Were you feeling the heat this weekend? So was one popular Colorado attraction that was temporarily shut down.
Extreme heat levels spanned all across the country over the weekend of June 23. One popular Colorado attraction in Durango was temporarily shut down because of the weather. Temperatures rose to the high 90s on Saturday, June 24. The high heat caused a train car on the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad to come off the rails. "It basically falls off the tracks and sticks there," said D&SNGRR General Manager John Harper. Harper announced two cars that came off the rails on one train on Saturday. Another single-car derailment also happened over the weekend, but it is reported that that one wasn't heat-related.
High temperatures on Friday increased the risk of what is known as "sun kink," informed Harper. As the rails heat up, the metal expands. Most tracks have a gap that allows for heat expansion, but when the mercury rises, the gaps close and cause derailments.
Luckily, no one was injured when the car came off its rails. Harper also reassured that crews inspect the tracks at least three times a day. Crews worked through the night on Saturday and Sunday morning to return the car back to its rails and to repair any damage. Harper and the crews of D&SNGRR are pleased that the weather is expected to cool off as the week goes on.
