a look see, maybe the employee was instructed to take a quick look to verify that a support was indeed detached and next someone from engineering will be dispatched.
Being involved in Asset Management of rail infrastructure I would assume a bridge of that size has many redundancies and one rusted beam is not going to affect the integrity of the bridge. Most likely UP will plan a crew to go in and do some maintenace repairs in the near future but maybe not immediately.
Since this identical message is posted on at least one other BB, I would guess it's probably on several so what's the point? "I found this to be unsafe.", they didn't. End of story. Repeated postings all over the net that "I tried to be nice...I give up" and fishing for sympathetic responses, then opining that UP "doesn't even care" about something outside the poster's expertise sounds a lot like trolling.
Only you were there. If you truly feel that an unsafe condition exists and you truly feel UP ignored the issue, call 911 and report it. Do we really know if a crew has been dispatched to fix the bridge, no. Do we really know if the bridge is unsafe, no. Will you get answers from UP, no. Will law enforcement get answers from UP, yes. What is under the bridge? A road for the beam to fall on? A river for a boater to pass underneath? A walking path for people to walk on?
