Just curious as both are "overdue" just north and just south of the Napa Valley
Are they holding 11 & 14 to check for track damage from the quake?
- Thread starter AmtrakBlue
- Start date
Help Support Amtrak Unlimited Discussion Forum:
- Status
OlympianHiawatha
Engineer
I would imagine so as the epicenter is very close to where the trains pass.
OlympianHiawatha
Engineer
NBC Bay Area just announced the Napa Valley Wine Train has ben cancelled today, though I have no idea where that runs. Caltrain and BART are inspecting but so far have no problems, though they are well south.
- Joined
- Feb 18, 2003
- Messages
- 8,507
Both #11 and #14 are being held pending track and structure inspection. I would assume that also includes the Capitol Corridor and San Joaquin services as well.
A Magnitude 6.0 earthquake is pretty significant. The Bay Area Loma Prieta quake of 1989 that caused extensive damage was a 6.9. Note that the earthquake magnitudes are logarithmic. In english, that means that each full number represents a ten-fold increase in power. A magnitude 6 is 10 times the strength of a magnitude 5. A magnitude 8 (a big one) is 100 times the strength of a magnitude 6. The Loma Prieta quake was about 8 times the strength of this one.
The infrastructure impact of a quake is dependent on lots of variables including depth of the event, the geology of the area, and the type of ground movements (horizontal and vertical). An earthquake to a structural engineer is like a tornado to a meteorologist. It brings mixed emotions. On one hand you dread the potential human impact, but you relish the additional data to enhance seismic engineering methodology. Each one is a little different.
A Magnitude 6.0 earthquake is pretty significant. The Bay Area Loma Prieta quake of 1989 that caused extensive damage was a 6.9. Note that the earthquake magnitudes are logarithmic. In english, that means that each full number represents a ten-fold increase in power. A magnitude 6 is 10 times the strength of a magnitude 5. A magnitude 8 (a big one) is 100 times the strength of a magnitude 6. The Loma Prieta quake was about 8 times the strength of this one.
The infrastructure impact of a quake is dependent on lots of variables including depth of the event, the geology of the area, and the type of ground movements (horizontal and vertical). An earthquake to a structural engineer is like a tornado to a meteorologist. It brings mixed emotions. On one hand you dread the potential human impact, but you relish the additional data to enhance seismic engineering methodology. Each one is a little different.
Last edited by a moderator:
- Joined
- Feb 18, 2003
- Messages
- 8,507
The Napa Valley Wine Train is a tourist service from Napa to St. Helena and back in the Napa Valley.
Last edited by a moderator:
Bill, you are such an engineer
Thanks for the geological lesson.
- Joined
- Feb 18, 2003
- Messages
- 8,507
It's an affliction that I cope with, but sadly there is no cure.Bill, you are such an engineer
The Dean of Engineering's office at Villanova had a poster, "Ten Tell-Tale Signs Your Child May Become an Engineer." Number 1 was, "Likes Trains."
I am tempted to edit/replace the word "sadly" to "happily" :wub: :lol:It's an affliction that I cope with, but sadly there is no cure.Bill, you are such an engineer
The Dean of Engineering's office at Villanova had a poster, "Ten Tell-Tale Signs Your Child May Become an Engineer." Number 1 was, "Likes Trains."
Aloha
The news is reporting that Capitol Corridor service is currently suspended between Roseville and San Jose due to track inspections. San Joaquin services are suspended between Oakland and Stockton due to track inspections. Caltrain service has been cleared thus far between San Francisco and Whipple Road and Redwood City at this time with no defects found. Track inspections are continuing south to San Jose. BART track and structure inspections have been complete and service should be operating as normal (minus scheduled track maintenance). As mentioned earlier, the Napa Valley Wine Train will not be operating today and Coast Starlight trains 11 & 14 have been held out of the area. Train 6 (California Zephyr) will also be held until inspections have been complete. The special ACE train service for the 49ers game today from Stockton to Santa Clara/Great America has been cancelled for track inspections.
This quake is reported to be a 6.1 centered 3 miles northwest of American Canyon (6 miles southwest of Napa). This is as reported by the local Bay Area news. Ironically I'm out of town in the LA area this weekend, driving back home to the Bay Area today. News channels down here are broadcasting the live reports and updates from the Bay Area news channel feeds. Looks like damage in the Napa Area. Multiple injuries reported. Most serious injuries due to falling debris. No reports of fatalities yet (thankfully). More damage and leaks are being discovered as people wake up and daylight breaks for the day. My friend who is the PIO for CHP in the Bay Area says minor highway damage near Vallejo/Napa area. No damage found to any of the SF Bay Area bridges.
This quake is reported to be a 6.1 centered 3 miles northwest of American Canyon (6 miles southwest of Napa). This is as reported by the local Bay Area news. Ironically I'm out of town in the LA area this weekend, driving back home to the Bay Area today. News channels down here are broadcasting the live reports and updates from the Bay Area news channel feeds. Looks like damage in the Napa Area. Multiple injuries reported. Most serious injuries due to falling debris. No reports of fatalities yet (thankfully). More damage and leaks are being discovered as people wake up and daylight breaks for the day. My friend who is the PIO for CHP in the Bay Area says minor highway damage near Vallejo/Napa area. No damage found to any of the SF Bay Area bridges.
