Guy Span

Nearly two weeks of rain in the Los Angeles basin preceded the killer storm of January 12th that caused severe flooding, high tides, and mudslides. The already service-clogged Union Pacific Railroad lost one third of its capacity as the storm washed away roadbeds, bridges, and dumped mud and debris over the tracks. Severed was the Coast Line between LA and Emeryville, the San Joaquin Route, and the mainline to Las Vegas.

The UP threw 150 men, 40 pieces of heavy equipment, and dozens of trucks at the problems in LA. In Nevada, the narrow Caliente Canyon soaked up 200 men working around the clock with 60 machines and seven work trains hauling rock. Access roads had to be rebuilt before the crews could get in to fix the track. The UP responded to losing its northern and mid-west lines by placing an embargo (a common carrier’s legal refusal to handle traffic) on the Coast, San Joaquin, and Las Vegas lines.

Back at the docks in Long Beach (specifically named in the embargo order), Chicago-bound containers began piling up and UP’s congestion problems soared. An accident of geography allowed competitor Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) to operate most of its lines and some UP trains were able to detour.

As a result of these storms and a massive snowfall in the Sierra (blocking UP’s mainline), there is very limited long-distance Amtrak service. Those wishing to take a train east have to go north to Seattle and then east on the Empire Builder to Chicago. The direct San Francisco train terminates in Denver until early February. Service south from Oakland on the Coast Starlight is suspended until further notice and the Seattle-LA train now terminates in Emeryville. Alternate service south on the San Joaquin line is handled by bus until early February, when the BNSF completes a scheduled track repair program.