Maybe this is why I see allot of maintenance being performed on that Rochelle X crossing lately.
I have been watching this daily now for the past few days on our exclusive Trains Cam. Might not be related, but with all these heavy freight trains passing over these track crossings, it seems only logical that they conduct routine maintenance on this portion of the track.
I almost never hear of a Metra derailing. Wow......seems pretty rare. Glad everyone is okay.
thanks for the information, Chris. I presume that the Amtrak trains were able to get through, albeit delayed.
Johnny
BNSF Metra train #1206 derailed this morning shortly after 5am at the East Naperville Interlocker on the BNSF Chicago Sub (East End). #1206 originated at Hill Yard in Aurora and was proceeding on main track #2 with equipment and crew only to its first stop Fairview Avenue at 5:39am. Only the cab car derailed and it remained upright. No injuries were reported. The main 1-2 switch sustained heavy damage on main #2. Here's a link to a picture of the switch damage:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CauVzyGW0AAXCYI.jpg:large
BNSF Metra inbound trains were delayed for up to sixty minutes and outbound trains only operated as far as Lisle during the morning rush.
The derailed cab car from #1206 was rerailed @9:30. #1206 was released from the scene at 10:50 and sent to Chicago with a 25mph speed restriction. Main tracks #1 (north main) and #2 remained closed for most of the day from E Eola to Lisle due to cleanup and track repair at the E. Naperville plant. Main #3 remained open with a 10mph speed restriction by the E Naperville plant for most of the day. Main #1 was reopened at 4:15 with a 25mph speed restriction. Main #2 was still out of service as of 5pm. Minor delays were expected for the evening rush.
As for the freight trains... It appears that a lot were either held or rerouted if possible. Only a few priority trains and one BRC to Eola transfer, that was already online when the derailment happened, made it through Naperville today. (I would suggest that there's probably going to be a big surge of freight trains on the BNSF East End tonight!)
If the derailment at Naperville wasn't enough... There was also a major signal issue at the West Eola plant (CP35) for most of the day. Metra trains lined onto the north and south leads to the Aurora Transpotation Center were receiving the correct diverging signal at West Eola but the approach signal @MP34 was displaying an incorrect and very restricting aspect. I believe I heard on the scanner that the lowest signal aspect was flashing red.
Any comments, updates, corrections, etc. always welcomed.
CC
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