What too much water will do to a real train track..watch this video

Cool video, I was involved in something close to that a number of years ago. 14 inches of rain fell in a day in the area around Union, Missouri. The water would all eventually have to drain to the Missouri River near Washington, MO maybe 10-12 miles away.

This was on the UP's ex Mopac St. Louis-Jefferson City double track.

We had flash flood warnings for the trains. It had stopped raining by the time my train rolled to a stop about 4AM at the west end of town, stopped by two train ahead. Never noticed any rushing water on St. John creek at that time.

Awhile later, the first train in line reported that went into emergency while sitting still. They would find out a mudslide had turned over a few cars.

The track inspector was out about 6AM. He highrailed on west to the rear of my train and told us to pull east as far as we could. He later picked us up and showed us the rear of our train, about six cars from the rear of the last car, water was rushing over the track and a bit farther back the track was hanging in the air. Pretty cool.

Later in the day, while M/W forces were assessing a bridge at mp63, they were just about to OK it for traffic when one of the abutments tilted into the stream.  

Water is a great force and has always been a source of track problems.

Dan

Water is a really strange compound. Density decreases when it freezes -- it expands which works wonders when it seeps into concrete and freezes. In liquid form it has zero compressibility -- you can only divert it. Amazing the level of damage water's properties can cause when uncontrolled.

I'm surprised this one hasn't gone "viral"!

Roger, post it over on the "Real Trains" forum.

Wow  I think the cameraman had that sense of panick a couple of times when he turned to run.  Amazing what mother nature can do

As I recall, this was up in Canada, a few years ago. The video has been posted around the internet for quite some time. It sure is spectacular! 

It did, about 2 years ago. This is an old video.

This one isnt as extreme.

CP rail going on and off barges

up in BC, Canada.

Yikes!  I've been trying to watch the midwest because we have Amtrak tickets from Jackson MS to Seattle next week, then returning after a week cruise up the inner passage in SE Alaska.  Would be the devil for one of our trains to get cancelled because of flooding and possibly miss the boat departure from Vancouver.

Looks like a good location for a bridge.

Amazing video.

Here's something more recent in Saskatchewan

http://globalnews.ca/news/5190...togo-saskatchewan-2/

Holding a video camera must decrease intelligence.  Walking up to the edge of an active washout to get a better picture.  Really?! 

Did they use simple green to clean the track?

Thanks for posting - that is fascinating!