Fire impacts Coast Starlight (6/29/21)

[George Harris]

If the picture in post 53 is of the damaged bridge, it does not to appear to have been ballasted deck. Regardless, whether wood floor under the ballast plus ties, or just timber ties, all wood has obviously been consumed. I disagree completely with the distortion in the steel structure being due to force applied by the rail. The distortion of the steel in the structure was a direct result of the heat from the fire.

 

[Willbridge]

Thank you for pointing this out - particularly the portion highlighted above. Sometimes it is difficult to "buck the trend" when the media has everyone convinced how great a "one dose summer" is going to be. One day they quote medical experts in favor of maintaining lockdowns and the next how lockdowns are ruining businesses. It's like a tug-of-war on the evening news every night.

It's actually a replay of the arguments around the 1918-19 "Spanish" flu pandemic. The same conflicting interests. People argued with streetcar conductors when Portland Traction Company's predecessor was ordered to run with windows open in the winter. So the company nailed the doors open (one advantage of wooden carbodies). The same arguments occurred in Berlin, according to Berliner Zeitung.

edited

 

[Nleprohn]

How has it changed since covid?

Not 100% sure but I'd say it is still hard for employers to hire. I retired in Nov. but I know several people at my old job who moved out of Seattle as we were all WFH since March 2020.

 

[MARC Rider]

It's also not a wage thing, but...drugs. Working on the rails, for obvious reasons we have to pass a drug to test to be hired (and are subject to random tests throughout our employment). In Washington, this unfortunately narrows down the prospective applicant pool considerably.

Recreational cannabis is also legal in California, Illinois, Massachusetts, New York, Virginia, and DC (sort of), among others. Is this narrowing the applicant pool at the Los Angeles, Emeryville, Chicago, Boston, and Washington crew centers?

 

[daybeers]

Recreational cannabis is also legal in California, Illinois, Massachusetts, New York, Virginia, and DC (sort of), among others. Is this narrowing the applicant pool at the Los Angeles, Emeryville, Chicago, Boston, and Washington crew centers?

New Haven, CT too as of a few days ago.

 

[west point]

Latest Amtrak notice cancelled thru July 14th SAC - SEA. No bus bridge.
Coast Starlight Trains Canceled Between Seattle and Sacramento until mid-July
Friday, July 2, 2021 1:30 PM EDT
Amtrak Cascades Trains Provide Substitute Transportation Seattle-Eugene

Trains 11 & 14 are unable to operate between Seattle and Sacramento due to a temporary track closure by the Union Pacific Railroad. Until on or about July 14, these Amtrak Coast Starlight trains will operate only between Los Angeles and Sacramento.

Customers booked between Seattle and Eugene are welcomed aboard Amtrak Cascades trains. No other substitute transportation is available. Refunds are being provided.

Customers with reservations on trains that are being modified will typically be accommodated on trains with similar departure times or another day. Amtrak will waive additional charges for customers looking to change their reservation during the modified schedule by calling our reservation center at 1-800-USA-RAIL.
The most up-to-date train status is availble on Amtrak.com and in the free mobile app.
Follow us on Twitter for real-time service information:

• @AmtrakNECAlerts for service information in the Northeast Corridor (Acela, Northeast Regional and other corridor services).
• @AmtrakAlerts for service information outside the Northeast Corridor.

Subscribe at Amtrak.com/DelayAlerts to receive automated email or text message notifications if Amtrak trains are behind schedule at specific stations.
This information is correct as of the time and date above. Information is subject to change as conditions warrant.

 

[flitcraft]

How has [the cost of living in Seattle] changed since covid?

Well, without attributing direct COVID causation to the increased cost of living in Seattle, property prices are up nearly 20% in the past year, with predictable knockoff impact on rents. Gasoline is high due in part to transport, in part to gas taxes--I just filled up yesterday for $4.19 a gallon. Food prices, likewise due to transportation costs, are significantly higher than most other places--we're just a long ways out from where most food is grown! And even keeping local farms in business is expensive, since the housing inflation means higher tax valuations, leading to increased pressure on local farms to sell their land to housing developments. I buy milk from a local dairy for 6 dollars a gallon and eggs at the farmer's market for 5 dollars a dozen. (I could save by buying from supermarkets--but staples there are still priced higher than national averages.) Sales tax is over 10%, including state and local sales taxes.

Our grad students can take out student loans for living expenses, which this year for housing, utilities, medical insurance, and food have been set at 3700 a month--which supports a definitely non-lavish lifestyle! I can't see Amtrak wages being sufficient to live in the metro area here--a person would likely have to live at least a 90 minute drive from King St Station in order to make ends meet.

