Hoosac Tunnel Discussion & News

The diversion was the first thing that had to happen. I have been told the entire brick lining section is being converted to shotcrete, hence the longer than expected restoration. The amount of bags in the area seems to support that as the immediate cave in area was shotcreted many weeks ago.

Check out this video. After the 12 minute mark you get a good look at the brick ceiling in the area.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kR5kLlLTczc

Yesterday evening, an auto carrier unit train departed the Buckland auto carrier storage area heading for East Deerfield. Still quite a few cars remaining in the Buckland facility.

Buckland facility? You mean the 90 racks stored out there?

D

Just like the 90s except those were boxcars, and stored out to Rices lol.

The Buckland herd is no more. Picked em up this sunny afternoon. Given the fact that ED is half MT there's lots of down there.

So empty auto racks sitting at ED should indicate the need for an EB auto train...? Or is this their new storage location? I've only caught that train once thus far on the detour, would like to see again if possible.

John Barlow notes that there was another 27W fueling in Binghamton as of about three hours ago with 75x0.

With Big 3 shutting down production, there's less demand for MT racks, so might as well store them where possible.

Very true sir. I forgot about that & the effect that might have locally.

Q: is work continuing on the Hoosac Tunnel rehab or has it been curtailed due to state Covid 19 shutdown edicts?

I dont know what's going on in the tunnel today, but the way i read it all the work going on there is covered for continuation as "essential" under the Governors program

"Transportation and Logistics
Employees supporting or enabling transportation functions, including dispatchers, maintenance and repair technicians, warehouse workers, truck stop and rest area workers, and workers that maintain and inspect infrastructure (including those that require cross-border travel)"

The Tunnel work and the railroads in general are also covered as being essential to National Defense.
So the work will continue. I heard they finally hit daylight last week and that the pile of debris to be excavated off the tracks is down to about 8 feet high.

I'm happy to read that they're making repairs. More than one rail line in New England has never recovered from a blow such as this.

How much of the collapse was a self inflicted blow, due
to deferred maintenance? Or was that out of Pan Am's control?