Trains.com

Train slams into truck hauling hydrochloric acid

4624 views
28 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Denver / La Junta
  • 10,820 posts
Posted by mudchicken on Wednesday, March 14, 2018 12:33 AM

(wondering if this becomes the poster child for FRA's private crossing regulation changes)

Pvt. x-ing users ought to be paying for the lights - see my earlier comment on NS/CSX forcing the issue in the courts with a specific performance decree.

Mudchicken Nothing is worth taking the risk of losing a life over. Come home tonight in the same condition that you left home this morning in. Safety begins with ME.... cinscocom-west
  • Member since
    January 2002
  • From: Canterlot
  • 9,575 posts
Posted by zugmann on Tuesday, March 13, 2018 7:52 PM

mudchicken
You DON'T have to blow for private crossings....Crossing record indicates that there have been at least 5 other incidents here and the railroaders are getting more hurt than the truckers.

One shot in the OP shows a whistle post. 

That's a screwed up crossing that should have at least lights. 

It's been fun.  But it isn't much fun anymore.   Signing off for now. 


  

The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.t fun any

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Denver / La Junta
  • 10,820 posts
Posted by mudchicken on Tuesday, March 13, 2018 6:47 PM

(*) Heard the 1939 remake of the movie was pretty goodMischief. (Original was 1910 after the book had been out 10 years)

 

(Of course WWS got left left out. WWW and WWE had better talent agents. There was this issue with water though...)

 

Mudchicken Nothing is worth taking the risk of losing a life over. Come home tonight in the same condition that you left home this morning in. Safety begins with ME.... cinscocom-west
  • Member since
    August 2005
  • From: At the Crossroads of the West
  • 11,013 posts
Posted by Deggesty on Tuesday, March 13, 2018 4:17 PM

mudchicken

Flying Monkeys and Wicked Witch of the South* already have Auntie Em as a hostage somewhere in the flying monkey sanctuary.

 

(*) The one never discussed in mixed company

 

(*) And Frank Baum lmercifully left her out of his account.

Johnny

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Denver / La Junta
  • 10,820 posts
Posted by mudchicken on Tuesday, March 13, 2018 3:20 PM

Flying Monkeys and Wicked Witch of the South* already have Auntie Em as a hostage somewhere in the flying monkey sanctuary.

 

(*) The one never discussed in mixed company

Mudchicken Nothing is worth taking the risk of losing a life over. Come home tonight in the same condition that you left home this morning in. Safety begins with ME.... cinscocom-west
  • Member since
    August 2005
  • From: At the Crossroads of the West
  • 11,013 posts
Posted by Deggesty on Tuesday, March 13, 2018 1:46 PM

mudchicken
Crossing lands at MP 65.09 (Using Tree's location data) ....I'm going off the FRA record maintained by the Penna State DOT (The bus people doing data entry on railroad information is bound to be off in some way, I'm not guaranteeing correctness of the FRA form. I've been to Kansas (flying farmhouses) and Oklahoma (flying monkeys)....)
 

If you are seeing flying monkeys, it's time to wake up and call Aunt Em.

Johnny

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Denver / La Junta
  • 10,820 posts
Posted by mudchicken on Tuesday, March 13, 2018 1:26 PM
Crossing lands at MP 65.09 (Using Tree's location data) ....I'm going off the FRA record maintained by the Penna State DOT (The bus people doing data entry on railroad information is bound to be off in some way, I'm not guaranteeing correctness of the FRA form. I've been to Kansas (flying farmhouses) and Oklahoma (flying monkeys)....)
Mudchicken Nothing is worth taking the risk of losing a life over. Come home tonight in the same condition that you left home this morning in. Safety begins with ME.... cinscocom-west
  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: US
  • 25,292 posts
Posted by BaltACD on Tuesday, March 13, 2018 12:29 PM

mudchicken
The only reason that the crossing is still there is because it accesses landlocked real estate. (and it is shared with a half dozen residences also landlocked on private MapleGlenn Ln.)

