UP train derails in Cali.

[Anonymous]

Here's a link to the story on Yahoo News. http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20041016/ap_on_re_us/train_derailment
Andrew

[MP57313]

Thanks; we heard about it on KNX news radio. The radio account said "Whittier" but I see in the on-line article they have corrected the location to "Pico Rivera".

This thread could also help folks answer the question in another thread from several weeks ago: "Would you buy a house next to the tracks?"

MP

[Anonymous]

I remember reading about a train derailment where cars destroyed houses and just as families here mving back in a gas line the train had severed spewing flaming gas on the remaining house. What luck. hopefully this doesn't happen here
Andrew

[M636C]

I just saw some aerial film on BBC World - they also said Whittier.

A GE unit, Dash 8 or Dash 9 long end leading, was on its side. There were road trailers jackknifed across the track. In the couple of seconds I saw it, it looked like Roadrailers, but it was probably TOFC.

I assume the lead units did not derail, and had left the scene, leaving the trailing unit on its side.

Not bad trainspotting from Australia!

Peter

[MP57313]

QUOTE: Originally posted by george745
I remember reading about a train derailment where cars destroyed houses and just as families here mving back in a gas line the train had severed spewing flaming gas on the remaining house.

That was in 1989 or so, on the SP Palmdale Cutoff, near San Bernardino. Not sure if the train severed the gas line, or if it was the construction/repair equipment deployed after the derailment (don't remember now).

[Anonymous]

You beat me to it.

[ericsp]

QUOTE: Originally posted by MP57313

QUOTE: Originally posted by george745
I remember reading about a train derailment where cars destroyed houses and just as families here mving back in a gas line the train had severed spewing flaming gas on the remaining house.

That was in 1989 or so, on the SP Palmdale Cutoff, near San Bernardino. Not sure if the train severed the gas line, or if it was the construction/repair equipment deployed after the derailment (don't remember now).

It seems like they said construction equipment scraped the line.

The news said that the train that derailed today was going from Los Angeles to Arkansas, I am guessing West Memphis. UP 9243 was on its side. Appearently some Sulfuric Acid was spilled.

[Anonymous]

Saw that on the news, looks like quite a mess.

Sorry to see it happen.

[Anonymous]

Nothing these days surprises me about the UP.[sigh] Here in Fond Du Lac,Wi on Sept.25,a Wisconsin Electric coal train bound for Green Bay,with 2 UP SD90MAC's derailed on the South side of the Shops yard.The train derailed nine cars of the 101 car train. A sad part about this incident was that the derailment WAS NOT reported to ANY media . Though I myself have quite a few great pix of the cars and the derailment.

[espeefoamer]

Saw that UP wreck.Couldn't watch it on the news that evening[:(]. I live in that neighborhood and our power went off.Didn't get it back on until 5:30 this morning.
I heard on the radio this afternoon that a broken rail is suspected.

[Anonymous]

espeefoamer: I'm glad to hear your safe.

[jeaton]

Can't tell too much from the picture, but I was wondering about the distance between the tracks and the back wall of the houses. Also from the picture, it looks like the ROW might be up against a small but fairly steep hill. A wonder that no one was hurt.

Jay

[Anonymous]

Tell me something new.......It's already been a bad year.

[Junctionfan]

No wonder UP has capacity problems and keeps having to buy more locomotives. Sometimes thease railroads enjoy a little demolition derby don't they.

[FThunder11]

It was on my local news on Saturday night, and in the newspaper

[MP57313]

QUOTE: Originally posted by jeaton

Can't tell too much from the picture, but I was wondering about the distance between the tracks and the back wall of the houses. Also from the picture, it looks like the ROW might be up against a small but fairly steep hill. A wonder that no one was hurt.

Later news reports said that one person was hurt, some distance from the derailment site where a power line fell. The "steep hill" is the embankment for I-605, San Gabriel River Freeway, which was closed for a short time. Just beyond the derailment site the tracks duck under the 605. This portion of the UP line was double tracked in the early 90s when Metrolink service was introduced. Metrolink trains ran on this route on Saturdays for a year or so, but they retracted to Monday-Friday due to poor weekend ridership. I have not heard if the track has reopened for service yet (10.30pm PT Sun.)
MP