Submitted by John Gale
[This train operated earlier this year until about mid-May, when the Route 38E and Route 40E bridges reopened. - Ed.]
Southern Pacific Railroad is operating a flood relief train in eastern Yuma County for agricultural areas cut off by the heavy flows in the Gila River. These record water flows have damaged several bridges, and of course closed all river bottom crossings, isolating the area north of the river from Interstate 8 and Wellton and Yuma, leaving only the huge SP bridge intact.
SP is operating 14 round trip shuttles a day on a 5.9 mile route from Wellton to Roll. The service is operated with a single train shuttling back and forth, leaving the McElhaney Spur, at the Wellton end, every hour on the hour, and Roll on the half hour. The track is not running track speed, and takes about 15 minutes for the trip.
The entire service takes place on the Phoenix Line, and thus does not interfere with SP’s heavy transcontinental traffic on the Gila Main. All other train traffic on the Phoenix Line continues to operate in normal fashion, including Amtrak service. Amtrak has no stops in the area where the flood service is operating.
The shuttle train is actually operating as a mixed train, with borrowed Amtrak coaches, and boxcars for freight. Transportation for both passengers and freight is provided free of charge.
Southern Pacific reports that the train is averaging about 500 passengers a day, with the record being 632 on one day. Service is expected to continue at least another month or two, as long as the Gila River keeps flowing at a high level.
