Ballast that once extended out past the ends of these ties has now washed away. Plenty of new ballast is going to be needed to get this repaired.
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For any storm Colorado would typically get, this culvert and cement pipe would be capable of handling the water. When a "once in 1000 years" storm hits, though, things change. With nowhere else to go, the water build up and eroded away the earth and the ballast beneath the BNSF Lyons branch.
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The standard "W" sign, warning crews of the upcoming crossing at Sunset Street, has also fallen victim to severe flood erosion and fallen in to the newly-created pit beneath the BNSF Lyons branch.
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Other than the still-flowing Boulder creek washout in Boulder, this was the most severe example of a washout I found along the BNSF Front Range Sub after the recent flooding. (Granted, this is actually the Lyons branch near milepost 39).
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