Wellington Fire Protection District
Monday morning rail news:
One injured when BNSF locomotives hit, derail coal hoppers
One crew member was injured when a set of BNSF locomotives hit a string of empty coal hoppers Friday evening in Wellington, Colo. The Wellington Fire Protection District reports that the accident occurred at 8:22 p.m. at the Plate River Power Authority Rawhide Energy Station and derailed four cars. The injured crew member was transported to a local hospital with minor injuries; the other two crewmen on board were not injured. The incident has been turned over to BNSF and the power authority for investigation.
Increase in COVID cases postpones return of Napa Valley Wine Train
A regional surge of COVID-19 cases has postponed the planned resumption of operation for the Napa Valley Wine Train, which has been shut down since March 16 because of the virus pandemic. The Napa Valley Register reports the train had been planning to return on Dec. 4, operating at 50% of capacity, which train partner Gregory Brun told the paper was “marginal” from a financial standpoint. But Napa County has fallen to the “purple,” or lowest, level of the state’s tiered virus management plan. That includes a ban on indoor dining and wine tasting, forcing the new postponement. The wine train website says trips are now cancelled through Dec. 18.
Study will assess future of Lehigh Valley roundhouse in Manchester, N.Y.
A study will begin in December to determine if a long-abandoned Lehigh Valley Railroad roundhouse in Manchester, N.Y., can be redeveloped, possibly for use as home of a rail museum, or has deteriorated to the point where it must be demolished. The Daily Messenger reports the $40,000 examination of the 30-bay, 62,000-square-foot roundhouse will determine what would be necessary to bring the building into code compliance for possible reuse, and provide recommendations for emergency stabilization and options for reuse. A report is due to the Ontario County Board of Supervisors in February.
