Here's the latest advisory from CSX on Hurricane Katrina:
http://www.csxt.com/?fuseaction=custome ... il&i=23012
http://www.csxt.com/?fuseaction=custome ... il&i=23012
Railroad Forums
CSX Hurricane Katrina and the effects it has on CSXT
- Discussion of the operations of CSX Transportation, from 1980 to the present. Official site can be found here: CSXT.COM.
Moderator: MBTA F40PH-2C 1050
Seems pretty boring, info wise. The FEC is across the intercoastal, from my house (yep, I'm one of those guys that lives on a barrier island) and the preparations they did, for hurricanes Francis and Jeanne, were pretty interesting to watch. The mainline was up and running, within a day of the passing of the storms,for inspection cars, and test trains, although traffic wasn't really up to pre-storm levels, for almost a week. Move the engines to locations away from the predicted flood, remove all the crossing gates, cut the power to all signals & crossings, then pray for the best. Business as usual, for those of us who live in hurricane alley. 
Traveling Engineer, Coast to Coast, Border to Border.
Any Train, Anytime, Anywhere.....
Any Train, Anytime, Anywhere.....
crazy_nip wrote:I cant wait to see how the anti-csx crowd here is going to spin this...Cars re-routed? At least now mis-routes from down south will have an excuse.
Only kidding NIP.
Seriously, I hope this storm doesn't do as much damage is it has the potential of doing.
I must wonder to what extent the L&N Gulf Coast Line has been damaged. TV news reports understandably are not addressing it, but having ridden over it several times (both pre and post Amtrak), it is quite a maze of bridges with elevation of maybe 10' ASL.
I realize the line is well trafficed, but at some point, I wonder if CSX is simply going to say "enough", and look for an alternate through traffic East West routing, and serve the principal on-line traffic sources such as Mobile and Pacsagoula by means of North-South routings.
I simply can't imagine the long bridges at Gulfport and Pass Christian survived unscathed (TV news reports the paralleling US90 at Pass... was "taken out"), but miracles never cease.
Thoughts, anyone?
I realize the line is well trafficed, but at some point, I wonder if CSX is simply going to say "enough", and look for an alternate through traffic East West routing, and serve the principal on-line traffic sources such as Mobile and Pacsagoula by means of North-South routings.
I simply can't imagine the long bridges at Gulfport and Pass Christian survived unscathed (TV news reports the paralleling US90 at Pass... was "taken out"), but miracles never cease.
Thoughts, anyone?
Service Bulletin -Tropical Storm Katrina, Aug. 30
Released: Aug 30, 2005
The storm that struck the Gulf Coast as a Category 4 hurricane early Monday by 11 a.m. today passed through central Tennessee as a tropical storm and has been downgraded to a tropical depression. Engineering and signals forces are inspecting those areas in Tennessee where commercial power outages have affected code line and signals, and they expect to restore service today.
Farther south, where Katrina came through at hurricane force, rail service continues to be suspended from Montgomery, Ala., south, and from Chattahoochee, Fla., west to New Orleans. Montgomery's operations remain unaffected by the storm, and the terminal is handling rail traffic. Engineering and signals forces are conducting inspections and clearing debris between Montgomery and Flomaton, making repairs to signals, and replacing highway-rail crossing arms as necessary. Along the Pensacola bayfront, teams are in place restoring ballast to track affected by the storm. In all locations, rail service will be restored incrementally as CSXT's subdivisions are inspected and deemed safe for operations.
Service is expected to be restored late today between Montgomery, Ala., and Pensacola, Fla.
Between Pensacola and Mobile, inspection of CSXT's network is ongoing. Inspections have begun in the segment between Mobile and New Orleans, but reports are incomplete. High water prevents accurate assessment in some areas, especially in and around New Orleans.
CSXT is continuing to reroute traffic around the affected areas using the gateways at Memphis and East St. Louis for exchange with western railroads.
An embargo has been issued for all merchandise, intermodal and automotive traffic traveling to, from, or through the area between New Orleans and Mobile.
All precautions are being taken to ensure the safety of our employees, customers, and the public with minimum delay to shipments as we continue to monitor the progress of the storm.
For more information, customers can call the CSX Customer Service Center at 877 - SHIP CSX (877-744-7279)
Released: Aug 30, 2005
The storm that struck the Gulf Coast as a Category 4 hurricane early Monday by 11 a.m. today passed through central Tennessee as a tropical storm and has been downgraded to a tropical depression. Engineering and signals forces are inspecting those areas in Tennessee where commercial power outages have affected code line and signals, and they expect to restore service today.