Would expect owner Norfolk Southern (Mon Line*) and CSX (trackage right tennant)to go hard after the commercial landlord and the trucking company HARD. Betcha they are buying a set of crossing gates and the maintenance that goes with them under court order with the Penna PUC's blessing. If either can't afford it, they go out of business and good riddance. (The ground image in Google Earth is telling / hand lettered orange diamond sign)...The annual insurance for that private crossing ought to be a thrill.

NS will be hoping that the records from Monongahela Railway remained intact and free of the giant mess known as Conrail. If CR started monkeying with the real estate license part of MRY/MGA, NS (and for that matter CSX) are probably in for major headaches.

367874U

You DON'T have to blow for private crossings....Crossing record indicates that there have been at least 5 other incidents here and the railroaders are getting more hurt than the truckers.

CSX & NS split the Mon Line at Newell PA - the demarcation line I think is a Milepost PLM 51.  CSX Yard office is at PLM 45.  Crews change between NS & CSX at the Newell Yard Office.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Denver / La Junta
  • 10,820 posts
Posted by mudchicken on Tuesday, March 13, 2018 11:38 AM

The only reason that the crossing is still there is because it accesses landlocked real estate. (and it is shared with a half dozen residences also landlocked on private MapleGlenn Ln.)

Would expect owner Norfolk Southern (Mon Line*) and CSX (trackage right tennant)to go hard after the commercial landlord and the trucking company HARD. Betcha they are buying a set of crossing gates and the maintenance that goes with them under court order with the Penna PUC's blessing. If either can't afford it, they go out of business and good riddance. (The ground image in Google Earth is telling / hand lettered orange diamond sign)...The annual insurance for that private crossing ought to be a thrill.

NS will be hoping that the records from Monongahela Railway remained intact and free of the giant mess known as Conrail. If CR started monkeying with the real estate license part of MRY/MGA, NS (and for that matter CSX) are probably in for major headaches.

367874U

You DON'T have to blow for private crossings....Crossing record indicates that there have been at least 5 other incidents here and the railroaders are getting more hurt than the truckers.

Mudchicken Nothing is worth taking the risk of losing a life over. Come home tonight in the same condition that you left home this morning in. Safety begins with ME.... cinscocom-west
  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: US
  • 25,292 posts
Posted by BaltACD on Monday, March 12, 2018 9:34 PM

caldreamer
Does that crossing have flashing lights, signals, crossing gates or just crossbucks? 

Private crossbuck crossing - serves only the industry.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

  • Member since
    September 2013
  • 2,505 posts
Posted by caldreamer on Monday, March 12, 2018 8:35 PM

Does that crossing have flashing lights, signals, crossing gates or just crossbucks? 

  • Member since
    September 2010
  • 2,515 posts
Posted by Electroliner 1935 on Monday, March 12, 2018 6:57 PM

Shadow the Cats owner
Why your when you go to make your turn your still 10 feet higher than the tracks and the tracks are hidden by a retaining wall so no sight lines to see around the curve.  One hell of a bad place to have a grade crossing with a customer that gets hazmat.

This Google/maps view looks like there is some visability of the RR if the tractor can get perpendicular to the track but it sure isn't a good layout.

  • Member since
    December 2017
  • 2,671 posts
Posted by Lithonia Operator on Sunday, March 11, 2018 9:45 PM

Driving in PA is the worst I’ve experienced, and I have driven in at least 35 states. Terrible for that poor driver.

Still in training.


  • Member since
    April 2016
  • 1,447 posts
Posted by Shadow the Cats owner on Sunday, March 11, 2018 11:04 AM

I asked my drivers that run into that area as we have made a couple runs into that plant what they thought of that crossing.  All of them said the same thing.  If coming in from the left aka Down the hill make damn sure your window is DOWN to make sure no train is coming at you.  Why your when you go to make your turn your still 10 feet higher than the tracks and the tracks are hidden by a retaining wall so no sight lines to see around the curve.  One hell of a bad place to have a grade crossing with a customer that gets hazmat.

