AuSable RR Bridge Collapse

[propbuster]

Just saw a report on local news that a train was crossing the Ausable on the brigde between the Foote & the mouth, the bridge collapsed & looked like a Railroad car or two ended up in the river along with the bridge. Anyone know what the cars were carrying? How will this affect Steelhead season? :yikes:

[Erik]

Dang! That must have been quite a sight to see. Glad I didn't go up there this weekend.
I don't think it will effect the steelhead runs, but I'm sure it will change the structure of that particular hole.
Hope no one was hurt.

[east bay ed]

i have walked across that bridge many a times. i didn't hear anything about it yet. i read saturday's alpena news and it was not in there. if they replace the bridge it could screw up the run this spring.

[dinoday]

Wow...I've walked across that bridge many times.Last time I was there(a while ago)it was private all along that area.Pretty deep hole there and it's even deeper if a railroad car hit the bottom :lol: If there's nothing nasty in it leave it there...good cover for the monster smallies that hang out in that area :fish:

[TimT]

Is that the train that runs for US Gypsum? Maybe the hole filled up with alabaster.

[Erik]

I'm not sure what they use that track for. Unless things have changed in the last couple years, they didn't used to use that track very much. I've never seen a train just blasting through there or anything. They usauly move real slow, and kind of back and forth. More like they're reconnecting box cars.

[sprigdog]

Usually get one train a day on those tracks, always about the time I'm trying to fall asleep. The river is currently blocked, so if your drifting dont put in at whirlpool.

[Fishndude]

Maybe the current will blow some of the sand out of that hole, with the obstruction of the train car, while it is in there. There used to be a nice strip of gravel down the middle of the run, but it dissappeared some years ago. The hole hasn't held fish the same since.

[propbuster]

Sprigdog,

Sounds like you are in the area of the RR bridge. Was there any cargo in those cars that has or might contaminate the river? Looked like grain or chemical hauling cars from the video that I saw.

[WILDCATWICK]

Is there a link to a video or a picture??

[UnkaD]

Is there a link to a video or a picture??
:yeahthat:

[Erik]

I found this after much searching this evening.

http://www.iosconews.com/articles/2005/02/15/news/news01.txt

Sounds like they're going to rebuild it with cement pilings. Says they expect it to be back up and working within one week. Wow!

[Shoeman]

That's gonna put the kabash on a few guides that try to avoid paying the Fed fee at the Whirlpool.

[The Junkie]

heres a pic

[foxangler]

heres a pic
man that looks bad...all i know is i'll be up there fishing this weekend...i hope nothing falls on me...heheheh

[Ralph Smith]

I work for csx in saginaw, and by looking at those cars, they are covered hoppers which wouldn't be containing anything chemical wise. Probobly grain more than likely. Alot of farmers store it till spring when prices go up and ship it rather than in fall when price is down. That is if cars in river are same as ones still up :p Could be stone if not a covered car, that would creat one heck of a bedding area through there for the steelhead :lol: :D

[Erik]

The article, (the one I provided the link to) said the car was empty. No one was hurt. there was only one person on the train, and it was traveling at the max speed for that area which is 10mph. This was confirmed by the little black recorder box.

[Erik]

Heres the link again if anyone wants it.
http://www.iosconews.com/articles/2...news/news01.txt

They said they will be building the bridge back on cement footings. I would expect this will effect the current under the bridge, and change some of the structure that used to hold fish there. Hopefully it doesn't change everthing in the area, but I suppose change is ineviatable.

[rendotwo]

News Report Said That It Would Be Cleared And Repaired Within A Week

[Getaway]

I read the latest article on this last night. They purchased a bridge from Wisconsin and will have it up and ready by this weekend. Wow, thats quick! It must have been one hell of an estate sale.... :lol: .

I guess the cars derailed and were dragged into the bridge causing the crash and collapse. The cars were empty. The rail company is very antsy to get that bridge back together. That is the main rail line from Bay City to Alpena and it is costing the cement company in Alpena lots of extra money by not being able to use the trains.

It's crazy to think that bridge is gone. I can't tell you how many times I've walked across it.

[dinoday]

It's crazy to think that bridge is gone. I can't tell you how many times I've walked across it.

I can't tell you how many memorable days I had by that bridge...and nights I can't remember :lol: (when I was a lot younger)
I'm glad they're getting it fixed up.I hope it knocked some of the sediment out of the holes around there...the fishing might improve.I need to go back up that way.I haven't been there in quite a while.

[maulers58]

Relax everyone. Believe it or not the bridge is already repaired. (front page of Bay City Times 2/23/05) They took out all the old wooden support pilings, even the older submerged ones, and replaced them with brand new concrete ones. They brought the new span in from Wisconson (It was a used span that was sitting idle and unused) Saved a ton of money. Anyway, the hole is much deeper and wider so it should be an even better "killer hole".

[rendotwo]

always was a good spot before the tree stump got washed out now will be good again for a while

[chrisw1639]

OSCODA - The new railroad bridge across the AuSable River is projected for completion by the end of the week.

"We expect to run the first train Saturday night," said Will Gamble, Lake State Railway's vice president of operations.
This is six days behind the original one-week time line, the delay caused by a design change which necessitated cutting and treating larger timbers, Gamble said.

The new bridge replaces the historic 1913 trestle which was destroyed Feb. 12 after a derailed freight car pushed it off its concrete foundation.

The new three-span structure sits about six inches lower than the old trestle and is supported by two sets of pilings jetted into the river.

Finishing touches will include fencing, also a gated and locked maintenance walkway system, both intended to discourage trespassing.
The new bridge will also be lit. Gamble said. This is being required by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality at the request of local police.

Before Lake State contractors finish at the site, they will also be removing old wood pilings from the river, the remnants of a railroad bridge which crossed the river in the 1800's. This was also included as part of the DEQ permit, Gamble said.

All other debris has or will be removed from the river by the end of the project, he said. This includes rail ties which floated downstream after the accident.

"The river will be better than it was when we get all done," Gamble said.

Gamble said Lake State has spend about $700,000 thus far for demolition and bridge replacement. "I expect the cost to be over $1 million by the time cleanup is complete." He said Lake State's insurance will cover about half the cost.

According to Gamble, the company is continuing its investigation into the cause of the derailment but all signs continue to point to a track deviation as the primary factor. Operating error is not suspected, he said.

As previously reported, a car towards the rear of a 44-car freight train jumped the tracks in the area of Loud Drive, according to Gamble. He said the mishap went undetected until the empty hopper car was pulled onto the trestle.

(http://www.oscodapress.com/articles/2005/02/23/news/news02.eml)
:grouphug: (http://www.oscodapress.com/articles/2005/02/23/news/news02.prt)


http://www.oscodapress.com/art/pixel.gif

[StumpJumper]

This must be the old iron bridge? Had alot of fun there, we used to grab a 5th of quervo head out to that bridge and climb the trusses up to the top and jump into the river.

I look back at that now and it's a wonder none of us got killed. :confused:

[GONE FISHIN(LARRY)]

The trains started running again last Friday,the new bridge has 4 pillars and they claimed they cleared alot of degree out of the river,it will be interesting to see how it will affect the river flow and fishing there.