Will MRL reroute after bridge collapse?

[wcfn100]

We were planning to head up to Billings tomorrow to railfan the MRL only to find out today a bridge collapsed at Columbus.  Would anyone here know or could find out what the plan is as far as routing trains?  It looks like they could take the BNSF up to Great Falls and back down to Billings.


Thanks,

Jason

[Chris333]

The Google shows dual bridges there, but all the news clips only show one?

[wazzou]

The Google shows dual bridges there, but all the news clips only show one?

One was the old Hwy.10 Bridge that I believe was demolished in 2021.

[lock4244]

Thankfully the crew got across before it let go.

Highway and RR in 2018.
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This past January.
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[nkalanaga]

Two news reports, both with photos.

https://www.newscenter1.tv/news/national/freight-train-carrying-hot-asphalt-molten-sulfur-plunges-into-yellowstone-river-as-bridge-fails/article_9b92e030-12e1-11ee-9658-a3d10bfad703.html

https://www.kpax.com/bridge-at-yellowstone-river-collapses-sending-train-into-waters-below

This was at Twin Bridges Road, between Reed Point and Columbus.  "Twin Bridges" referred to the railroad and old US 10 bridges, but, as Bryan noted, the road bridge was taken out in 2021 due to safety concerns.  Apparently there were fears it could collapse.  That left only one bridge, which is now also gone.

[Hyperion]

Looks like I'm a day late, but as of right now the call is for a re-routing of all BNSF traffic off the (former-/former-ish-)MRL and up through Great Falls.   It's expected to only take two weeks to restore the line.

[nkalanaga]

The last I heard, the Helena-Great Falls line hasn't been used since BN days, and needs considerable work before it can handle through traffic.  Depending on what that "work" is, two weeks might be possible.

I doubt that the collapsed bridge will reopen in two weeks.  The pictures I've seen show two collapsed spans, with no sign of the pier between them.  If the pier was undermined and collapsed, it's going to take a while to rebuild, especially with the river running as high as it is.

[lock4244]

The last I heard, the Helena-Great Falls line hasn't been used since BN days, and needs considerable work before it can handle through traffic.  Depending on what that "work" is, two weeks might be possible.

I doubt that the collapsed bridge will reopen in two weeks.  The pictures I've seen show two collapsed spans, with no sign of the pier between them.  If the pier was undermined and collapsed, it's going to take a while to rebuild, especially with the river running as high as it is.

Man, if they were to run detours over the Helena - GF line I'm likely head there for emergency foaming... that line is kinda spectacular in places. However, if they were to use the line I doubt it'd be of much use as even if it were still in service there are some bridges that are likely not capable of handling GEVO's and loaded 125T cars, curves in the canyon stretches between Sieben and Wolf Creek, Craig and Cascade. In 2018 during my 2 month roadtrip out west I spent a day following the line from Silver City to Cascade, and walked the tunnel at Lyon's Creek, between Sieben and Wolf Creek, and with the state of the ceiling there'd be a fair amount of work necessary to make it safe for trains to pass through. I could be a viable route for ML/LM and LAUBOZ traffic, as well as empty EB coal and grain trains so long as there we're enough power with bridge friendly axle loadings to power them between Helena and GF.

But man, if that became a detour route? Going for a drive...

[wazzou]

The last I heard, the Helena-Great Falls line hasn't been used since BN days, and needs considerable work before it can handle through traffic.  Depending on what that "work" is, two weeks might be possible.

Yeah, same.  It's been out of service since 2000.  I doubt it can be used as a detour in two years, let alone two weeks.

[pedro]

Rumors of detours via UP Montana subdivision (Pocatello/Silver Bow) per a UP employee. Corroboration needed. I’m not familiar with how that would work.
Two weeks to replace that bridge seems pretty optimistic. Was it already slated for replacement?

[TrainCat2]

Using Steetview, the center pier footings did not look in the best of conditions. Undercutting is visible under the water surface..

tinyurl.com/4unr5whn

[lock4244]

Using Steetview, the center pier footings did not look in the best of conditions. Undercutting is visible under the water surface..

tinyurl.com/4unr5whn

There are three piers used for that crossing, from east to west the first is the one seen in 2013 streetview showing some concrete missing. In the picture in the linked article, that pier is unaffected and appears to have had concrete repairs carried out at some point since. The accident pictures indicate that first and third piers from E to W are still standing, with the second absent and would have been where the collapse occurred.

Regardless, it seems on the surface that the second pier was undercut, indicated only by the rushing water and it's absence in accident photos.

[lock4244]

Too bad they can't use BNSF from Laurel to Cushman, MILW to Three Forks, then back to Logan to pick up the MRL main west towards Helena.

[StewRRFan]

"Rumors of detours via UP Montana subdivision (Pocatello/Silver Bow) per a UP employee. Corroboration needed. I’m not familiar with how that would work. "

My thought it would be MRL to Missoula.  Continue to Garrison.  This is where the MRL continues to Helena and you have BNSF toward Butte.  Single track line for the most part.  Connection to UP at Silver Bow.

Was thinking this might be an option for some traffic but its not going to handle great volume.

[Hyperion]

The last I heard, the Helena-Great Falls line hasn't been used since BN days, and needs considerable work before it can handle through traffic.  Depending on what that "work" is, two weeks might be possible.

I doubt that the collapsed bridge will reopen in two weeks.  The pictures I've seen show two collapsed spans, with no sign of the pier between them.  If the pier was undermined and collapsed, it's going to take a while to rebuild, especially with the river running as high as it is.

The "two weeks" was in reference to the bridge work, not restoration of the Laurel-Great Falls line.

But looks like the latest update has changed and there no longer is a quoted expected return to service date on the MRL line.

My update says that the Laurel-Great Falls line is open and trains are running for detour as of Sunday, with several running Sunday and Monday.  Expectation is for about a half-dozen per day.   I haven't been up in that territory in well over a decade, so I can't speak to its condition nor whatever restrictions that traffic may be running with.  Empties are being routed back down the old Sidney line, on the other side of the State.  I've been there a bit more recently, and it was highly speed restricted as I recall, and not likely any better today.

Detour on UP via Hastings-Portland is approved for 4 per day.  Right now it's looking like mostly eastbound traffic.  And looks like a detour for Boeing (Pasco interchange via UP) is still pending.