https://montrealgazette.com/pmn/news-pmn/canada-news-pmn/cars-separate-on-new-york-city-bound-train-from-montreal-no-injuries-reported/wcm/71a56114-84c1-448f-8449-9788c1b22f62
Shades of what happened to that Acela not so long ago.
Greetings from Alberta
-an Articulate Malcontent
That very thing happened to me back in the early 80s, while I was running for Metra. I brought a F7 light engine from the diesel ramp in Chicago (M19-A) to the California Avenue coach yard, where we backed on to our train. We coupled in, did the usual two stretches, and got everything connected (or so we thought). Everything was fine all the way downtown to the depot, and then all the way on welded rail to Waukegan.
North of Waukegan the rail is 39' jointed stick rail, and the F7's had a deserved reputation for really slamming the rails, especially with a side-to-side motion (made for a horrible ride).
Well, this one day something went awry. It was late fall, and we were due in Kenosha at 1930, so it was quite dark out. Just as we crossed the state line into Kenosha, and while going 70mph, bang went the air. When I looked back, I was rather surprised to see no train. Six coaches loaded with passengers behind the locomotive had disappeared into the darkness. Although even before I stopped I had begun to suspect the reason, due to the extremely long stopping distance of the lonely locomotive.
From the time the Conductor began walking up to the locomotve, then backed us down to the coaches, then checked that the rest of the train was unaffected (everything still on the rails, no passengers had gotten off), we tied on, and hooked up all the cables (M.U., 440V, communication) and the hoses. We ended up about an hour late into town, and the train crew were none too happy about having to do some of the reconnection work while still in uniform.
A "...mechanical issue?" Yeah, I guess you could call it that...
Firelock76A "...mechanical issue?" Yeah, I guess you could call it that...
Amtrak doesn't use the heavy duty 'safety' chains that once adorned heavyweight passenger cars.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
zardozand hooked up all the cables (M.U., 440V, communication) and the hoses.
Supprised that there was no damage to the cables/connectors.
Electroliner 1935 zardoz and hooked up all the cables (M.U., 440V, communication) and the hoses. Supprised that there was no damage to the cables/connectors.
zardoz and hooked up all the cables (M.U., 440V, communication) and the hoses.
The connections are designed to come apart without damage when a separation happens. More often than not, they do perform as intended.
It is not uncommon for some of those connections to come apart on their own without a train separation.
It's those darn NMRA couplers, would never happen with Kadees.
seppburgh2 It's those darn NMRA couplers, would never happen with Kadees.
Ugly as they are, those X2F couplers stay coupled more reliably than Kadees, but remote uncoupling sure is a PITA.
Doug
May your flanges always stay BETWEEN the rails
I saw this happen on the Chessie Steam Special back when I was a kid riding in the Super Dome car. Older cars, coupler breaks. On the Chessie Steam Special the disconnected portion went into braking mode as it should but the first half of the Special stopped faster and both sections collided again in loud crash and jerk motion......some folks were knocked off their feet and we of course ended up with tossed salad for lunch.
They blamed it on uneven rail as we were going over a bridge over a river. To this day I have absolutely no clue what that would have to do with an uncoupling.
CMStPnPThey blamed it on uneven rail as we were going over a bridge over a river. To this day I have absolutely no clue what that would have to do with an uncoupling.
Unless the couplers are "tight lock," it's possible they could bypass each other vertically. Particularly if they are already a little off.
Larry 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...
Good one! Wish I'd thought of that!
BaltACD Electroliner 1935 zardoz and hooked up all the cables (M.U., 440V, communication) and the hoses. Supprised that there was no damage to the cables/connectors. The connections are designed to come apart without damage when a separation happens. More often than not, they do perform as intended. It is not uncommon for some of those connections to come apart on their own without a train separation.
tree68 CMStPnP They blamed it on uneven rail as we were going over a bridge over a river. To this day I have absolutely no clue what that would have to do with an uncoupling. Unless the couplers are "tight lock," it's possible they could bypass each other vertically. Particularly if they are already a little off.
CMStPnP They blamed it on uneven rail as we were going over a bridge over a river. To this day I have absolutely no clue what that would have to do with an uncoupling.
http://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/25349181/rensselaer-polytechnic-institute-lineman-reuben-clarke-lauded-stopping-detached-train-cars
So, they added a couple cars in Albany-Rensselaer and it was those cars that separated. Did the pin not drop or was the pin locking feature of the coupler not working right. It keeps the pin from working it's way toward "uncouple"?
