Fire destroys critical (California) rail line (explosion?)

[Newsjock]

http://www.sacbee.com/102/story/138765.html

A dramatic evening fire Thursday along the American River Parkway near Cal Expo destroyed a Union Pacific mainline track, sending billowing black smoke thousands of feet into the blue skies, and disrupting train traffic through the Central Valley.

The hot-burning fire, first reported at 5:41 p.m., quickly consumed about 600 feet of heavy-duty trestle timber and tracks in a secluded section of the American River Parkway, just north of the American River.

... Union Pacific officials confirmed Thursday night that the destroyed track was one of the company's main freight lines between Sacramento and points east, as well as a major passenger corridor for local commuter and long-distance trains.

... Thursday night at the scene, Sacramento Fire Department Capt. Jim Doucette said officials did not yet know the cause of the fire, although there were some early reports that a portion of the trestle had been pushed upward, as if there had been an explosion.

[tandot]

1. My train back home passed it about 5 minutes before it started

They stopped all trains after us. Tomorrow I'll have to take my car to work, since the whole thing collapsed. That sucks. Who knows how long it takes to repair.

I didn't hear anything about an explosion. Everything is very dry here and someone might have dropped a cigarette. Or maybe some kids played with fire.

[AlCzervik]

2. i've been watching it all night, the firefighter kcra had on the phone said

they were having trouble with the hoses and water pressure and it the fire is burning so hot they can't get close enough to it.

[tandot]

4. I take the Amtrak over that bridge twice a day, to and from work.

There is nothing around - no water hydrants. I got an email saying that Amtrak is providing busses for the commuters until it is fixed. This is going to be a bad week.

[nebenaube]

3. doubtful...

It may be soaked in sun-dried creosot but it's not kindling...

[olddad56]

5. I live a couple of miles from there. the cloud of smoke was amazing...

I was outside of my house when the smoke started becoming visable. It was a sight, a huge column of black smoke rising up into the blue sky. It was erie because you knew the fire had to have an oil based fuel. I thought maybe a big rig on the adjacnet freeway, my neighbor guessed a train wreck. I got in my car, left my house and went up to Folosm for dinner, I forgot all about it until I read this. I don't watch corporate news. Wow, weird.