Union Pacific has posted photos to its Facebook, Twitter, and other social media accounts showing a firefighting train at work on the bridge at the famous Keddie Wye on its ex-Western Pacific Feather River Canyon route, with the message: “Thanks to our crews on our fire trains, working tirelessly to help control fires in northern California, such as near Keddie, Calif.” The UP route remains under threat from the Dixie Fire, which has merged with another wildfire and is approaching 200,000 acres burned — an area of over 300 square miles. The Associated Press reports the the fire has destroyed more than a dozen structures and some 10,000 homes are under threat.
OK, a non railfan friend ask: “Where do they get the water?” I don’t know. Can anyone tell me how they source the water?
Tank cars. You can see some of them in the background of the photo.
Keddie is on a Wye that joins two UP lines: the traditional WP from Salt Lake City via Portola, and the GN-WP “Inside Gateway” from the Pacific Northwest via Bieber.
I understand that the fire has now burnt at least one bridge on this line, so it may be a while before anything but this fire train is seen at Keddie.
I’ll second that!
I admire the job these firefighters and those working on the fire lines do. You guys do an amazing job in a very dangerous, tiring job. Stay Safe.