Bridge collapse and train fire in Arizona
#1
Just in case this hasn't made the national news, there's a fire on a truss bridge in Tempe, Arizona, about 20 miles from where we live and where I went to school. The bridge had about eight spans across the Salt River which is dammed up to form the Tempe Town Lake. From what I can see, one span over land has collapsed and there's about seven cars on the ground or hanging off the tracks including three or four tank cars. None of those are burning. Five of the spans over water are burning and two or three centerbeam cars with lumber are on fire and you can see the burning lumber falling from the cars. They are dealing with the collapsed span and one other that they can fight from the ground and are waiting on a helicopter to help fight the spans over the water. This bridge is around 100 years old and has seen it's last train for sure. So far no one has said if the bridge collapsed first, or if a car fire or derailment is what started this. It is spectacular to watch and that's all that's on the local news right now.

This is Don Day bringing you the latest news from the "Eye in the Sky", (a local station's catchphrase), more news at noon....
Don (ezdays) Day
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founder of the CANYON STATE RAILROAD
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#2
(07-29-2020, 08:48 AM)ezdays Wrote: Just in case this hasn't made the national news, there's a fire on a truss bridge in Tempe, Arizona, about 20 miles from where we live and where I went to school. The bridge had about eight spans across the Salt River which is dammed up to form the Tempe Town Lake. From what I can see, one span over land has collapsed and there's about seven cars on the ground or hanging off the tracks including three or four tank cars. None of those are burning. Five of the spans over water are burning and two or three centerbeam cars with lumber are on fire and you can see the burning lumber falling from the cars. They are dealing with the collapsed span and one other that they can fight from the ground and are waiting on a helicopter to help fight the spans over the water. This bridge is around 100 years old and has seen it's last train for sure. So far no one has said if the bridge collapsed first, or if a car fire or derailment is what started this. It is spectacular to watch and that's all that's on the local news right now.

This is Don Day bringing you the latest news from the "Eye in the Sky", (a local station's catchphrase), more news at noon....

Here is a news story with video 
https://www.azfamily.com/news/train-dera...b639f.html
Charlie
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#3
Thanks for finding that Charlie, apparently that is a live shot. The UP says that the derailment caused the collapse which started the fire. No aerial support though because the Phoenix airport is too close by. Here's a shot of how the bridge looked before the fire, the trestle over the road on the right is the one that collapsed.  

   
Don (ezdays) Day
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founder of the CANYON STATE RAILROAD
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#4
How does a derailment start a fire?

How major is that RR line?
David
Moderato ma non troppo
Perth & Exeter Railway Company
Esquesing & Chinguacousy Radial Railway
In model railroading, there are between six and two hundred ways of performing a given task.
Most modellers can get two of them to work.
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#5
(07-29-2020, 08:22 PM)BR60103 Wrote: How does a derailment start a fire?  

How major is that RR line?

Don't know, they just gave the chain of events over the TV. Apparently the fire started in the lumber loads, none of the derailed cars were on fire, even the tank cars.

If you look at pictures for overhead, there are two more tracks on a parallel bridge, obviously built somewhat recently, so the loss of the bridge shouldn't affect traffic. Finding out how this all started and how the fire started is going to be how those government guys earn their big bucks....
Don (ezdays) Day
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founder of the CANYON STATE RAILROAD
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#6
Just in case anyone was interested, there is a gallery of photos here that shows every aspect of the fire. It was spectacular there for a while. They even had a pumper boat after a while, where that came from is anyone's guess.
Don (ezdays) Day
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founder of the CANYON STATE RAILROAD
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#7
(07-29-2020, 08:41 PM)ezdays Wrote:
(07-29-2020, 08:22 PM)BR60103 Wrote: How does a derailment start a fire?  

How major is that RR line?

Don't know, they just gave the chain of events over the TV. Apparently the fire started in the lumber loads, none of the derailed cars were on fire, even the tank cars.

If you look at pictures for overhead, there are two more tracks on a parallel bridge, obviously built somewhat recently, so the loss of the bridge shouldn't affect traffic. Finding out how this all started and how the fire started is going to be how those government guys earn their big bucks....
To my humble opinion, these two tracks on the seperate bridge are for the Valley Metro Rail. This is a streetcar/lightrail and for LRVs this bridge is made and has not the structure to bear the load strain of full heavy railroad traffic.


Lutz
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#8
(07-30-2020, 02:47 PM)Schraddel Wrote: To my humble opinion, these two tracks on the seperate bridge are for the Valley Metro Rail. This is a streetcar/lightrail and for LRVs this bridge is made and has not the structure to bear the load strain of full heavy railroad traffic.


Lutz

You know Lutz,I never gave that a thought. I think you're right, they're extending the light rail to Tempe, good catch. Maybe they'll have to rebuild the bridge after all.
Don (ezdays) Day
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founder of the CANYON STATE RAILROAD
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#9
Had a big chuckle this morning. Was watching the morning news where they had several cameras pointed at the bridge section that was going to be taken down today. We must have been watching for almost 30 minutes, they said they could hear the second siren going off, then they said there was a delay because they had a few more people to clear out, so they cut to a commercial break.... Come back from the break to see a cloud of smoke and the bridge section on the ground.... Fantastic timing. 35 35 35 35

And yes, the will rebuild the bridge, apparently just two sections need to be replaced, not sure which section they blew down, too busy watching some commercial and they never went back to show it Waiting but I think it was the one with the two centerbeams still on it.
Don (ezdays) Day
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founder of the CANYON STATE RAILROAD
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#10
I hope the crew wasn't hurt.
Larry
Engineman

Summerset Ry

Make Safety your first thought, Not your last!  Safety First!
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#11
(08-09-2020, 03:56 AM)Brakie Wrote: I hope the crew wasn't hurt.

Just one from smoke inhalation.

As an update, they took the bridge sections down on Monday, by Friday, they had the new bridge and rails in place. Normally, they'd still be in the process of getting permits and impact statements submitted. Talk about being on the fast track.... Icon_lol
Don (ezdays) Day
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founder of the CANYON STATE RAILROAD
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#12
Oh yeah,

they are speedily fixing it, found several videos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r91IkCnsskg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZpQDBEUmU0
It looks like they are ramming trestle steel pillars into the ground.

That is the spirit of the Old West. There is a gap, don't ask, fix it.



Lutz

"Niemand hat die Absicht einen Fluchhafen zu eröffnen."
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#13
Don,

you were completely right! Thumbsup
The trains are rolling again.


Lutz
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#14
(08-14-2020, 03:09 AM)Schraddel Wrote: Don,

you were completely right! Thumbsup
The trains are rolling again.


Lutz

Yup, they said they'd be running by today, less than two weeks after the fire. Gotta give them credit, they know how to get things done. If this was a government job, they'd just be starting the planning stage, meetings, coffee, more meetings, more lunches, maybe even a trip or two to Vegas or Hawaii to see how they do things there. Waiting Two years later and they'd be ready to go get bids.... Applause
Don (ezdays) Day
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founder of the CANYON STATE RAILROAD
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