Hurricane Katrina Disruptions

[AMTRAK-P42]

Just got back from the ATL Amtrak station and here is what I got.

Today #19/Tonights #20 on side track.

Consist:

AMTK #25

AMTK #100 or #200 (couldnt see to well)

Baggage

Dorm Lounge

2 Viewliners

1 Diner

1 Lounge

4 Coaches

So the normal consist, but its nice to see it stored here again. Here is the best pic I could manage.

http://images.andale.com/f2/100/124/791752...65_P1010114.JPG

 

[engine999]

This storm is going to do ALOT of damage if it hits nol head on like its projected path. The only recorded stronger storm, was the one in 1935. Keep in mind that the 1935 storm decimated the keys and caused the closure of the FEC Key West Extension.

 

[Midland Valley]

With the size and power of Katrina right now they are calling it potentially catastrophic. 175 MPH sustained winds, and enormous in size. If you are within 150 miles inland of where it is expected to hit (and tropical storm force winds are 200+ miles wide), I would evacuate, NOW, no hesitation. We went through three hurricanes last year here in Orlando, but Katrina makes those three look like a gentle breeze by comparison. Katrina is a bigger, stronger version of 1992's Andrew. Unless it weakens considerably from what it is now, everything in it's path will be utterly destroyed for a very considerable distance inland. This thing is positively scary right now. And Midland is right, pray for the folks in it's path.

To bad Katrina is getting so much attention today, but Happy Birthday anyway!

 

[AmtrakFan]

AmtrakP42,

It would be 100. 200 was on 4(25) yesterday. Katrina is a big one but now it's down to 160.

 

[AmtrakFan]

BNSF,Let's hope you make it ok.   Did they clear all the cars out of the NOL yard?

Yes there doing it right now heading up to Memphis TN

That information is incorrect according to my sources. My sources are telling me all equipment has been repositioned to McComb, MS. All food from the Comissary has been put into the Dining Cars, and some of the management from NOL is with the train in McComb.

Battalion51,

From what I'm being told from Chicago it went to Memphis.

 

[AmtrakWPK]

Midland - thanks. Played three services this morning, took a nap, then the wife and I went over to New Smyrna Beach for supper and a walk on the beach. The Atlantic was surprisingly peaceful given what's in the Gulf.

 

[Midland Valley]

Midland - thanks. Played three services this morning, took a nap, then the wife and I went over to New Smyrna Beach for supper and a walk on the beach. The Atlantic was surprisingly peaceful given what's in the Gulf.

Sounds good. The wife made me clean carpets after Church. No nap but got to watch Fox coverage of the storm. You should take the SWC to Hutchinson some Saturday, I'll pick you up and you can be a guest organist on our pipe organ.

 

[battalion51]

Amtrak Fan, the CONO is going CUS-MEM, the equipment from the NOL yard is in McComb. It's the shortest distance they could go with it, but still be at high ground with a low risk of losing the equipment. My source on this one is very reliable, for the record.

 

[AmtrakFan]

Amtrak Fan, the CONO is going CUS-MEM, the equipment from the NOL yard is in McComb. It's the shortest distance they could go with it, but still be at high ground with a low risk of losing the equipment. My source on this one is very reliable, for the record.

Thank You Battalion51. Did they have Matience people go with it as well?

 

[GG-1]

Aloha

Good luck to all in Katrina's path.

 

[Bill Haithcoat]

I hope nativeson5859 and any of our other friends from that area, are safe and sound this morning, far away from Katrina.

 

[battalion51]

I don't know whether anyone from Mechanical is with the equipment. I would guess not since there really isn't too much for them to do. They're getting HEP from the Engines since there's no Ground Power in McComb. I'd guess most of the guys in the base were allowed to be with their families and make preperations for the storm once the train was assembled. The only people besides managers might be Amtrak Police and maybe a Conductor and Engineer, but the Road Foreman and Trainmaster might've handled that responsibility for the trip up.

 

[AMTRAK-P42]

Im going to be surprised if they can restore the Crescent to full service by next week, the ponchatrain bridge, and the track south of the ponchatrain are very venerable. I mean, the NS track that runs along ponchatrain is not more then 3-4 feet above sea level. I'm sure there was some damage, and I wouldnt be surprised if those tracks are still underwater.

 

[AMTRAK-P42]

Update:

A fair bit of the I-10 bridge crossing lake ponchatrain is gone. This would lead me to think that the adjacent (and older) NS bridge suffered atleast as much damage. Looks like NS has some work to do

 

[AmtrakFan]

The CSX Line that the Sunset uses east of Mobile has no major damage to worry about.

 

[battalion51]

Excuse me!?! Reports have said that part of the line near PNS is under water. Even here in TLH we've had a couple of strong storms causing standing water and a tree or two down. And we're 200 miles from PNS, so you might want to rethink the CSX line being in the clear, especially since they take CSX all the way into NOL.

 

[AMTRAK-P42]

Just announced that the International airport in New Orleans will not re-open to commercial flights until November...if only Amtrak could get down there.

 

[AMTRAK-P42]

Just got back from the ATL Amtrak station. They just got done switching #19 onto the side station track.

Tonights consist for #20 will be/is:

Amtk #4

Amtk #44

Baggage

Dorm Lounge

2 Viewliners

Diner

Lounge

4 Coaches

 

[AmtrakFan]

Battalion51,

I stand Corrected the Train is in McComb. 511 was in NOL for a while now we can't find it. Wonder if it got blown away 2 P42's were there being worked on plus a Trans Sleeper.

John

 

[AlanB]

From an MSNBC news story:

The idea of using trains and buses was suggested early on. But, we don’t know where the water is regarding the Amtrak lines. I don’t know if a train could actually come in. A train would be welcome by many people. People have gone to the Amtrak and Greyhound station, which is one facility, but it remains closed. The water is surrounding it, so that seems like an unlikely avenue.

The full story can be found here.

 

[Save Our Trains Michigan]

It could take 3 months to pump all the water out of NOL once they fix the holes in the levee.Once the pumps are working it can only pump about 1 ft of water out a day if they work right.

 

[AmtrakFan]

Well Folks I have learned 2 Amtrak P42's are badly damaged potenitally writeoffs they are 33 a unit in the Michigan Pool and 180.