Amtrak/BNSF Ft Madison, IA Bridge hit by barge

[dlagrua]

Yesterday the Ft Madison, IA bridge over the Mississippi River was hit by a barge and the line was closed for about 4 1/2 hours. Bridge damage resulted but it was considered not serious enough to close the line further. The Amtrak SW chief uses that line and there were delays. Hopefully the damage was light, not dangerous for a collapse, and can be repaired quickly. For passengers that will take the SW Chief it may be a good idea to monitor departure and arrival times.

 

[amtkstn]

The last days the Chief has been running the area with minimal delay

 

[TinCan782]

While it is always a good idea to monitor your train's performance, on the day of the incident, #3 was 12 minutes late departing FMD.
The bridge was back in service well before #3 arrived; the incident had little or no effect on #3.
From Dixieland:
* GBB * * 1 526P * 539P Departed: 13 minutes late.
* FMD * * 1 630P * 642P Departed: 12 minutes late.
* LAP * * 1 739P * 755P Departed: 16 minutes late.

 

[jis]

While it is always a good idea to monitor your train's performance, on the day of the incident, #3 was 12 minutes late departing FMD.
The bridge was back in service well before #3 arrived; the incident had little or no effect on #3.
From Dixieland:
* GBB * * 1 526P * 539P Departed: 13 minutes late.
* FMD * * 1 630P * 642P Departed: 12 minutes late.
* LAP * * 1 739P * 755P Departed: 16 minutes late.

That is the reason I refrained from posting the event even though I had become aware of it within an hour of its occurrence. Waited to get info on whether it was actually a major event or a minor glitch.

 

[Steve4031]

Kudos to all the people involved in checking the bridge quickly and kudos to Amtrak not canceling the train.

 

[railiner]

If worse came to worse, they could have detoured via Burlington or Quincy possibly…

 

[Eric in East County]

Yesterday the Ft Madison, IA bridge over the Mississippi River was hit by a barge and the line was closed for about 4 1/2 hours. Bridge damage resulted but it was considered not serious enough to close the line further. The Amtrak SW chief uses that line and there were delays. Hopefully the damage was light, not dangerous for a collapse, and can be repaired quickly. For passengers that will take the SW Chief it may be a good idea to monitor departure and arrival times.

We were onboard the SWC No. 4 that crossed the bridge on Friday, May 10th and there were no problems. When we departed Fort Madison, someone radioed "Twenty at the bridge.” Traveling at 20 mph, it took us two minutes to cross the Mississippi River.