Amtrak bridge causes havoc on Niantic River
Published on 7/20/2009
The Amtrak railroad bridge over the Niantic River has been stuck in the closed position since about 6:30 this morning, apparently because of a transformer problem, keeping charter fishing boats from leaving and others from docking while delaying pleasure-boat traffic.
“It's put commerce on its heels here,” said Capt. Greg Dubrule of the Black Hawk II fishing charter in Waterford.
An Amtrak spokesman said mechanical and electrical workers are currently on site trying to rectify the problem, which he hoped they would solve shortly, though he didn't know the cause. He added that a similar problem had occurred between 5:30 and 6 this morning and that “the issue redeveloped.”
Dubrule said a boat filled with 55 people had been waiting to leave for a fishing expedition since early this morning. About half the people aboard waited until early afternoon in hopes the bridge would reopen, but Dubrule said he eventually gave them all their money back.
Dubrule estimated he lost about $2,700 during the first trip of the day and would stand to lose another $1,700 or so if another trip, scheduled for 10:30 tonight, has to be canceled. He said some passengers booked for tonight's trip are coming from as far away as Harrisburg, Pa.
“Financially, sure it's a loss, but what about the goodwill? How do you measure that?” he said. “I hate to send away people with a bad feeling about the area. In this economy, we work so hard to get people down here.”
Joe Devine, a captain with the Mijoy charter fishing boat, said a group has been unable to disembark from a trip this morning. Another fishing group was scheduled to leave at 1 p.m.
Three of the four Sunbeam charters out of Waterford also could not leave for their trips this morning, while one other got out but was not able to return. A Sunbeam spokesman, who asked not to be identified, said skiffs were dispatched to take people off the boats stuck outside the Amtrak bridge. Other Sunbeam trips scheduled for this evening also were in danger, according to Beth-Ann Berner, another charter-boat employee.
Berner said she had heard from Amtrak that the problem was in a transformer and it would take until 4:30 or so to bring in a necessary part to fix the problem.
Charter boat businesses said they have received very little information from Amtrak. Dubrule said Amtrak has continually estimated the bridge would open within an hour, but no progress has been made.
Dubrule said he has seen minor problems with the bridge before, “but it always works itself out within a few minutes.” Evan Douton, an employee with J&B Tackle in Niantic, said he has seen bridge problems last a few hours, but never a whole morning and half the afternoon.
Amtrak, Dubrule said, was scheduled within the next few months to start construction on a new bridge.
Published on 7/20/2009
The Amtrak railroad bridge over the Niantic River has been stuck in the closed position since about 6:30 this morning, apparently because of a transformer problem, keeping charter fishing boats from leaving and others from docking while delaying pleasure-boat traffic.
“It's put commerce on its heels here,” said Capt. Greg Dubrule of the Black Hawk II fishing charter in Waterford.
An Amtrak spokesman said mechanical and electrical workers are currently on site trying to rectify the problem, which he hoped they would solve shortly, though he didn't know the cause. He added that a similar problem had occurred between 5:30 and 6 this morning and that “the issue redeveloped.”
Dubrule said a boat filled with 55 people had been waiting to leave for a fishing expedition since early this morning. About half the people aboard waited until early afternoon in hopes the bridge would reopen, but Dubrule said he eventually gave them all their money back.
Dubrule estimated he lost about $2,700 during the first trip of the day and would stand to lose another $1,700 or so if another trip, scheduled for 10:30 tonight, has to be canceled. He said some passengers booked for tonight's trip are coming from as far away as Harrisburg, Pa.
“Financially, sure it's a loss, but what about the goodwill? How do you measure that?” he said. “I hate to send away people with a bad feeling about the area. In this economy, we work so hard to get people down here.”
Joe Devine, a captain with the Mijoy charter fishing boat, said a group has been unable to disembark from a trip this morning. Another fishing group was scheduled to leave at 1 p.m.
Three of the four Sunbeam charters out of Waterford also could not leave for their trips this morning, while one other got out but was not able to return. A Sunbeam spokesman, who asked not to be identified, said skiffs were dispatched to take people off the boats stuck outside the Amtrak bridge. Other Sunbeam trips scheduled for this evening also were in danger, according to Beth-Ann Berner, another charter-boat employee.
Berner said she had heard from Amtrak that the problem was in a transformer and it would take until 4:30 or so to bring in a necessary part to fix the problem.
Charter boat businesses said they have received very little information from Amtrak. Dubrule said Amtrak has continually estimated the bridge would open within an hour, but no progress has been made.
Dubrule said he has seen minor problems with the bridge before, “but it always works itself out within a few minutes.” Evan Douton, an employee with J&B Tackle in Niantic, said he has seen bridge problems last a few hours, but never a whole morning and half the afternoon.
