Marshall Canyon Derailment Photos

[funnelfan]

Around 8:30pm Thursday night a northbound empty potash train on the UP Ayer Sub (Washy Line) derailed a car 1700' back from the headend on a broken joint just north of the bridge over the old SP&S grade. The car(s) were dragged for a couple miles through UP junction to the curve just before the south end of Scribner Siding, where four cars left the track. At least one more derailed, but was set back on the track by Rick Franklin Corp of Lebanon, OR. A friend and myself (and a few more that stopped by at various times), watched BNSF crews put the track back together during the afternoon. BNSF was using a pair of GP38-2's as helpers to shove heavy westbounds up to Cheney, but I only witnessed one such move. Several other trains passed by unassisted on the low side in Marshall Canyon (ex-NP). UP trains were stacked up on both sides of Spokane waiting for the track to reopen.

Below is a series of photos showing some of the work involved. We arrived at the Scene around noon, and the roadbed had been cleared of derailed cars, broken ties, and bent rail. They were just starting to lay down the panel track.

1. Laying Panel track with the M-PASLAU gliding by in the background on the low side (ex-NP)

2. Laying another Panel

3. A empty grain train heads downhill in the background. It was just starting to get cloudy when we arrived in Marshall Canyon.

4. Crews were also busy repairing the turnout at UP junction. One of the derailed cars dragged the switch heater ducts down to where it finally piled up. The straight rail side of the switch actually leads to the UP mainline, the other line that goes under the tractor is the route to BNSF's Lakeside Sub.

[funnelfan]

5. Dumping Ballast on the new track.

6. It takes two workers on each side to regulate the flow of the rock. The lead guy is working the center dumper while the second guy is working the field side of the gauge.

7. next up was the Ballast Regulator, which shoved around the rock enough for the tamper to go to work.

8. And then the tamper.

[funnelfan]

9. Installing bond wires for the signal system would be a perfect job for a pyromaniac.

10. A closer look just after a burn. The bond wire is clamped to the rail with two small pots, and then the pots are filled with powder mix of flux, agent, and bonding metal, and then it's sparked off.

11. The Z-CHCPTL comes by

12. A meeting among foremen, looks like they found a good spot to sit.

I'll post a few more photos tomorrow.

[AmtrakFan]

I am confused so this is UP track or no? Not a happy Custmor when they hear about this.

[funnelfan]

The derailment started on UP track, but was dragged onto the BNSF where the photos were taken.

[roee]

Great series of documenting the rebuilding. I've never seen them lay panel track before, and it's interesting how the crane car pulls a flat car with the panel track on it, then just drives over the panel he just laid.

[CNconductorbill]

have had the "pleasure" of dumping ballast a couple times while on a work train, this is not a fun thing. lot's of chalky dust from the rock while it's being poured.

[funnelfan]

13. The V-CHITAC heading up the low side.

14. And the two helpers (GP38-2, GP40).

15. The Z-PTLCHC heading downhill

16. A V-CHITAC heading up the low side with helpers. This is a photo I've long wanted to get with a decent train.

[westbnsf]

Great photos Ted!! I didn't hear about it until friday evening otherwise I would have been out friday afternoon. Oh well!

[RailroadJeep]

Interesting series, nice to see the progression of rebuilding after a derailment.

I'm kinda interested in those covers on the ballast cars, never noticed that before. I wonder if it's to try and keep the dust manageable while moving the cars to a site or something?