Cajon Pass Fire

[C855B]

  http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-blue-cut-fire-20160816-snap-story.html

I know this location well. They make no mention of the railroads, but given where the highway closures and evacuations are, there cannot possibly be any trains moving, and probably threats to or involvement of RR assets.

[C855B]

Update: National TV news had a clip of a BNSF intermodal train stopped near Devore completely surrounded by flames. Not looking good.

[C855B]

https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1B3AsFgAEe0sDaezTLB-P5Tz1SSE

[jagged ben]

http://www.sbsun.com/general-news/20160816/blue-cut-fire-forces-bnsf-to-stop-train-service-through-cajon-pass

I agree it doesn't look good. 

[jagged ben]

http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/video/3448396-blue-cut-fire-forces-firefighters-to-abandon-2-engines-cargo-train-evacuated/

[nkalanaga]

NPR didn't name the roads, but said that "a major rail line" was closed.  Given the location it wasn't hard to figure out which one - after I found Devore on a a map!  The computer wasn't on, so it was quicker to dig out the atlas than bring up the Internet...

[jagged ben]

Still not clear to me if BNSF got that train out of there without damage, or not.

[GaryHinshaw]

As of this morning, 30,000 acres burned and 0% contained.  The businesses at the I-15/138 junction are mostly destroyed and the Summit Inn (at Summit) is too.  Its path is practically following I-15 and the rail lines, so it sounds quite devastating.

[C855B]

From the Google map (link in third post), affected railroad is Keenbrook to Blue Cut and Sullivan's Curve all the way to Summit Valley Road. In other words, pretty much all of what we know to be "Cajon". trainorders.com post noted a small wooden trestle or culvert on the ex-SP has burned. Other reports hint at considerable damage to RR.

BNSF has no alternatives in or out of L.A., and even if they struck a deal with UP and CalTrans to go up the Soledad Canyon line (also recently affected by fire) to connect at Mojave, there's no route from northbound UP to eastbound ATSF. If they did it, they'd have to swap ends at Mojave. Unlikely to happen for more than a couple of trains.

Amtrak, however, appears to be rerouted via Mojave. There is a wye there connecting to the Creal Branch, so they have a way to turn shorter trains. Good thing, the Southwest Chief is a sold-out train all week

[tappertrainman]

As of this morning, 30,000 acres burned and 0% contained.  The businesses at the I-15/138 junction are mostly destroyed and the Summit Inn (at Summit) is too.  Its path is practically following I-15 and the rail lines, so it sounds quite devastating.

Well this sucks as well.  I've had many meals at that McDonalds on Cajon railfanning days.  This fire just has no concern for train geeks. 

Praying for the best for all affected!

[tappertrainman]

Bridge here is damaged, I'm betting this is UP since BNSF would be triple tracked?  Or is this part of the solo BNSF third track that splits off from the older double track?


More pictures here, including some that appear to be scary close to the tracks, glad the train crews are safe!

http://photos.sbsun.com/2016/08/blue-cut-fire-burning-thru-the-devore-pass-threatens-homes/#1

[GaryHinshaw]

Wow, I'm shocked at how badly damaged that bridge is!  That is UP's Palmdale Cutoff at Alray, in a shot taken from I-15.  The BNSF tracks are just a stone's throw to the right, so there must be comparable damage to them.  Maybe the steep track #3 fared better?

[wazzou]

What is amazing to me is that's it's been reported that the fire has moved through the dry fuel so quickly that it could have remained in the vicinity of that bridge long enough to be so intensely hot to deform such heavy steel.

[Chris333]

Wait fire can't melt steel
Rosie

[Smike]

After being on several wild fires, due to the rapid growth (which is incredible in this fire) this one its feeding on 5 hour fuels (mostly dense brush) which means its not in any one place very long. My guess is that wood support structures must have been incorporated into that bridge which burned and cause the main truss to drop.  The steel looks still uniform. No melting. Crazy looking regardless..

Any positive is as fast it came through (this thing wasn't even a fire 48 hours ago) the faster crews will be back in to work on damage. I would guess the biggest being signaling systems and switches with wooden ties. Hey look concrete ties can't burn.