Limestone the curse of anything being built.
USGS Definition:
What is a sinkhole? A sinkhole is a depression in the ground that has no natural external surface drainage. Basically, this means that when it rains, all of the water stays inside the sinkhole and typically drains into the subsurface. Sinkholes are most common in what geologists call, “karst terrain.” These are regions where the types of rock below the land surface can naturally be dissolved by groundwater circulating through them. Soluble rocks include salt beds and domes, gypsum, limestone and other carbonate rock. Florida, for instance, is an area largely underlain by limestone and is highly susceptible to sinkholes. When water from rainfall moves down through the soil, these types of rock begin to dissolve. This creates underground spaces and caverns. Sinkholes are dramatic because the land usually stays intact for a period of time until the underground spaces just get too big. If there is not enough support for the land above the spaces, then a sudden collapse of the land surface can occur.
A sinkhole is a depression in the ground that has no natural external surface drainage. Basically, this means that when it rains, all of the water stays inside the sinkhole and typically drains into the subsurface.
Sinkholes are most common in what geologists call, “karst terrain.” These are regions where the types of rock below the land surface can naturally be dissolved by groundwater circulating through them. Soluble rocks include salt beds and domes, gypsum, limestone and other carbonate rock. Florida, for instance, is an area largely underlain by limestone and is highly susceptible to sinkholes.
When water from rainfall moves down through the soil, these types of rock begin to dissolve. This creates underground spaces and caverns.
Sinkholes are dramatic because the land usually stays intact for a period of time until the underground spaces just get too big. If there is not enough support for the land above the spaces, then a sudden collapse of the land surface can occur.
Sinkholes are dramatic because the land usually stays intact for a period of time until the underground spaces just get too big. If there is not enough support for the land above the spaces, then a sudden collapse of the land surface can occur.[/quote]
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...
Not much of a defense against sinkholes. Solid ground until its gone.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
zugmannCombine that with a lot of really heavy rainstorms that have been hammering the area the past couple weeks.
I kind of thought the heavy rains may have had something to do with it. Looking at the drone video and seeing how the tracks came apart I guessed the roadbed must have had the consistancy of a wet sponge.
Erik_MagInteresting... One might think that the quarry operators would have had an obligation to tell NS about any potential hazards from their side of the fence.
Karst topography is common there. Tons of limestone and sinkholes in that whole region.
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
zugmann Derailment happened pretty much next door to a limestone quarry. Combine that with a lot of really heavy rainstorms that have been hammering the area the past couple weeks.
Derailment happened pretty much next door to a limestone quarry.
Combine that with a lot of really heavy rainstorms that have been hammering the area the past couple weeks.
Interesting... One might think that the quarry operators would have had an obligation to tell NS about any potential hazards from their side of the fence.
Erik_MagI suspect that the NS line was in an area with limestone bedrock, and a void in the limestone exapnded to produce the sinkhole. From what I gather, these sinkholes are much harder to predict than the what happened in my neighborhood.
If the area has had a lot of sinkholes, then NS may have had some responsibility for checking after the rain. Otherwise inspection focus should be on the usual suspects after a major rain.
FWIW, the access route to my house had been closed from the end of February to a week and a half ago due to a sinkhole. During that time, access had been by a route that had been closed off since the 70's due to it bein unsuitable for through traffic. In my case, the sinkhole was caused by the corrugated steel drain pipe rusting out and washing out part of the fill the road was built on, which had been developing well before February.
I suspect that the NS line was in an area with limestone bedrock, and a void in the limestone exapnded to produce the sinkhole. From what I gather, these sinkholes are much harder to predict than the what happened in my neighborhood.
BaltACD While it is a CSX train, I understand the incident happened on NS tracks.
While it is a CSX train, I understand the incident happened on NS tracks.
A forum for Lansdale indicates the train was headed there. The garbage flats were going to storage, unlikely they were full.
Are those garbage containers on those flats? Fun to clean up those I bet.
Track is the former PRR freight-only Trenton Cutoff, Thorndale to Morrisville PA.
rixflix aka Captain Video. Blessed be Jean Shepherd and all His works!!! Hooray for 1939, the all time movie year!!! I took that ride on the Reading but my Baby caught the Katy and left me a mule to ride.
Acme Mapper simply shows it as the "Morrisville Line." 40.10840 -75.25232
Latest news says there were no hazardous cargos on the train.
As they say in the news biz "This just in!"
Check out the Instagram link for drone footage, it's a mess. No details yet.
https://dailyvoice.com/pennsylvania/montgomery/freight-train-derailment-evacuates-homes-businesses-in-whitemarsh-township/
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