Trains.com

Want another reason not to stand close to a moving train?

1937 views
11 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: US
  • 24,951 posts
Posted by BaltACD on Wednesday, April 10, 2019 2:28 PM

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Northern New York
  • 24,872 posts
Posted by tree68 on Wednesday, April 10, 2019 12:09 PM

SD70Dude
Even without a derailment there are plenty of hazards presented by moving trains.

Several years ago we were getting ready to board one of our Polar Express trains in Utica as an eastbound manifest passed on track 2.  Our platform is adjacent to track 1.

About ten cars from the rear of the train a flatcar passed with a large chain bouncing on the ground next to the car.

There was track 1 between us and the train, fortunately.  It was a hefty chain and definitely would have "left a mark."  I suspect that if it caught a switch stand at that speed, the results could have been spectacular...

We were able to get word to the CSX dispatcher, who presumably sent the conductor for a long walk...

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 2005
  • From: At the Crossroads of the West
  • 11,013 posts
Posted by Deggesty on Wednesday, April 10, 2019 11:13 AM

I presume that when passing another train it is still required that crewmen on each train look at the other train to make certain that nothing is out of order.

This requirement made a great difference in my life; in April, 1971, After leaving Portland on the City of Portland, I fell into conversation with the flagman. About an hour out, we came upon a freight that was in the pass track, waiting for us to pass it, and the flagman had to go down from the dome and look it over. I stood in the aisle to get a good look at the freight, and commented about the convenience of our passing it, and a lady standing behind me agreed, and we sat down together. Several years later, she told me she had hoped the flagman would return and she could join the conversation. 

Johnny

  • Member since
    January 2019
  • From: Henrico, VA
  • 9,583 posts
Posted by Flintlock76 on Wednesday, April 10, 2019 10:37 AM

I was afraid it was going to be on the Delaware-Lackawanna.

Thank God no-one was killed or injured!  And that nothing happened to the D-L's cool old ALCOs!

  • Member since
    June 2003
  • From: South Central,Ks
  • 7,163 posts
Posted by samfp1943 on Wednesday, April 10, 2019 10:06 AM

SD70Dude

"Even without a derailment there are plenty of hazards presented by moving trains."        You haven't lived until you've seen a shifted load of lumber or pipe that now resembles a porcupine racing towards you at 60 mph, with its broken steel banding flapping merrily along in the breeze, ready to try and slash you up.

 "Dude's" sbove statement is one to go down in 'The Annals of Understatement!'

 As mentioned by others [CWR rails], steel strapping and assorted loose cargos, not to mention some railcar parts! Whistling Create their own hazards.

 Growing up around Memphis(Tn). The Fall Cotton Harvest created its own shows for railfans.   A time when all the ancient,boxcars, that sat on rural siding most of the rest of the years; were pressed into service; back then there were every old kind of box car utilized ( outside braced wood,etc) to bring the bales of the recent crop, to the local compresses.   Spontaneous combustion within those bales created smokers,flamers and fully envolved loads for the F.D. to deal with at the ERast end of the Harrahan and Frisco bridges.  Loose, unsecured, sliding steel doors; created their own sets of problems for motorists who pulled right up to the railroad crossings. Whistling

"Even without a derailment there are plenty of hazards presented by moving trains."  Yep! 'Dudes's' statement is spot-on! Sigh

 

 


 

  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: Allentown, PA
  • 9,810 posts
Posted by Paul_D_North_Jr on Wednesday, April 10, 2019 7:45 AM

Been there, done that.  Still a high risk venture, esp. when the CAT starts to move away . . . 

That line had tie replacements done in the summer - fall of 2017 - you can see the 'gang-nail' plates on the ends of a couple of the new ties.  I'd be curious about the number of ties replaced at the joints, and the quality assurance of the tamping job afterwards . . . 

- PDN.  

"This Fascinating Railroad Business" (title of 1943 book by Robert Selph Henry of the AAR)
  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Denver / La Junta
  • 10,786 posts
Posted by mudchicken on Wednesday, April 10, 2019 12:07 AM

Go find a piece of heavy equipment, like a sideboom CAT or two to sit on that rail before you cut it

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: Allentown, PA
  • 9,810 posts
Posted by Paul_D_North_Jr on Tuesday, April 9, 2019 8:35 PM

You're right.  Still a lot of spring in it, though.  

Look closely at the first few seconds of the video - 4 Delaware-Lackawanna ALCo's going by in the background!

- PDN.

"This Fascinating Railroad Business" (title of 1943 book by Robert Selph Henry of the AAR)
  • Member since
    April 2007
  • From: Iowa
  • 3,293 posts
Posted by Semper Vaporo on Tuesday, April 9, 2019 8:27 PM

That ain't CWR... I see several joint bars in it.

Semper Vaporo

Pkgs.

  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: Allentown, PA
  • 9,810 posts
Posted by Paul_D_North_Jr on Tuesday, April 9, 2019 8:04 PM

Thanks for sharing - a "rare catch"!

Watch the wheelset fly at the left (rear) of the yellow-orange car that turned over.  

Looks like tangent track. 

I'm surprised they let the reporter stand that close to the CWR - lot of 'spring' pent-up in that.  Wouldn't want to be the guy to cut it apart.

- PDN.  

"This Fascinating Railroad Business" (title of 1943 book by Robert Selph Henry of the AAR)
  • Member since
    December 2017
  • From: I've been everywhere, man
  • 4,260 posts
Posted by SD70Dude on Tuesday, April 9, 2019 7:36 PM

Even without a derailment there are plenty of hazards presented by moving trains.

You haven't lived until you've seen a shifted load of lumber or pipe that now resembles a porcupine racing towards you at 60 mph, with its broken steel banding flapping merrily along in the breeze, ready to try and slash you up.

Greetings from Alberta

-an Articulate Malcontent

  • Member since
    December 2007
  • From: Georgia USA SW of Atlanta
  • 11,834 posts
Want another reason not to stand close to a moving train?
Posted by blue streak 1 on Tuesday, April 9, 2019 7:29 PM

Watch the link of this derailment.  Then notice what happens to the welded rail snapping in the opposite direction.  Kind of scary ?

https://wnep.com/2019/04/09/train-derailment-in-lackawanna-county/

 

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