 

[Bob Dylan]

Well, without attributing direct COVID causation to the increased cost of living in Seattle, property prices are up nearly 20% in the past year, with predictable knockoff impact on rents. Gasoline is high due in part to transport, in part to gas taxes--I just filled up yesterday for $4.19 a gallon. Food prices, likewise due to transportation costs, are significantly higher than most other places--we're just a long ways out from where most food is grown! And even keeping local farms in business is expensive, since the housing inflation means higher tax valuations, leading to increased pressure on local farms to sell their land to housing developments. I buy milk from a local dairy for 6 dollars a gallon and eggs at the farmer's market for 5 dollars a dozen. (I could save by buying from supermarkets--but staples there are still priced higher than national averages.) Sales tax is over 10%, including state and local sales taxes.

Our grad students can take out student loans for living expenses, which this year for housing, utilities, medical insurance, and food have been set at 3700 a month--which supports a definitely non-lavish lifestyle! I can't see Amtrak wages being sufficient to live in the metro area here--a person would likely have to live at least a 90 minute drive from King St Station in order to make ends meet.

Wow, and we think Austin is Expensive!

This is San Francisco and New York City type Prices!!

 

[Asher]

Well, without attributing direct COVID causation to the increased cost of living in Seattle, property prices are up nearly 20% in the past year, with predictable knockoff impact on rents. Gasoline is high due in part to transport, in part to gas taxes--I just filled up yesterday for $4.19 a gallon. Food prices, likewise due to transportation costs, are significantly higher than most other places--we're just a long ways out from where most food is grown! And even keeping local farms in business is expensive, since the housing inflation means higher tax valuations, leading to increased pressure on local farms to sell their land to housing developments. I buy milk from a local dairy for 6 dollars a gallon and eggs at the farmer's market for 5 dollars a dozen. (I could save by buying from supermarkets--but staples there are still priced higher than national averages.) Sales tax is over 10%, including state and local sales taxes.

[/QUOTE

Seattle used to be a great destination for a CSL trip, but it was never very convenient for renting cars because of the rentals hours of operation.The downtown area has lots of things to do and Uber makes it all easily available, but lodging is through the roof.

 

[flitcraft]

Seattle is today what the Bay Area was ten years ago. My daughter and son-in-law would love to move out here, but it would mean never being in a position to buy a house, at least till we are pushing up daisies... I love the Pacific Northwest so much, but the influx of other folks with high-paying tech jobs are Californic*ting it.

 

[Bob Dylan]

Seattle is today what the Bay Area was ten years ago. My daughter and son-in-law would love to move out here, but it would mean never being in a position to buy a house, at least till we are pushing up daisies... I love the Pacific Northwest so much, but the influx of other folks with high-paying tech jobs are Californic*ting it.

Ditto for Austin and Central Texas!

 

[Cal]

Latest Amtrak notice cancelled thru July 14th SAC - SEA. No bus bridge.
Coast Starlight Trains Canceled Between Seattle and Sacramento until mid-July
Friday, July 2, 2021 1:30 PM EDT
Amtrak Cascades Trains Provide Substitute Transportation Seattle-Eugene

Trains 11 & 14 are unable to operate between Seattle and Sacramento due to a temporary track closure by the Union Pacific Railroad. Until on or about July 14, these Amtrak Coast Starlight trains will operate only between Los Angeles and Sacramento.

Customers booked between Seattle and Eugene are welcomed aboard Amtrak Cascades trains. No other substitute transportation is available. Refunds are being provided.

Customers with reservations on trains that are being modified will typically be accommodated on trains with similar departure times or another day. Amtrak will waive additional charges for customers looking to change their reservation during the modified schedule by calling our reservation center at 1-800-USA-RAIL.
The most up-to-date train status is availble on Amtrak.com and in the free mobile app.
Follow us on Twitter for real-time service information:

• @AmtrakNECAlerts for service information in the Northeast Corridor (Acela, Northeast Regional and other corridor services).
• @AmtrakAlerts for service information outside the Northeast Corridor.

Subscribe at Amtrak.com/DelayAlerts to receive automated email or text message notifications if Amtrak trains are behind schedule at specific stations.
This information is correct as of the time and date above. Information is subject to change as conditions warrant.

This has been shown above.

 

[danasgoodstuff]

The sad irony here is that what may ultimately save passenger trains is an economic and demographic shift that is otherwise largely unfortunate in its results.

 

[SanDiegan]

Ditto for Austin and Central Texas!

This Californian is considering West Virgina !

 

[Bob Dylan]

This Californian is considering West Virgina !

Buy some Overalls and Work Shirts and a Shotgun!

