Cannot blame UP for this one. Loco and some train cars passed an area and then a landslide comes down onto the middle of the train, ~ 10 grain cars spilled out. Bears will get a feast when out of hibernation.o
http://www.ktvb.com/mb/news/local/idaho/train-loaded-with-grain-derails-in-boundary-county/422844597
More like roadbed slipping out from under the train. Between Moyie Springs and Meadow Creek, ID, where the former SI is on a slope roughly 200 feet above the Moyie River.
https://www.up.com/customers/announcements/customernews/generalannouncements/CN2017-21.html
Still pouring rain here tonight in northern Idaho. Supposed to get a bit of a break in the weather tomorrow and part of Friday. Everything is saturated. This may not be the last or the worst of what’s going to affect railroads in this area in the coming weeks.
Well, I have been HERE, just north of Hwy 2 at this dam.
https://www.google.ca/maps/@48.7291281,-116.1720982,2100m/data=!3m1!1e3
AND the caption reads.
" derailment involved 12 cars about four miles north from Highway 2 on Moyie River Road "
The Canyon is deep, there, and dam gates visible above trees.
MIGHT be here??
https://www.google.ca/maps/@48.7654346,-116.1689523,1049m/data=!3m1!1e3
LOVELY country.
Back in the day, I drove MOST of Hwy. 2 West of Escanaba, Mich. ( to see the F-M on CN&W, then West ) missing the portion btwn Libby and Moyie Springs.
http://www.railpictures.net/photo/347696/
AND
Back in 1984?? drove down to see the old wooden bridge that had collapsed under a Northbound.
https://www.google.ca/maps/@48.6986541,-116.315889,525m/data=!3m1!1e3
Like I said yesterday; this may not be the last such incident around here. This afternoon, some ten miles southeast of where the UP train derailed, a landslide blocked BNSF’s Northern Corridor / Hi Line near Katka, Idaho. Here’s BNSF’s brief, official statement:
And here’s the approximate area where the slide took place, an area deep in the Kootenai River Canyon where such slides are fairly common this time of year:
https://www.google.com/maps/@48.6919168,-116.1405154,4278m/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en
Now another Amtrak cancellation of Empire Builder for next 48 hours.