BNSF Z-Train Detours over Montana Rail Link

Due to a rock slide coming down on top of the H-NORPAS last Wednesday on the Kootenai River Subdivsion 30 miles east of Libby, BNSF was forced to detour several high priority Z-Trains through the Laurel area on Thursday and Friday. Total, there were five westbound Z-trains detoured and I managed to catch up with two of them. If anyone out there can tell me the train symbols of the Z-trains that run on the Hi-Line, I would appreciate it. Enjoy the video!

Z-Train #1: BNSF 4866 West, 6:34 P.M. Power: C44-9W 4866, C44-9W 4191, C44-9W 1103. Shilo Interlocking, Laurel, Montana.

Z-Train #2: BNSF 5286 West, 10:37 P.M. Power: C44-9W 5286 and two more C44-9W's. West Siding Switch Columbus, Columbus, Montana

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• BNSF
• Railway
• Montana
• Rail
• Link
• Z-Train
• Freight
• Train
• Detour
• C44-9W
• Shilo
• Columbus
• Laurel

[AMTK510]

I'm sure one of those were the Z CHCSSE.

Nice video.

[collegeboy1083]

@AMTK510 Probably. I did see the Z-CHCSSE this weekend up on Marias. The video will be up later this week.

[TheMadNorsky]

Any more info on the rock slide? I get more news on railroad activity from watching YouTube than from any of my regular news sources. Did anyone get injured, did it cause a derailment? Good video!

[collegeboy1083]

@TheMadNorsky The line reopened last Friday at 9 A.M. No one was injured as the slide struck the middle of the 88 car train, but it hit a few reefers carrying frozen turkeys! The main problem that occurred was every time that BNSF went in to remove the debris from the track, more would come down the hillside. The area has been soaked with rain. If you Google "BNSF Libby Derailment" you'll find several articles and some pictures of the slide and derailment.

[TheMadNorsky]

@collegeboy1083 10-4, thanks for info, I'll give it a try.

[seankolker]

Z-PORTLAND-CHICAGO,Z South Seattle- Chicago,some are S and Q Stacks/Quality intermodal......most common ones anyways.