All within one stretch of mainline track b'tween Seattle and Mukilteo... But we keep it going!
Northwest Division: From Snow to Floods in Four Weeks
2009-01-12
BNSF employees on the Northwest Division experienced record-breaking snowfall and extreme temperatures in December only to shift to heavy rains and flooding in January.
Severe weather in the Northwest is breaking records dating back to 1980.
Proactively managing operations
To proactively assess impacts and operate through the wintry season, BNSFs Northwest Division leadership team opened command centers in Spokane and Seattle that operate around the clock.
The Northwest Divisions subdivisions were activated to Phase 3 of the Winter Action Plan, said Doug Jones, general manager, Northwest Division. This is the level at which subdivision operations were reduced. During one particular storm, the forecasted wind speeds matched the actual clocked speed of 85 mph on the Scenic and Stampede subdivisions. Thats when we decided to take corrective action ahead of time and cancel train operations between Wenatchee, Wash., and Seattle.
Despite the extreme physical conditions and below-freezing temperatures, employees throughout the Northwest Division did a tremendous job meeting their commitments and focusing on BNSF customers, doing everything they could to minimize service disruptions.
Winter-weather rescue
In late December, an eastbound BNSF train in the mountains between Berne and Merritt, Wash., sent a call to dispatchers and to employees at the Wenatchee terminal.
Snowdrifts and a leaking air hose on the rear of a train caused a car to release, and the crew needed help getting themselves and the train safely off the side of the mountain.
With the efforts of a joint Mechanical, Engineering and Transportation team and a four-wheel Kubota, the train crew Ron Lawson, locomotive engineer, and Paul Brauneis, conductor and train were helped safely down the mountain.
Teams plowed and cleared about 8 inches of snow from the rail, just as another 18 inches fell, said Gary Filcher, trainmaster, Wenatchee. The temperature was 2 degrees above zero while they were doing much of the work.
From snow to rain
The region had just started recovering from the heavy snowfall when a pineapple express from Hawaii brought warmer temperatures and rain. One report noted 7 inches of rain in one day. Weather services statistics indicate that BNSF property in Snoqualmie Pass, Wash., received 13.25 inches during the rain event, while Lester, Wash., receive 18.50 inches.
Then the snow started to melt and the floods began, accompanied by mud and tree slides.
Gus Melonas, regional director, Public Affairs, said freight was continuing to move over Stephens Pass, Columbia River Gorge, Vancouver, Tacoma, Seattle, Pasco and Spokane as of Friday, Jan. 9.
However, a 100-foot by 40-foot deep ravine developed at Stampede Pass.
We had to halt operations at Stampede Pass because of the washout, Melonas said.
We normally have about five trains in a 24-hour period go through this route.
Jeff Beck, terminal superintendent II, said several small washouts on the west side of Stampede Pass were reported along with damage at the east portal of the tunnel.
Its going to be out for an unknown period of time, he said.
Beck indicated that the Scenic Subdivision had been operational throughout the flooding, so train traffic can be routed around the damaged area.
We had a little scare on the Scenic Subdivision at Snohomish Junction, Beck said. Water was up on the track while a train was going through, but a levy upstream broke, water receded quickly, and the train passed safely through.
Personnel and machinery were standing by throughout the division to begin repairs as Engineering representatives completed inspections.
And from Stanwood to Ferndale, the tracks are under water. It is subsiding quickly, though, so we hope to be back in operation soon, Melonas said.
BNSF permitted the city of Stanwood to put sand bags on the tracks, Beck said, to try to protect the community. As the water subsides, those bags will be removed and the track will be put back into service.
Melonas noted that the double-main line between Seattle and Portland, Ore., is under 3 inches of water for a quarter mile.
Beck indicated that 12 crews flew from Seattle to Vancouver, since Interstate 5 was experiencing closures, to bring trains back to Seattle when the Seattle Subdivision opens.
As water recedes, crews will check the tracks and make necessary repairs before service is reinstated.
Were doing re-route schedules now to keep traffic moving, Beck said.
Special thanks
Thanks to all Northwest Division teams who worked around the clock, Jones said. Our Engineering, Mechanical and Transportation employees work very well together and continue to address the constantly changing conditions.
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