TripleCrown on ground again in Muncie....

[Modelcar]

....The TripleCrown train went on the ground Thursday afternoon again as it was coming south through Muncie and on it's way to Cincinnati. Eight trailers {cars as the local news article described}, derailed...and 2 burst open and spilled merchandise....
The train had several streets blocked yesterday and one was a major north route out of Muncie...Broadway. I haven't been over town to eyeball it yet as I just learned of it via our morning paper today.
This is the same curve and type of train that derailed earlier this year as it was traveling into Muncie and headed south....Of course it is the NS operation.

[mudchicken]

Curious to hear the "official cause if it ever hits the street.

[Modelcar]

...Speculation seems to have the cause of train operation as opposed to the large curve that seems to be the trouble area. Some years ago this route was rerouted in the Muncie area and a large curve with enough elevation to create an overpass across some streets and another rail line was put in place at that time but it doesn't seem radical in design....But this train seems to get in trouble on it...
Good continuous heavy rail and roadbed through here so it would seem not to be lack of maintanining the RoW....That's just my personal opinion.

[Modelcar]

....I just stopped by the site that was blocked yesterday and it's all clear now and I didn't go back into the area that I might have viewed the derailed and broken trailers to see what activity may be occuring now....I'm assuming the line is open now. Had my trusty digital with me but alas, no pictures.

[Junctionfan]

Sounds almost like either the track is slightly out of guage or the bogies are or both. I wonder what kind of maintainance those bogies get? Another thing might be that one of the bogies (if they have individual brakes) are locking up for some reason on the curve and because they are may not be coupled right to the trailers and so they might twist or do something funny as bogies are light attachments and not cars themselves and don't have the permanent chassis force apon speed and brake changes that may be spuratic. This is a long shot though; what kind of speed restriction does the area have?

I don't think it could be the Triple Crown yard crew's fault though as it has happened on the same curve unless the curve is relatively close to the originating yard.

Either that, the curve is cursed and seeks to commit evil against roadrailers.........well maybe not.

[Modelcar]

....If your talking about a TripleCrown yard in Ft. Wayne....and that is the direction it comes from...but it's 70 plus miles north of us. I don't know what kind of speed restriction might be imposed on this kind of operation through here but in general I believe tains are limited to 30 mph through Muncie. I've seen this train travel through here many times and just in my opinion, I'd say speed is not a problem....From all the conversations I've seen in print and other speculations...it seems it might be train operation. Since I didn't actually get to the derailment sight I don't know it the trailers came off on the inside of the curve as the last one did. Like literally being pulled off the tracks on an acceleration move, etc...and maybe brakes not fully realeased on several bogies...No facts, just throwing out some guesses.

[Modelcar]

Mudchicken...If you would care to read the newspaper article of the derailment, go to: thestarpress.com

[Anonymous]

Does anyone know the train symbol?

[Modelcar]

...I can't be sure but data I just read may indicate it is...213 I have no assurance that is still correct. Now I note that is the number of the train in above post...so all bets are off.