Union Pacific Moves Mountains to Restore Train Service; Back on Track after Major Oregon Mudslide

Roseville, Calif., May 06, 2008 – After 105 days and 19 million cubic feet of mud, Union Pacific has completed the herculean task of restoring all rail service through the Cascade Mountains in Oregon.

The mudslide occurred on Jan. 19, 2008, eight miles southeast of Oakridge, Ore., and wiped out 3,000 feet of track in three different areas.  Union Pacific employees and contractors worked around the clock to remove logs and unsuitable material from the site, and bring in rock to rebuild the mountain.

"Our folks did an incredible job.  They rolled up their sleeves and made the impossible, possible," said Bill Van Trump, assistant vice president of engineering and maintenance for UP, who led the efforts at the site. "This was an extraordinary event which required an extraordinary effort.  Not only did we put a mountain back together, we were also able to do it safely, without any injuries."

Crews will be working on clean-up efforts for the next month.  A slide fence, which activates a warning if there is a subsequent slide, will also be constructed on the mountain.  Until the fence is complete in early June, the area will be continuously monitored to ensure the tracks are safe for rail traffic.

By the Numbers

200: Number of workers at the site during the peak of construction.
150: Number of construction equipment at the site.
660,000 board feet of timber: Total number of timber that was salvaged from the site – which is the property of the national Forestry Department. This is enough timber to build approximately 66 three-bedroom houses. 
700,000 tons:  Amount of rock it took to restabilize the mountain.
1 million tons: Amount of unsuitable material that was removed from the site - about the weight of 25 super carrier Naval ships.  Most of the slide was very fine silt that was not able to be used in rebuilding the mountain.
42 -76 hours:  The typical delay to customers due to the mudslide.
15: Number of daily trains that had to be rerouted via Bend, Ore., and Salt Lake City.
30: Daily average of the number of Union Pacific work train round trips that helped haul material in and out of the site.
1: Helicopter used to remove timber.
0: Number of available hotel rooms in Oakridge, Ore., during the construction.

About Union Pacific

Union Pacific Corporation owns one of America's leading transportation companies. Its principal operating company, Union Pacific Railroad, links 23 states in the western two-thirds of the country and serves the fastest-growing U.S. population centers. Union Pacific's diversified business mix includes Agricultural Products, Automotive, Chemicals, Energy, Industrial Products and Intermodal. The railroad offers competitive long-haul routes from all major West Coast and Gulf Coast ports to eastern gateways. Union Pacific connects with Canada's rail systems and is the only railroad serving all six major gateways to Mexico, making it North America's premier rail franchise.

For further information, contact Zoe Richmond (916) 960-7511.

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