  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: US
  • 25,292 posts
Posted by BaltACD on Sunday, March 11, 2018 9:05 AM

tree68
 
ACY Tom
One would think he could have seen the approaching train through his left side mirrors.  

There appears to be a row of trees between the tracks and the road when coming in that way that might have been a factor.  I'm not sure he could have seen the oncoming train in his mirrors there.

But, I'm working off the satellite image...

One thing I have found - Satellite images don't convey the differences in elevation that may exist between roads and railroads - several feet of elevation difference makes a great difference when actually being there in the field.

While I may have passed this location when I was much younger and the family lived in Bethel Park and Route 88 as well as Route 51 were among the roads I traveled when I would take my Triumph TR4a out for a 'ride' I have no specific recollection of this particular site.  Pennsylvania being Pennsylvania there are a whole lot of differing elevations between roads and railroads that then come together at road crossings.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Northern New York
  • 25,021 posts
Posted by tree68 on Sunday, March 11, 2018 6:41 AM

ACY Tom
One would think he could have seen the approaching train through his left side mirrors. 

There appears to be a row of trees between the tracks and the road when coming in that way that might have been a factor.  I'm not sure he could have seen the oncoming train in his mirrors there.

But, I'm working off the satellite image...

LarryWhistling
Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) 
Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you
My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date
Come ride the rails with me!
There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...

  • Member since
    August 2013
  • 3,006 posts
Posted by ACY Tom on Saturday, March 10, 2018 9:14 PM

Still trying to figure this one out. Truck driver was said to be experienced. I can't find any definitive info about the weather, but the temp was said to be below freezing and it might have been snowing. If so, his windows were probably closed and he might not have heard a horn. One would think he could have seen the approaching train through his left side mirrors. 

Tom

  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: US
  • 25,292 posts
Posted by BaltACD on Tuesday, March 6, 2018 9:37 PM

rvos1979
 
Murphy Siding

Aren't trucks hauling really toxic stuff this required to stop at each railroad track and make sure their is no train coming, the way school busses do? 

All trucks that are placarded with hazmat are supposed to stop.  From what I gathered from another driver, it's the driveway into a chemical plant, driver was turning left off of a highway into the plant.......

Still no excuse for not stopping, looking and listening.

PA never makes it easy on anyone.  15 MPH exit ramps from 65 MPH highways and a whole number of other state crimes against drivers.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • 1,190 posts
Posted by mvlandsw on Tuesday, March 6, 2018 9:28 PM

Stop, Look, and LISTEN!  A horn doesn't need good sight lines. It was likely blowing.

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Northern New York
  • 25,021 posts
Posted by tree68 on Tuesday, March 6, 2018 8:53 PM

rvos1979
From what I gathered from another driver, it's the driveway into a chemical plant, driver was turning left off of a highway into the plant.......

Appears to have been here:  N 40 0' 56" W 79 58' 35"   

Looks like both were headed west.  Definitely bad sight lines for the truck driver.

LarryWhistling
Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) 
Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you
My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date
Come ride the rails with me!
There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Burlington, WI
  • 1,418 posts
Posted by rvos1979 on Tuesday, March 6, 2018 8:41 PM

Murphy Siding

Aren't trucks hauling really toxic stuff this required to stop at each railroad track and make sure their is no train coming, the way school busses do?

All trucks that are placarded with hazmat are supposed to stop.  From what I gathered from another driver, it's the driveway into a chemical plant, driver was turning left off of a highway into the plant.......

Randy Vos

"Ever have one of those days where you couldn't hit the ground with your hat??" - Waylon Jennings

"May the Lord take a liking to you and blow you up, real good" - SCTV

  • Member since
    May 2005
  • From: S.E. South Dakota
  • 13,569 posts
Posted by Murphy Siding on Tuesday, March 6, 2018 8:33 PM

rvos1979

Facebook group I'm part of said the crossing had bad sight lines, apparently it's the driveway into a chemical plant. Driver was experienced in hauling acid, suffered multiple injuries........

