Somewhere along the Bow River - Date/Photographer unknown.

20 June 2013

Canadian Pacific Rail's Main Routes Washed Out by Flooding

Canmore and Blairmore Alberta - Raging floodwaters throughout southern Alberta have claimed both of Canadian Pacific's main routes, leaving the transportation company scrambling to keep trains moving.
 
Heavy rainfall over the Oldman and Bow river basins caused devastating floods throughout much of southwestern Alberta early Thursday morning, scouring away Canadian Pacific lines in Canmore and Crowsnest Pass.
 
The two lines are the railway's only links to the west coast.
 
According to railway spokesperson Kevin Hrysak, high water conditions have affected Canadian Pacific lines in both locations, with high water scouring rail beds and bridge abutments.
 
Reports indicate that the rail bed supporting Canadian Pacific's Laggan Subdivision, part of the company's transcontinental main line, is severely abraded or totally washed away at some points through Canmore by Cougar Creek.
 
A bridge carrying Canadian Pacific's Crowsnest Subdivision through Blairmore has been completely washed away, with ties clinging to sagging rails dangling over raging flood waters.
 
Canadian Pacific trains are backed up across Alberta and B.C. as the system is rerouted onto other railways.
 
Railways often have agreements with other railways to accommodate trains.
 
Hrsak confirmed that CP is currently negotiating with other railways in order to ensure continued operation of the railroad.
 
Railway officials have no word on when the system will be back up and running.
 
This is the second such incident involving the Canadian Pacific main line. A portion of the main line in northern Ontario remains closed after a derailment caused a bridge to collapse into the Wahnapitae River southeast of Sudbury.
 
Author unknown.

Lyons Creek in Blairmore - Date unknown Tom Samoil.

Vancouver Island
British Columbia
Canada