Farther south, where Katrina came through at hurricane force, rail service continues to be suspended from Montgomery, Ala., south, and from Chattahoochee, Fla., west to New Orleans. Montgomery's operations remain unaffected by the storm, and the terminal is handling rail traffic. Engineering and signals forces are conducting inspections and clearing debris between Montgomery and Flomaton, making repairs to signals, and replacing highway-rail crossing arms as necessary. Along the Pensacola bayfront, teams are in place restoring ballast to track affected by the storm. In all locations, rail service will be restored incrementally as CSXT's subdivisions are inspected and deemed safe for operations.
Service is expected to be restored late today between Montgomery, Ala., and Pensacola, Fla.
Between Pensacola and Mobile, inspection of CSXT's network is ongoing. Inspections have begun in the segment between Mobile and New Orleans, but reports are incomplete. High water prevents accurate assessment in some areas, especially in and around New Orleans.
CSXT is continuing to reroute traffic around the affected areas using the gateways at Memphis and East St. Louis for exchange with western railroads.
An embargo has been issued for all merchandise, intermodal and automotive traffic traveling to, from, or through the area between New Orleans and Mobile.
All precautions are being taken to ensure the safety of our employees, customers, and the public with minimum delay to shipments as we continue to monitor the progress of the storm.
For more information, customers can call the CSX Customer Service Center at 877 - SHIP CSX (877-744-7279)
From the Biloxi, MS Sun-Herald blog:
Katrina shattered high-water marks set by Camille, pushing surf, sand and debris higher than anyone alive today can remember. In Gulfport, water washed over the CSX railroad tracks, a line old-timers say Camille did not cross.
From the Associated Press via the New Orleans "Times-Picayune" at www.nola.com:
> Bay St. Louis: Whole neighborhoods washed away ... highway and
railroad bridges to Biloxi demolished. <
After one of the 1960s huricanes, L & N removed the cab signals from part of this line.
> Bay St. Louis: Whole neighborhoods washed away ... highway and
railroad bridges to Biloxi demolished. <
After one of the 1960s huricanes, L & N removed the cab signals from part of this line.
Well Folks the Damage to the bridges aren't very serious everything is intact they have to replace some stuff.
AmtrakFan wrote:Well Folks the Damage to the bridges aren't very serious everything is intact they have to replace some stuff.thats not what CSX is saying..
Released: Sep 01, 2005
To Our Customers:
CSX Corporation is meeting the needs of its customers outside of the immediate Gulf Coast storm area by rerouting rail traffic through its well-established western gateways, including East St. Louis, Ill., Memphis, Tenn., and Montgomery, Ala.
While damage from the storm is still being evaluated, and restoration will take time, the most severe impact is concentrated on the 100-mile route between Pascagoula, Miss., and New Orleans, including several bridges. However, the western gateway reroutes, along with links to the CSX TRANSFLO and Intermodal facilities, provide effective alternative access to the rest of the company's 22,000 mile rail network.
CSX will work with customers by waiving diversion charges for traffic en route to the affected area. The company will make every effort to help customers arrange alternative plans for storing empty private cars. CSX will also work with customers to help them avoid demurrage related directly to the impacts of the storm or the previously announced embargo.
The company will continue to post changes in shipping instructions on www.csx.com. Click on "Customers." Information is also available through CSX Customer Service at 1-877-744-7279.
CSX has been a citizen of the Gulf Coast region for many decades and extends its deepest sympathies to people affected by the storm, including its employees and retirees in the region. The company is working with customers in the affected areas and is actively supporting relief efforts. The company is also working to support port traffic relocation efforts to ensure the steady flow of U.S. commerce and relief.
Very truly yours,
Clarence W. Gooden
CSX Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer
photos of CSX's New Orleans yard after katrina here
Looks like CSX might have to do more then just "replace some stuff"
Looks like CSX might have to do more then just "replace some stuff"
Last edited by natethegreat on Fri Sep 02, 2005 6:20 pm, edited 1 time in total.
this looks like what was left of a loaded container train on the intermodal ramp...
one has to wonder how / why they werent able to get this out of the yard before time ran out
what a mess
one has to wonder how / why they werent able to get this out of the yard before time ran out
what a mess