 

Aren't trucks hauling really toxic stuff this required to stop at each railroad track and make sure their is no train coming, the way school busses do?

Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Burlington, WI
  • 1,418 posts
Posted by rvos1979 on Tuesday, March 6, 2018 8:23 PM

Facebook group I'm part of said the crossing had bad sight lines, apparently it's the driveway into a chemical plant. Driver was experienced in hauling acid, suffered multiple injuries........

Randy Vos

"Ever have one of those days where you couldn't hit the ground with your hat??" - Waylon Jennings

"May the Lord take a liking to you and blow you up, real good" - SCTV

  • Member since
    March 2002
  • 9,265 posts
Posted by edblysard on Tuesday, March 6, 2018 8:01 PM

mudchicken

(1) Won't be any weeds in that ballast section.

(2) PTC/ Positive Truck Control woulda prevented this.Dunce

(and I had the misfortune of having to clean up an oilfield semi truck/ rail tank car spill after a collision at Campo CO (US-287 Boise City Sub/ South of Springfield) in the 1980's in a heavy snowstorm....ate the stitching off the vibram soles of my steel toed tennies that became flop-flops....) We were picking up the remains of that trucker with tweezers... Struck the train 5 cars behind the engines and rolled an acid car out of the train.

 

 

 

 

 

 

No, no weeds for a long while!

23 17 46 11

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Northern New York
  • 25,021 posts
Posted by tree68 on Tuesday, March 6, 2018 5:01 PM

richg1998
Come on man. Early so far and reporter cannot get close, acid and police line. Sigh. Some people clueless.

An apt description of the media these days.  Pretty safe bet the quality of the reporting won't get any better.

OTOH, this report looks to have gotten most everything right:

https://observer-reporter.com/news/localnews/train-hits-tanker-truck-in-centerville-hazmat-called-for-leaking/article_2c18e4c2-2159-11e8-ae33-1bb887067f97.html

 

LarryWhistling
Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) 
Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you
My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date
Come ride the rails with me!
There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Denver / La Junta
  • 10,820 posts
Posted by mudchicken on Tuesday, March 6, 2018 4:42 PM

(1) Won't be any weeds in that ballast section.

(2) PTC/ Positive Truck Control woulda prevented this.Dunce

(and I had the misfortune of having to clean up an oilfield semi truck/ rail tank car spill after a collision at Campo CO (US-287 Boise City Sub/ South of Springfield) in the 1980's in a heavy snowstorm....ate the stitching off the vibram soles of my steel toed tennies that became flop-flops....) We were picking up the remains of that trucker with tweezers... Struck the train 5 cars behind the engines and rolled an acid car out of the train.

 

 

 

 

 

Mudchicken Nothing is worth taking the risk of losing a life over. Come home tonight in the same condition that you left home this morning in. Safety begins with ME.... cinscocom-west
  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: Western, MA
  • 8,571 posts
Posted by richg1998 on Tuesday, March 6, 2018 4:28 PM

Come on man. Early so far and reporter cannot get close, acid and police line. Sigh. Some people clueless.

Fuel in truck, maybe loco tank punctured, no idea. Always opinions.

 

If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.

  • Member since
    March 2002
  • 9,265 posts
Posted by edblysard on Tuesday, March 6, 2018 4:20 PM

Not real in-depth reporting...humm, the train has diesel?

Like as a fuel or as a commodity, or both?

Bet the reporter does not know what hydrochloric acid is...

 

23 17 46 11

  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: Western, MA
  • 8,571 posts
Train slams into truck hauling hydrochloric acid
Posted by richg1998 on Tuesday, March 6, 2018 4:10 PM

If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.

Join our Community!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

Search the Community

Newsletter Sign-Up

By signing up you may also receive occasional reader surveys and special offers from Trains magazine.Please view our privacy policy