The whole train should have gone into emergency, but the guy's description doesn't match. They HAD to do and apply and release on the train...didn't they?
-Don (Random stuff, mostly about trains - what else? http://blerfblog.blogspot.com/)
oltmannd http://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/25349181/rensselaer-polytechnic-institute-lineman-reuben-clarke-lauded-stopping-detached-train-cars So, they added a couple cars in Albany-Rensselaer and it was those cars that separated. Did the pin not drop or was the pin locking feature of the coupler not working right. It keeps the pin from working it's way toward "uncouple"? The whole train should have gone into emergency, but the guy's description doesn't match. They HAD to do and apply and release on the train...didn't they?
The different segments of the separated train have diffent mass. Despite going into emergency at the same time - the segment with the larger mass will move further before coming to a stop than will the smaller segment.
The UP's Tornado derailment from 2008 is the best representation of this.
oltmanndThe whole train should have gone into emergency, but the guy's description doesn't match. They HAD to do and apply and release on the train...didn't they?
I'm sure it went into the hole. Just those first few seconds until the brakes become effective can seem like a lot. Either way, good for the guy dumping it anyhow (even if there was nothing left to dump).
The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.
zugmann Either way, good for the guy dumping it anyhow (even if there was nothing left to dump).
+1 Agree.
BaltACD oltmannd http://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/25349181/rensselaer-polytechnic-institute-lineman-reuben-clarke-lauded-stopping-detached-train-cars So, they added a couple cars in Albany-Rensselaer and it was those cars that separated. Did the pin not drop or was the pin locking feature of the coupler not working right. It keeps the pin from working it's way toward "uncouple"? The whole train should have gone into emergency, but the guy's description doesn't match. They HAD to do and apply and release on the train...didn't they? The different segments of the separated train have diffent mass. Despite going into emergency at the same time - the segment with the larger mass will move further before coming to a stop than will the smaller segment. The UP's Tornado derailment from 2008 is the best representation of this.
Not quite the same thing with a passenger train because all the equipment has the same braking ratio.
On freight trains, locomotives and empty cars have high ratios, loaded ones, low. So it's not uncommon to see what that UP tornado split train shows...
Freight locos can have different types of power knockout for train-caused emergencies. Often, the engineer retains some power so that he can try to run away from the rear of the train.
oltmannd BaltACD oltmannd http://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/25349181/rensselaer-polytechnic-institute-lineman-reuben-clarke-lauded-stopping-detached-train-cars So, they added a couple cars in Albany-Rensselaer and it was those cars that separated. Did the pin not drop or was the pin locking feature of the coupler not working right. It keeps the pin from working it's way toward "uncouple"? The whole train should have gone into emergency, but the guy's description doesn't match. They HAD to do and apply and release on the train...didn't they? The different segments of the separated train have diffent mass. Despite going into emergency at the same time - the segment with the larger mass will move further before coming to a stop than will the smaller segment. The UP's Tornado derailment from 2008 is the best representation of this. Not quite the same thing with a passenger train because all the equipment has the same braking ratio. On freight trains, locomotives and empty cars have high ratios, loaded ones, low. So it's not uncommon to see what that UP tornado split train shows... Freight locos can have different types of power knockout for train-caused emergencies. Often, the engineer retains some power so that he can try to run away from the rear of the train.
My understanding is that the PC switch on locomotives keep the engines operating and pulling for 30 seconds (or there abouts) after a train initiated UDE - in the attempt to 'out run' the balance of the train. Not always successful. Even with the same braking ratios - the greater the mass, the greater the distance to stop. In passenger service, the above discriped PC Switch operation will normally allow both segments of the train to stop without impacting each other.
Keeping power on after an UDE is useful for keeping the train stretched when using power or bunched when using dynamic braking more than trying to run away from part of the train. You don't usually know if the train has separated or just an air hose has popped.
I used to run the PAT Train in Pittsburgh with a GP9 on each end. One day the rear unit cut itself off while going through a rough interlocking on the P&LE. The coupler pin on the engine worked its way up bouncing over the rough track.
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