Interesting BNSF Video

[GN1996]

I saw this video today and thought it was pretty cool how BNSF retaliated against the flooding in 2011. I figure somebody else will appreciate this video, so here's the link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ag71dekArY&feature=relmfu\

GN1996

 

[M00se]

they dont mess around when it comes to getting goods around the US

 

[GN1996]

Yeah, when you have thousands of customers spread across a nation, its sort of expected of you to keep your system flowing smoothly.

 

[Euphod]

Nice video, thanks.

 

[JCitron]

While traveling in this region this summer, I saw a lot of the results of the flooding and rebuilding. There are still areas where the water comes right up to the edge of the ballast in many places, and even up to the edge of the roadway in quite a few places in western North Dakota.

One of the biggest issues that BNSF is facing in North Dakota right now is Devils Lake. This lake is swallowing up the land around it as its water table rises.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/09/24/devils-lake-north-dakota-_n_737753.html

Recently they did some work in conjunction with to rebuild the former Great Northern main line through the area.

http://www.bnsf.com/customers/weather-interruptions/archive.html

After seeing their roadbed and beautiful ballast even in their yards, I am envious! My local Class 3 regional does a piss-poor job of maintaining its own ROW.

John

 

[schweitzerdude]

Devils Lake is a problem that has an easy physical solution (dig a ditch to drain the excess) prevented by a very difficult political situation - the water in Devils Lake is considered "nasty" (chemicals, salinity, etc) since it has no outlet, and so neither North Dakotans, Minnesotans, nor Manitobans want Devils Lake water in their rivers. But according to this article in wikipedia, another few feet higher and the water will drain into the Sheyenne River anyway, then into the Red River of the North, Lake Winnipeg, etc.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devils_Lake_(North_Dakota)

 

[GN1996]

Thank you everyvbody for the feedback and I'm glad to hear you like the video. The Devils Lake situation is a very interesting one indeed. I guess it just goes to show how far-sighted some people are, lol.