Bill Burgel – Geology in the Growth of the Railroad Industry

Bill Burgel will give a presentation on the Synergy between the development of the science of Geology with the growth of the railroad industry with a short description of how it impacted BNSF’s Cascade Tunnel’s ventilation system.

The advent of the Industrial Revolution accelerated the development of the science of geology, and the growth of the railroad industry closely followed. A quick look at both of these disciplines over the past 200 years reveals a fascinating back and forth which resulted in amazing advances for both.

For instance, geologists found the coal and then the railroads transported this coal to locations where people worked and lived. And coal mines virtually dictated where the rail line should be built. Comparisons between the two efforts continue to the present day and Bill will outline some of the current challenges.

In 1995, Bill was heavily involved in the installation of a new ventilation system for BNSF’s Cascade Tunnel. Ventilation of the tunnel has been an issue since the first Cascade Tunnel opened in 1900. Bill will describe how BNSF ensures safe operations in the current (second) Cascade Tunnel, the longest railroad tunnel in the United States.

Bill Burgel is a Professional Geologist Registered in Oregon and Idaho. He retired in 2015 after a successful 45-year career in the railroad industry. He worked for several railroads nationwide in both the engineering and operating departments. While working for the railroad, his interest and training in geology was often called upon to resolve landslide issues and rerouting studies, implement early earthquake warning strategies, and conduct numerous long railroad tunnel analyses. Bill has given numerous presentations on rail issues as well as earthquake preparedness and topics pertaining to regional geology to local audiences throughout the Pacific Northwest and on cruise ships.