Amtrak, Dubrule said, was scheduled within the next few months to start construction on a new bridge.
Bridge Strands Charter Fishing Boats
Amtrak span in Niantic won't open, trapping vessels on either side
By Lee Howard Published on 7/21/2009
By Sean D. Elliot
Ben Weekes, left, and Ben“Bootstrap” Schober, deckhands on the charter fishing boat Black Hawk II, prepare fishing poles for a planned evening trip Monday at the dock on the Niantic River. The Black Hawk had to refund the money for a morning trip when the Amtrak railroad bridge became stuck in the closed position, stranding the vessel in the river. The evening trip also was canceled.
As if the seemingly constant rain of the spring and early summer hadn't caused enough of a financial hit, charter fishing boat captains said they lost thousands of dollars Monday when the 102-year-old Amtrak railroad bridge over the Niantic River got stuck.
At least five fishing boats were unable to make it out of the river and into Long Island Sound when the bridge became stuck in a closed position about 6:30 Monday morning. Other fishing boats, including the Mijoy, got out before the bridge problem occurred but could not return to dock, forcing charter owners to go to the expense of hiring skiffs to bring passengers back to shore.
”It's put commerce on its heels here,” said Capt. Greg Dubrule of the Black Hawk II fishing charter in Waterford.
As of 10 p.m. Monday, the bridge remained closed with no estimated time of repair, said Amtrak spokeswoman Karina Romero.
”We still haven't identified the problem,” Romero said, “and until we identify the problem we can't put an (estimated time of arrival for repair) on it.”
An Amtrak spokesman said earlier in the day that mechanical and electrical workers arrived shortly after the bridge problem was discovered. He added that a problem had occurred between 5:30 and 6 in the morning and that “the issue redeveloped.” One boat employee was told the issue was in a transformer.
The bridge problem also left many yacht owners unable to leave local marinas for pleasure trips in the Sound. Boats docked or moored in the Niantic River have to negotiate two bridges - the rail span and bridge carrying Route 156 - to reach the waters of the bay. The closed vertical clearance of the railroad bridge is 11.5 feet, according to Amtrak.
Dubrule said a boat filled with 55 people had waited till early afternoon in hopes the bridge would reopen, but eventually the charter was canceled and passengers received their money back.
Late Monday Dubrule said that Ray Ciarlo, Amtrak's assistant superintendent of train movement, advised him that the bridge was unlikely to reopen in time for Dubrule's 10:30 p.m. fishing expedition, so Dubrule called his clients canceled that trip too, rescheduling for tonight.
Dubrule estimated he lost about $4,400 for the two trips. He said some people for the evening trip were coming from as far away as Harrisburg, Pa.
Missed charter trips aboard the Mijoy and the Sunbeam fleet in Waterford cost owners of those fishing boats about $4,000 total, according to figures offered by employees.
”Financially, sure it's a loss but what about the goodwill? How do you measure that?” Dubrule said. “I hate to send away people with a bad feeling about the area. In this economy, we work so hard to get people down here.”
Joe Devine, a captain with the Mijoy charter fishing boat, said a group had been unable to disembark from an early-morning trip, but by late afternoon all passengers had been transported to shore. Another fishing group was scheduled to leave at 1 p.m., but the charter had to be canceled, he said.
Three of the four Sunbeam charters out of Waterford also could not leave for their trips this morning, while one other got out but was not able to return. A Sunbeam spokesman, who asked not to be identified, said skiffs were dispatched to take people off the boat stuck outside the Amtrak bridge.
Other Sunbeam trips scheduled for the evening also were in danger, according to Beth-Ann Berner, a charter-boat employee.
”With the economy the way it is and the weather and now the bridge ... it's been tough,” she said.
Berner said she had heard from Amtrak that the problem was in a transformer.
”I hope we don't lose tomorrow,” Devine of the Mijoy said, echoing other captains. “The sun hasn't shined enough as it is. We don't need anything like this on top of it.”
Charter boat businesses said they received very little information from Amtrak. U.S. Coast Guard Long Island Sound was notified of the bridge problems at 9 Monday morning, said Dwaine McCullough, an operations specialist, but he did not know late Monday when it would reopen.
Dubrule said he has seen minor problems with the bridge before, “but it always works itself out within a few minutes.” Evan Douton, an employee with J&B Tackle in Niantic, said bridge problems sometimes last a couple of hours, but never a whole morning and into the evening.
J&B, which operates the Dot-E-Dee fishing charters, did not have any fishing excursions planned Monday but has two scheduled today.
Amtrak has announced plans to start construction of a new bridge to replace the current 102-year-old span. The new $105 million bridge - a three-span bascule-lift bridge - will be a bit higher than the existing structure.
