Runaway car on Sand Patch Grade!

[dwil89]

On Trainorders Eastern Board, a thread discusses a picture caught early this morning on the Sand Patch Webcam at Hyndman. A flatcar with a container on board was seen running downgrade at an estimated 60 mph. As described on the post, here is what happened. A Westbound CSX Intermodal train was approaching Sand Patch Tunnel when the train went into emergency at Manila, between Mance and Sand Patch. Somehow, the rear car of this train separated from the rest of the train and the brakes on it did not set. The car rolled backwards, picking up speed until it reached an estimated 70 mph. It rolled roughly 30 miles all the way East to the bottom of the grade and finally rolled to a stop in downtown Cumberland. Apparently, either no trains were following the train that lost the car.... or else any following trains were crossed over to another track. One post indicates that the dispacther lined the car around any standing trains. At any rate, a tragedy was fortunately averted. Dave Williams @ [e-mail]

[kenneo]

well, until the end of the investigations, there is going to be much "typewriter traffic" and I would also think a lot of finger pointing.

[BaltACD]

Cause was defective coupler locking mechanism in the next to the rear car that remained attached to the train.

[Anonymous]

Hmm. I wonder how the dispatcher was able to "Line" the runaway around any standing trains... having a presence of mind to do that is what Heros are made of.

[Chris30]

Yes, I think the dispatcher could have lined the runaway around other trains with some time and dump truck full of luck. Would the runaway go through any crossovers on Sandpatch at over 60mph??? I'm gonna say no. The dispatcher probalbly straight lined the car and told everybody else to ge out of the way.

CC

[Glen Ellyn]

nice.....

[CSXrules4eva]

Hummm that is interesting I'm guessing it was oviously a coupler failing that caused the car to go rolling with gravity down the grade at 70 mph. That really isn't good someone could of really gotten hurt, espeacilly people that decide to walk on the tracks (thought they shouldn't be there anyway), or employees. I'm pretty sure that would be something you don't see eveyday, a flatcar with a container on it rolling along at 70 mph.

[adrianspeeder]

Hmmm, I'd ride it....well maybe not.

Couldn't force it to derail?

Adrianspeeder

[daveklepper]

Where would they derail it where it wouldn't damage something else?

[mvlandsw]

Why didn't the brakes hold it ?

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by mvlandsw

Why didn't the brakes hold it ?

They could have been defective and never noticed.

So, did it derail or did the dispatcher become hero of the month, directing it up a grade?

That'd be cool if he(/she) did.

[Fred M Cain]

Anonymous

QUOTE: Originally posted by mvlandsw

Why didn't the brakes hold it ?

They could have been defective and never noticed.

So, did it derail or did the dispatcher become hero of the month, directing it up a grade?

That'd be cool if he(/she) did.

 

Here's a theory why it didn't brake:  If for any reason the stop-cock on the airline between one of the two end cars had been closed and there was also no air in the car's resevoir, there would be no brakes on the car.

Regards,

Fred M. Cain