Not sure if it's related to the high water on Mississippi. Burlington Northern got two trains off the tracks south of us. Looks like more than couple cars in the water. Don't know much just yet only what see from freinds. I don't do any news sites on my phone. But this probably make national news.

Mac

First I have heard of it. I am not a huge news junkie. But it's interesting to follow railroad news.

With a top 3 lifetime flood and the tracks have flood water on both sides. How smart is the train company to run while this is going on. Stupid, fine the (This word is unacceptable on Trapperman) out of them. A few years ago, the Mississippi ate away Hwy 82 between DeSoto and Lansing and a man was killed when he drove at night and the road was gone from the current. You can't tell me that railroad bed isn't compromised from flood water.

I was working at the plant in Genoa when that guy died on 82. Guys I worked with traveled that road every day, scary stuff. Sounds like these cars had lithium ion batteries and paint on board, with several people injured. Hazmat closed the area off

I was down there the morning on Hwy 82 help with the recovery of car and driver from river. Was quit the crash the way it all took place. Tore the front end out of the car I believe was jeep Cherokee?? Not sure anymore but there were parts everywhere. When the wreaker crane lifted it over piece of guard rail still left. The engine fell out out and was hanging by wiring harness.
I don't recall what the river stage was then other than high. Big swirl where water came under the bridge cut road out. Where road caved in and the car was at was 17 ft water just a few feet in front of the car DNR warden was showing 60ft on sonar. I really thought that was crazy deep for the river. Warden assured me he was reading his depth finder right. Im sure I got pictures in my files here somewhere. One of the crazier accidents I worked over the years.

Was the train derailment just south of city in the flash Flooding in I think 2007 same line? That was a real mess and lots of the bridges on the line been replaced between LaCrosse and Prairie Du Chien since then.

I'm surprised they haven't watched the area closer though with water this high.

Mac

I have done railroad jobs a lot due to floods. It does degrade the road. Takes a specific type of granite gravel. Around here it all comes out of Arkansas. Everytime we get on one of those jobs they exempt us from weight limits and hours of service (log books). I guess when the railroad needs something truckers can be safe without all those regs.

When the track went out in the 07 flood. The railroad tied up every truck and rock pit in the area. County was having trouble getting rock to fix washed out roads. Was huge pile of rock on side track couple blocks from my house. They worked round clock 24 hours day. Gal that lives next door was one of head cooks for school district. They opened up the grade school next to the work site. Railroad gave her a shopping list and open check book for groceries. The school cooks made up bunch meals a day. Them rail road workers got fed pretty well.
Railroad don't ask for permission for much anything just come do their thing. You and I would be tied up for months with just permits dig hole.

Mac

Was that when your area and across the river got 17+ inches of rain in a day?

There is a quarry in Eau Claire I hauled a lot of granite out of when I was still going OTR. When I got to S.Carolina or where ever, it was decorative stone and real pricey. You may have a lot of granite that meets the criteria for RR beds locally. RR here hauls it to KC from AR and stock piles it. Then When its needed trucks haul it to the area being repaired.

Amount of products hauled in a day would stagger you that is hauled on rail line's is why they don't have to jump through hoops to get a line back up and going and why they roll the dice on iffy tracks like those. Supply chain is already hanging by a thread with them running night and day.

I do work on tracks around here and from what ive seen walking the line i'll never set foot on a train!

Track geometry is measureable and defects are speed related.
Derailments due to track defects are mostly from excessive speed due to lack of proper track inspection/slow orders,or from human error.
During bad weather track inspections are increased,sometimes an inspection is required ahead of each train movement in extreme cases.

Last Wednesday night I counted 217 Railcars loaded with Coal headed to the Ports for China. Then we got the news we were over 100 cars shy of what was requested. NONE being used in America. SAD!!!

I guess they didn't kill anyone, wasn't no big toxic cloud only couple cars floated away down river. So not big enough or have any political value. Didn't see it on national news and got quiet pretty quick.
Like in past rail road has hwy blocked so they can run their trucks and vehicle at will.
At least I got no reason need to go that way guess detour locals.. Lol


Mac

Probably wise not to run trains along top 3 flood. De Soto train wreck.

Have they determined the cause yet?Greed maybe

Mad
I haven't heard. I did see a picture supposedly of the tracks before the trains came threw. There was water on the tracks. I haven't heard if the highway is open yet or not. Being only 3 blocks from tracks, I haven't heard any trains going by yet. So tracks must not be repaired either.

Mac

Looks like a washout caused it.
That track should be opened in a short time.