Day Staff Writer Patricia Daddona contributed to this story
Amtrak span in Niantic won't open, trapping vessels on either side
By Lee Howard Published on 7/21/2009
By Sean D. Elliot
Ben Weekes, left, and Ben“Bootstrap” Schober, deckhands on the charter fishing boat Black Hawk II, prepare fishing poles for a planned evening trip Monday at the dock on the Niantic River. The Black Hawk had to refund the money for a morning trip when the Amtrak railroad bridge became stuck in the closed position, stranding the vessel in the river. The evening trip also was canceled.
As if the seemingly constant rain of the spring and early summer hadn't caused enough of a financial hit, charter fishing boat captains said they lost thousands of dollars Monday when the 102-year-old Amtrak railroad bridge over the Niantic River got stuck.
At least five fishing boats were unable to make it out of the river and into Long Island Sound when the bridge became stuck in a closed position about 6:30 Monday morning. Other fishing boats, including the Mijoy, got out before the bridge problem occurred but could not return to dock, forcing charter owners to go to the expense of hiring skiffs to bring passengers back to shore.
”It's put commerce on its heels here,” said Capt. Greg Dubrule of the Black Hawk II fishing charter in Waterford.
As of 10 p.m. Monday, the bridge remained closed with no estimated time of repair, said Amtrak spokeswoman Karina Romero.
”We still haven't identified the problem,” Romero said, “and until we identify the problem we can't put an (estimated time of arrival for repair) on it.”
An Amtrak spokesman said earlier in the day that mechanical and electrical workers arrived shortly after the bridge problem was discovered. He added that a problem had occurred between 5:30 and 6 in the morning and that “the issue redeveloped.” One boat employee was told the issue was in a transformer.
The bridge problem also left many yacht owners unable to leave local marinas for pleasure trips in the Sound. Boats docked or moored in the Niantic River have to negotiate two bridges - the rail span and bridge carrying Route 156 - to reach the waters of the bay. The closed vertical clearance of the railroad bridge is 11.5 feet, according to Amtrak.
Dubrule said a boat filled with 55 people had waited till early afternoon in hopes the bridge would reopen, but eventually the charter was canceled and passengers received their money back.
Late Monday Dubrule said that Ray Ciarlo, Amtrak's assistant superintendent of train movement, advised him that the bridge was unlikely to reopen in time for Dubrule's 10:30 p.m. fishing expedition, so Dubrule called his clients canceled that trip too, rescheduling for tonight.
Dubrule estimated he lost about $4,400 for the two trips. He said some people for the evening trip were coming from as far away as Harrisburg, Pa.
Missed charter trips aboard the Mijoy and the Sunbeam fleet in Waterford cost owners of those fishing boats about $4,000 total, according to figures offered by employees.
”Financially, sure it's a loss but what about the goodwill? How do you measure that?” Dubrule said. “I hate to send away people with a bad feeling about the area. In this economy, we work so hard to get people down here.”
Joe Devine, a captain with the Mijoy charter fishing boat, said a group had been unable to disembark from an early-morning trip, but by late afternoon all passengers had been transported to shore. Another fishing group was scheduled to leave at 1 p.m., but the charter had to be canceled, he said.
Three of the four Sunbeam charters out of Waterford also could not leave for their trips this morning, while one other got out but was not able to return. A Sunbeam spokesman, who asked not to be identified, said skiffs were dispatched to take people off the boat stuck outside the Amtrak bridge.
Other Sunbeam trips scheduled for the evening also were in danger, according to Beth-Ann Berner, a charter-boat employee.
”With the economy the way it is and the weather and now the bridge ... it's been tough,” she said.
Berner said she had heard from Amtrak that the problem was in a transformer.
”I hope we don't lose tomorrow,” Devine of the Mijoy said, echoing other captains. “The sun hasn't shined enough as it is. We don't need anything like this on top of it.”
Charter boat businesses said they received very little information from Amtrak. U.S. Coast Guard Long Island Sound was notified of the bridge problems at 9 Monday morning, said Dwaine McCullough, an operations specialist, but he did not know late Monday when it would reopen.
Dubrule said he has seen minor problems with the bridge before, “but it always works itself out within a few minutes.” Evan Douton, an employee with J&B Tackle in Niantic, said bridge problems sometimes last a couple of hours, but never a whole morning and into the evening.
J&B, which operates the Dot-E-Dee fishing charters, did not have any fishing excursions planned Monday but has two scheduled today.
Amtrak has announced plans to start construction of a new bridge to replace the current 102-year-old span. The new $105 million bridge - a three-span bascule-lift bridge - will be a bit higher than the existing structure.
Day Staff Writer Patricia Daddona contributed to this story