Union Pacific announced today that two (2) routes into LA are closed
There are two known troublesome flood locations on trackage that lead to the Los Angeles Basin, namely (1) the Cameron area of Tehachapi Pass and (2) the Whitewater area near Palm Springs on the Sunset Route, both roughly 100 miles from Los Angeles. These locations may be what UP’s announcement meant, but I couldn’t find any actual announcement!
I think it was over the Cajon pass, which is steep and dangerous without exceptionaly heavy rain and hurricane winds which would blow cars over.
Hopefullyyou are talking about the old SP Lancaster Sub and not the BNSF Cajon Sub where UP is nothing more than a tennant between Riverside Junction and Dagget.
From the NWS “Impacts Narrative” for Hilary, specifically the Whitewater River in Riverside County.
“Union pacific rail tracks were undercut and washed out whenthe Whitewater River broke a division bern [sic] at the California and Colorado River aqueduct. At least one train was confirmed to have derailed, with two other trains either observed off track after being forced off the rails by floodwaters, or buried on track. Water and debris was estimated to be 10-15 feet high, and also buckled/cracked the bridge footing at Whitewater.”