MAMMOTH SPRING, Ark. — BNSF has reopened its Thayer South Subdivision through Arkansas, just five days after a bridge washed out under a stopped train.
A new bridge over the Warm Fork Spring River in Mammoth Spring State Park was completed on Thursday morning, April 10, after around-the-clock work. The opening came some 24 hours ahead of earlier estimates, KOLR/KOZL-TV reports.
BNSF said in a customer advisory that the subdivision, which runs between Thayer, Mo., and Memphis, Tenn., reopened at 7:05 a.m. CT. on Thursday. It had been shut down since the bridge washed out about 1:30 a.m. on April 5, sending cars of a stopped coal train into the river [see “Stationary BNSF train derailed …,” Trains News Wire, April 5, 2025]. A second train about 120 miles away was derailed by high winds.
The Thayer North Subdivision, between Thayer and West Plains, Mo., had been returned to service April 6, BNSF said in a social media post. The River Subdivision between Ste. Genevieve, Mo., and River Junction, Ark. was slated to reopen by midnight Thursday night, BNSF said.
It would be interesting to compare p[ictures of the old bridge with the new oone. Was BNSF able to use some standard length spans?
Also is the new bridge more resistant to a wash out?
Thank God it isn’t much of a river, but way to go BNSF.
Once more the railroads show how its done. If it is broken fix it, don’t wait around for someone else to do it.
Railroads: the masters of disaster recovery!
BNSF designed and built a replacement bridge in 5 days, one day ahead of schedule. If this were an Amtrak bridge, after 5 days they would probably still be discussing if the bridge was really necessary, and, perhaps, just starting to write a proposal for companies to bid on a design for a new bridge. Private vs public. Does Amtrak even have a firm date yet for introducing the new Acela?
Don’t forget the months long study by the consultants.