Last edited by a moderator:
- Joined
- Feb 18, 2003
- Messages
- 8,507
For the closet nerds among us, here is the full info on the quake from the USGS.
M6.0 - 6km NW of American Canyon, California
M6.0 - 6km NW of American Canyon, California
Just talked with my brother in Sonoma/ lots of small after shocks, some glass breakage, cracks in walls, roads around Sonoma, power/cable/ internet was out for 4 hours/Cell Phone networks jammed, people being urged not to drive/ stay home/USAC Race is @ Sonoma Track, not canceled so far? and Grape Harvest just started,lots of Tourists, Valleys are jammed!
So far things overall look good, the people are important so hopefully the death toll and injuries will be minimum!
The track safety inspections are routine around the Bay Area, I've been on Trains several times in that area during quakes, Better Safe than Sorry!
So far things overall look good, the people are important so hopefully the death toll and injuries will be minimum!
The track safety inspections are routine around the Bay Area, I've been on Trains several times in that area during quakes, Better Safe than Sorry!
Last edited by a moderator:
the_traveler
Engineer
But he plays a Forum Manager on AU!Bill, you are such an engineer
- Joined
- Jul 30, 2009
- Messages
- 403
Train 14 should have been clear of the area hours before the earthquake hit. However, there was a 3.5 hour delay shortly after departure from Los Angeles that left it on the wrong side of the quake zone.
- Joined
- Feb 18, 2003
- Messages
- 8,507
Per Trainorders, one of the locomotives on #14 (Dash 8 #510) caught fire at Glendale. They had to get another locomotive at LAX.
the_traveler
Engineer
Why did 14 have a Dash-8 and not the normal P-42? :huh:
jis
Permanent Way Inspector
Staff member
Administator
Moderator
AU Supporting Member
Gathering Team Member
Perhaps because the normal P42 crapped out?
Sent from my iPhone using Amtrak Forum
Sent from my iPhone using Amtrak Forum
Tennessee Traveler
Conductor
I don't know about today, but when I rode CS #11 August 7 it had a Dash-8 as the second engine. I also saw this Dash-8 on the CS #14 in Santa Barbara on July 26. Makes me think it is on the CS regularly.
Not any more, I guess!
G
Gone Loco
Guest
The Dash 8s regularly show up in the Starlight's lashups. ATMK 510 will obviously not be one of them until 8th Street can get it back out on the road.
14's delay was a lucky break. Had it been about 30 minutes less late, it would've been rolling across the Carquinez Bridge when the 6.1 earthquake struck. Not good.
Bad day for the Starlights yesterday: 14's engine fire and motive issues up and over Cuesta Grade, and 11 suffered a "trespasser incident" fatality on approach to Salinas...said incident involving a person jumping or otherwise becoming under the baggage car, and only being discovered when the baggage and freight (SNS is currently handling freight for SJC as the freight door is inop at San Jose) were being unloaded. Crew requested and deserved relief.
11, 14 (23) and the Caps are all showing service disruptions today; Sundays can be busy up here and there's another 49er preseason game at Levi's Stadium underway -- no Capitols and no ACE service to the stadium is probably messing up the transport plan.
Best thoughts to our neighbors in wine country today.
Bad day for the Starlights yesterday: 14's engine fire and motive issues up and over Cuesta Grade, and 11 suffered a "trespasser incident" fatality on approach to Salinas...said incident involving a person jumping or otherwise becoming under the baggage car, and only being discovered when the baggage and freight (SNS is currently handling freight for SJC as the freight door is inop at San Jose) were being unloaded. Crew requested and deserved relief.
11, 14 (23) and the Caps are all showing service disruptions today; Sundays can be busy up here and there's another 49er preseason game at Levi's Stadium underway -- no Capitols and no ACE service to the stadium is probably messing up the transport plan.
Best thoughts to our neighbors in wine country today.
DesertRat
Lead Service Attendant
What do the trains do when they're held pending inspections? Are they sitting just where they are, or do they park themselves at the nearest station?
Sometimes the trains just can't catch a break. I'm on 14 tomorraw (25) LAX-PDX and I guess I'll just be happy to make it and not worry about being on time.
This must be my vacation of delays, coming down on 11(20) we were three hours late and lost power in the Parlour car two thirds of the way down. Peeking in it looked eerie with just the emergency lighting in the darkness.
This must be my vacation of delays, coming down on 11(20) we were three hours late and lost power in the Parlour car two thirds of the way down. Peeking in it looked eerie with just the emergency lighting in the darkness.
Trainmans daughter
OBS Chief
At 4:49, I received this update on the Cap Corridor, which uses the same tracks as the CA and the CS:
"Service between Sacramento and Oakland Coliseum has resumed, but you may encounter delays. We are expecting to resume service between Hayward and San Jose by 7PM. Thank you for your patience."
"Service between Sacramento and Oakland Coliseum has resumed, but you may encounter delays. We are expecting to resume service between Hayward and San Jose by 7PM. Thank you for your patience."
Status maps shows 11 moving again - 10+ hours late. 6 and 14 are still listed as service disruptions.
- Status
