Amtrak train freed after being stuck almost 13 hours in 25-foot North Dakota snowbank

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Amtrak train freed after being stuck almost 13 hours in 25-foot ND snowbank

By Barry Amundson on Mar 8, 2017 at 10:06 p.m.



RUGBY, N.D. -- On the fourth attempt, an Amtrak train carrying 111 passengers that was stuck almost 13 hours in a 25-foot northern North Dakota snowbank was on its way to other eastward stops on Wednesday.

Three attempts failed earlier in the day after heavy snow and two days of fierce winds plugged the tracks with a 200-foot long snowbank.

The Empire Builder, as the train is called,  got stuck five miles west of Rugby in north-central North Dakota at about 7 a.m. and was finally dug out about 6:45 p.m., according to Amy McBeth, Minneapolis, BNSF public relations director for this region. ... BNSF inspected the train for any damages and the train was moving again at about 7:45 p.m.

The closure of the one-lane track also held up a westbound Amtrak train also called the Empire Builder, with 96 passengers, at Leeds, about 35 miles to the east. That train left Leeds after a delay of about 14 hours and headed west.

[elleng]

1. WOW!

[shenmue]

3. Jiminy pete

[COLGATE4]

2. The good part is that they only had

time to cannibalize and eat one passenger.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

5. He was traveling coach, so he was no one of any importance. NT

[COLGATE4]

6. That, too. But they said that.

notwithstanding the fact that he was only a Coach traveller, that 'he was delicious'.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

4. And now, a report from someone who was on the train:

Passenger Trains > On Board the Snow Drift Train "Empire Builder"

Date: 03/09/17 09:10
On Board the Snow Drift Train "Empire Builder"
Author: sagehen

I picked a great time to take Amtrak 28, "The Empire Builder" from Portland, OR to Portage, WI. After waiting for hours at Minot because of frozen switches all over North Dakota, we were set free. At about 6:30 am, we were going track speed (79 mph) 5 miles west of Rugby when the engineer saw a big snowdrift and brought the train to a quick stop. But not quite quick enough. We hit the drift and packed snow so tightly underneath and around the train that we couldn't get free. BNSF sent locomotives to help and tried to pull us back, but we were packed in too well. Then BNSF got serious. They sent bulldozers, bobcats, and about 50 workers with shovels. They also sent four freight units to couple on to the front of the train. They tried several times to jerk us out without success. Finally after more hand digging we were set free, more than 12 hours after getting stuck. Most people were bored but happy. Since I'm a train nerd, I was fascinated over the big show Amtrak and BNSF put on and considered myself lucky to witness it. The Amtrak car attendant Deb Vann is a real treasure! She retires at the end of the year and she'll be missed.

Stan Praisewater