A Boardman Coal Train has derailed on MRL Bridge 57 at Trout Creek, MT. Early reports have 27 cars derailed and two deck spans destroyed.
There is some damage to the main though truss section of this bridge. If the through truss section damage is severe and requires replacement, then the route could be closed for up to a month, as the water is very deep, meaning a new through truss would have to be built as pilings or piers are impossible.
There is some video here, after a commercial-
http://www.montanasnewsstation.com/Global/story.asp?S=5674778
Well, not so major as to see any of the steel structure destroyed. There is lots of tie damage to the first two deck spans on the east side leading to the thru truss. The steel components and mounting of the thru truss seem to be intact though inspections continue.
Current evaluations have the bridge out of service for 5-8 days while ties are replaced, wreckage removed and rails replaced.
If the main span were to come down the bridge might be out of service for over a year, not just a single month. That is why MRL has installed high-wide and dragging equipment detectors in the area of the bridge on both sides. Seemingly, this coal train derailed between the detector at MP 53 and the bridge near MP 57.
Photos show the steel bridge to be much more rugged than a loaded aluminum coal hopper. That is good.
How many trains does MRL usually run a day? Is there anyway to bypass this via possible trakage rights?
MRL currently runs about 6-10 trains per day in each direction which are BNSF trains. In addition they run one MRL train each way between Missoula and Laurel.
BNSF has had MRL divert some trains via the Laurel, Great Falls, Shelby, Whitefish, Sandpoint route and park some trains on the MRL.
MRL now plans to begin running traffic through the bridge on Friday.
Is this the span over Noxon Reservior between the north and south shores? If so, that water there is deep but slack. That’s just a few miles from where I worked last Spring. It is part of the NP line that was realigned with the construction of the dam back in the 50’s.
Yes, this is the bridge at the east end of the 16 mile line relocation for the dam. The bridge at the west end of the line relocation is west of Noxon. These are bridges 57 (734’) and 73 (973’) respectively.
Trains will start running out of Missoula about 0400 on Thursday Nov 16. Eastbound trains out of Spokane will be sometime later.
Hope that thinks clear up soon for those fellas up there.
well, at least if there is structural damage to the truss bridge, the Corps of Engineers has the design “on file” so it won’t have to be engineered again. Just re-manufactured. Not that such would be cheap or quick - just cheaper and quicker than otherwise.
Tonights news on KPAX 8 (Missoula) says they are missing 4 coal cars! Dont suppose they have branched out into the barge industry…WOnder how long it will take to actually get the mess cleaned up after they get service restored. Coal cars in the river cant be fun…wondering if the EPA is going to want them to recover all the coal from the river…
One advantage of the truss bridge design is that each of the elements is a separate part. That made structural analysis much simpler in the days before computers. It also means that generally if damaged, only the damaged parts need to be replaced - much faster than remanufacturing.
dd