 

[jiml]

Well, without attributing direct COVID causation to the increased cost of living in Seattle, property prices are up nearly 20% in the past year, with predictable knockoff impact on rents. Gasoline is high due in part to transport, in part to gas taxes--I just filled up yesterday for $4.19 a gallon. Food prices, likewise due to transportation costs, are significantly higher than most other places--we're just a long ways out from where most food is grown! And even keeping local farms in business is expensive, since the housing inflation means higher tax valuations, leading to increased pressure on local farms to sell their land to housing developments. I buy milk from a local dairy for 6 dollars a gallon and eggs at the farmer's market for 5 dollars a dozen. (I could save by buying from supermarkets--but staples there are still priced higher than national averages.) Sales tax is over 10%, including state and local sales taxes.

Our grad students can take out student loans for living expenses, which this year for housing, utilities, medical insurance, and food have been set at 3700 a month--which supports a definitely non-lavish lifestyle! I can't see Amtrak wages being sufficient to live in the metro area here--a person would likely have to live at least a 90 minute drive from King St Station in order to make ends meet.

Wow, if I didn't know where you lived I'd swear by your summary that you live north of the border. Those are close to BC prices, except for the gas which is currently over $6 a gallon. There are a handful of communities across North America which are becoming unaffordable and your area has obviously joined the list!

 

[flitcraft]

Wow, if I didn't know where you lived I'd swear by your summary that you live north of the border. Those are close to BC prices, except for the gas which is currently over $6 a gallon.

Well, what with the exchange rate, maybe the gas is a rounding error. And I'd cheerfully trade our somewhat cheaper gas for your health insurance system! In fact, if there was a vote to redraw the border and move it, say, 150-200 miles to the south, I'd be enthusiastic.

But seriously, the unaffordability of a growing number of metro areas spells serious trouble long-term. We already are polarized enough without having cities where only the old who bought their homes decades ago and the wealthy can live comfortably. And, for the obligatory Amtrak tie-in, I'd be able to afford more Amtrak travel if I wasn't paying so much in basic living expenses. (That enough??)

 

[Bob Dylan]

Well, what with the exchange rate, maybe the gas is a rounding error. And I'd cheerfully trade our somewhat cheaper gas for your health insurance system! In fact, if there was a vote to redraw the border and move it, say, 150-200 miles to the south, I'd be enthusiastic.

But seriously, the unaffordability of a growing number of metro areas spells serious trouble long-term. We already are polarized enough without having cities where only the old who bought their homes decades ago and the wealthy can live comfortably. And, for the obligatory Amtrak tie-in, I'd be able to afford more Amtrak travel if I wasn't paying so much in basic living expenses. (That enough??)

Great synopsis of what's going on here, and why we need National Health too!

 

[Eric in East County]

Back on June 11, 2004, while waiting in the San Diego Santa Fe Depot to catch Pacific Surfliner #763 to Santa Barbara, we overheard a conversation about a recent fire north of Santa Barbara that had damaged a trestle and closed the route to all rail traffic.

Since we would be taking the Coast Starlight from Santa Barbara to Emeryville on June 13th, we asked a conductor about the damaged trestle and were told that it was in the Gaviota area, just north of Santa Barbara. The steel trestle was OK, but the wooden deck had been damaged. As a result, Coast Starlight passengers were being bused between L.A. and San Luis Obispo.

When we boarded the Coast Starlight in Santa Barbara on June 13th, we heard the conductor announce that ours was the first northbound Coast Starlight to cross the trestle since the fire.

Eric & Pat

 

[oregon pioneer]

Back on June 11, 2004...

When we boarded the Coast Starlight in Santa Barbara on June 13th, we heard the conductor announce that ours was the first northbound Coast Starlight to cross the trestle since the fire.

That was fast!
My friends who live in the area of the fire expect the trestle to be fixed within the three-week projection. They don't think UP will waste any time.

 

[Cal]

That was fast!
My friends who live in the area of the fire expect the trestle to be fixed within the three-week projection. They don't think UP will waste any time.

I sure hope that happens. If it does, I'll be able to enjoy views of Mount Shasta from the train, and not a bus!

 

[Brian Battuello]

I'm impressed. Amtrak alerts still say the route is closed, but that's not surprising. Can someone confirm that the CS is running normally?

 

[Cal]

I'm impressed. Amtrak alerts still say the route is closed, but that's not surprising. Can someone confirm that the CS is running normally?

I think you misunderstood. @Eric in East County shared his experience from 2004 that is similar to todays. '

The Hotlum Trestle that was damaged recently might be getting replaced entirely, but @oregon pioneer is saying that UP will probably want it done ASAP and so it might be finished quicker than estimated.

 

[AmtrakBlue]

I'm impressed. Amtrak alerts still say the route is closed, but that's not surprising. Can someone confirm that the CS is running normally?

It's only running between LAX to SAC

 

[Brian Battuello]

Sorry, reading too fast. In any case hoping for the best...