Just wondering how the upper Mississippi flooding is affecting railroad operations. I know that the UP is rerouting their Spine Line trains through Wisconsin, but what route are they coming out of the Twin Cities? Are they using the CN to Owen to Junction City
How is the CP Rail fairing?
How is the BNSF doing also?
Maybe this can be a thread to keep railfans updated on the disruptions and detour information.
Thanks
Paul
The UP is using their own trackage east out of St. Paul via Hudson, WI and Eau Claire.
CP has St. Paul Yard and locomotive shops are shut down but the mainline is open and in use.
BNSF Dayton’s Bluff yard and auto compound is shut down, except they have resumed crew changes there. The mainline is open, albeit a bit threatened just east of St. Croix. BNSF raised track level in this area by one foot.
It is being reported by fans that UP’s Mankato Subdivision SW out of Minneapolis is open again with the Minnesota River receding.
Mississippi has crested in St. Paul, but the forecast is for a second crest on the 9th of April. RR’s are being cautious and keeping their St. Paul yards closed. The second crest is forecast to be about the same height as the first, but rain is forecast for the 3rd of April and that may speed the melting and flooding.
We are waiting with baited breath in hopes that the flood gate on the Spine is going to open soon. UP has no choice in the matter, as the flood gate belongs to St. Paul. But I see that the second crest of 18.6 feet will indeed be on the 9th. Indications are thus far that the Minnesota River will also show a coresponding crest at New Ulm, Mankato, and Shakopee.
See: http://www.crh.noaa.gov/mpx/?n=webbriefing
I am tired of these detours already. Every spring they get flooded up there, we get flooded down here.
UP is running via the Valley as of last night (Duluth - Des Moines). Not sure if Mankato will originate a manifest for Des Moines as well. Inver Grove will have a manifest out of Mason City. Des Moines to Duluth manifest is waiting it’s turn to go north at Mason City via the Branch.
Was at Junction City Wis yesturday (Sat, 4-2) and caught the DMITA (Des Moines-Itasca). I would have to speculate that sitting on the Adams line (Milwaukee-Eau Claire to me is the Adams line) at Necedah on southward would be the best
What is the latest with the upper Mississippi River? With the warm weather this past weekend followed by the storms and rain during the weekend, what’s the forecast with the flooding resulting in detours?