George Andrews Wrote:
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> INSANE !!! just insane, the carefree attitudes of
> the workers. No hardhats on a few, including one
> guy placing cribbing underneath the locomotive !?!
> Guys hanging off the engine, and the Oshkosh heavy
> haul trucks, while they were moving. Got a flat
> ??? Duals stuck in the soft stuff ??? Locomotive
> tipping to one side ??? NO PROBLEM !!! We gotcha
> covered. We need a passing lane -- just scoop out
> the hillside !!! Those Bigge drivers certainly
> earned their pay on that job. I'd like to buy them
> all a beer !!!
> I wonder what type & size of conniption CAL -
> OSHA would have had, had they been there ???


> Wondering also, why CalTrans said no to using Hwy.
> 101 ??? I do agree though, a barge move might have
> been cheaper, and certainly safer.


George...

I was working for CDF in Humboldt County immediately after the Island Mtn. Tunnel Fire. Several CDF employees with whom I worked were shocked at the lack of safety at that incident and often talked about what they witnessed. Just the way it was at that time. One incident involved a CDF helicopter taking-off and with the main rotor, severing a temporary phone line that had been strung to what today would be called the Incident Command.

I didn't get to see the locomotives being transported, but did see numerous box cars being transported from South Fork to US 101 s/b.

I believe Cal Trans did not want the locomotives crossing the old "Half Bridge" down near Leggett due to their weight, thus that was the reasoning for taking the back roads. Might have also been due to some of the hills down south of Garberville. Otherwise, I seem to recall that the initial plan was to truck them out from South Fork too.

I wish MDO was still on here to provide more details.