Amtrak #7 Plight to Cross Stevens Pass

This video taken 12/22/2012 when Amtrak's #7 Empire Builder had to back down off the 2.2% grade to Merritt that morning because of so many fallen trees on the tracks. The lead unit had run into a bunch of trees on the trip which took out the headlights, one ditch light and the engineers windshield.

The original plan was to Wye the power at Merritt so Amtrak could use the trailing unit as the leader, so BNSF crews worked to clear the east and west switches for the Wye (As seen in the opening scene).

The video starts off in Merritt as the conductor off the M-SPOEVE works to clear the east switch of the Wye with a shovel he borrowed from us. From there the snow dozer works to clear the Wye as the conductor moves on to clear the derail.

A BNSF Hyrail and supporting crew get on the tracks at Merritt and try to reach the trees, but derail at the west switch at Merritt. That blocks all train traffic so Amtrak cannot Wye the power. The MOW crew asks to have the snow dozer out on the main so it can plow the mainline so they don't risk derailing again. During that time the engineer on Amtrak with 180+ people on board changes his mind about Wyeing the power and asks to continue on to Everett with the locomotive as is.

The final scene at East Berne was taken after snowshoeing in from Highway 2 at about 4:22 pm. Amtrak made it to Seattle about 7 hours late.

At 6:30 PM that night Washington State DOT closed Highway 2 from the summit of the pass east to Leavenworth for days because of falling trees. The DOT stated it was the worst conditions in 30 years.