Train traffic through Watertown halted

Friday, June 13, 2008 11:49 PM CDT

The Canadian Pacific railroad line through Watertown has suspended all operations because of high water conditions in the Mud Lake Marsh area.

The last train to pass over the tracks which shuttle freight and two Amtrak trains daily between Chicago and Minneapolis and then out to the West Coast, was on Tuesday morning.

Rod Musel, stationmaster at the Columbus station, said the last Amtrak train to pass through was the westblound Empire Builder Monday at about 5 p.m.

Tuesday morning the track was covered with 8 inches of water. Wednesday it was 22 inches, Thursday it was 28 inches and Friday mid-day it was at 40 inches, Musel said.

For several days the Empire Builder was rerouted over an old route which went from Chicago to Savanna, Ill., and then north on the Wisconsin side of the Mississippi River to St. Croix and on to Minneapolis, Minn., but all trains were halted on Thursday.

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He said Columbus and Portage stations were served by buses for several days, but the extreme delays caused by closed roads forced that option to be canceled as well.

Musel said there have been several track washouts in the areas of Reeseville and Wyocena, but repairs will not be major once the water subsides.

After the water recedes, track inspections and necessary repairs will be completed before trains resume in the area.