Leadership in safety and operations is a result of our tested ability to respond and adapt to unforeseen circumstances. Last year, when historic flooding swept through the Bakersfield Subdivision by surprise and threatened the integrity of track between the Wasco and Elmo stations, BNSF engineers promptly acted to prevent catastrophe.
Directed by a 24/7 command center set up in San Bernardino, teams spent night and day surveying sections of track impacted by the floodwaters, determining alternative routes for cargo, identifying potential areas of levee failure, and maintaining power across the saturated line.
The flood response lasted from January through late May, employing all levels of machinery and equipment to keep the tracks secure. BNSF engineers also extended assistance to nearby communities impacted by the destruction, including donating ballasts to fill breached levees.
Signal inspector, Robert Reeves credits teamwork and professionalism for the success of the response during those difficult months.
“My motivation was to stay engaged and keep trains moving on safe infrastructure,” he said. “I’m lucky to be a part of a great railroad team. The amount of coordination that was needed between everyone (contractors, local irrigation, trucking companies, federal and state agencies), was impressive, especially at such a stressful time.”