Well...I am very concerned about the roadbed in front of and behind the break, despite the nice aerial view. The properties of sand, silt, and clay affect the permeability of soil. The biggest problem are extreme freeze-thaw cycles, especially over 70 odd years. These create fissures, cracks and channels beneath the ballast, moreso with high water levels. As the freezing weather comes on, the water will turn to ice, which expands. While clay structures have low permeability, goodness knows what fill was used in 1929 when money way scarce and mandatory construction standards non-existant. The news media are focusing on the 19 or so breaks. Not the load-bearing capacity of the rest of the water-soaked trackbed. This factor is a wild-card.
The decision by the previous operators to limit loads on freights may not have been so irrational. I would like to see their confidential engineering studies. Ignoring load limits by the American owner may have contributed to progressive deterioration of the sub-base and the susceptibility of the roadbed to washouts.
