Train Derailment- Four years later 2

[bacon4life]

As a four year update to thread815-433536, Amtrak will be resuming service tomorrow on the new Point Defiance Bypass route between Seattle and Portland.

https://media.amtrak.com/2021/11/cascades-service-to-resume-on-the-point-defiance-bypass/

https://www.opb.org/article/2021/11...ens-four-years-after-fatal-amtrak-derailment/

 

[AusG]

Is it unfair to note that this is two whole years shorter than the construction of the whole transcontinental railroad in 1869?

 

[cranky108]

It maybe fair to note that train speeds are much different than in 1869. So I would assume track laying methods are different also.

 

[TigerGuy]

Earth moving methods and equipment have also changed...slightly

https://www.cat.com/en_US/products/new/equipment/excavators/large-excavators/104201.html

 

[MintJulep]

I'd guess that more trees were used to make paper to support the joint bureaucracy Amtrak, WSDOT, and Sound Transit and likely the FTA and FRA than were used to make rail ties for the transcontinental railroad.

 

[EdStainless]

Come now Mint, the amount might be equal

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P.E. Metallurgy, consulting work welcomed

 

[bimr]

The train has left that station.

From Sacramento, Calif. to Omaha, Neb. the transcontinental railroad used a total 5.2 million ties. At this time, the bureaucracy is probably using mostly digital files.

Construction of the railroad provided many opportunities for financial chicanery, corruption, graft, and bribery. The greatest financial scandal of the 19th century grew out of the railroad's construction. The president of the Union Pacific helped found a construction company, called Credit Mobilier, which allowed investors, including several members of Congress, to grant lucrative construction contracts to themselves, while nearly bankrupting the railroad.

Is it unfair to note that this is two whole years shorter than the construction of the whole transcontinental railroad in 1869?

Yes. somewhat irrelevant since the existing congested mainline route was still operating. One assumes that reopening of the faster bypass route was held up by the litigation.

The engineer of the inaugural train that derailed said he doesn't recall seeing the 30 mile per hour advance speed sign two miles ahead of the speed-restrictive curve where it derailed. Sound Transit has added Positive Train Control which was originally mandated in 2008, but resisted for years by the railroads.