The dispatch and speed with which the railroad repaired and opened their trestle has been marvelous to watch and we look for the same dedication to efficiency concerning getting the Parkway open and running for all of the people now struggling with a detour.
Crews finish rail tracks, restoring normal routes
Published 12:00 am PDT Sunday, April 1, 2007
Union Pacific crews finished work early Saturday morning on the second of two rail tracks on a trestle over the American River.
About 1,400 feet of wooden trestle on the railroad's Sacramento mainline was destroyed by fire March 15.
All of the trains -- both freight and passenger -- that had been detoured following the fire now are moving on their normal routes, UP spokesman Mark Davis said in a news release issued Saturday. About 50 trains a day use the bridge.
UP crews worked day and night to build a new concrete and steel structure at the site just north of the American River.
The first track reopened for freight traffic last Tuesday - 12 days after the fire.
Davis said the second track was completed at 1 a.m. Saturday.
Trains will travel over the bridge at 10 mph and are expected to resume the original maximum speed of 25 mph within a week.
The fire's cause remains under investigation.
