Trains.com

Georgetown loop derailment

7747 views
8 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    December 2007
  • 1,307 posts
Posted by Falcon48 on Friday, December 29, 2017 11:29 AM

CSSHEGEWISCH
 
blue streak 1

Question.  How is a RR car attached to its trucks ?  Specifically the car in question.  Could a mechanical failure happpened there ?

 

 

 
The trucks on most freight cars are attached to the car by gravity.  I don't know about passenger cars.
 

I'm no expert on this, but my understanding is that older passenger cars  are just attached to the carbody by gravity.  In other words, if the carbody is raised, the truck will stay on the track.  Modern passenger cars have "locking kingpins" which secure the trucks to the carbody.

The other thing about Georgetown loop is that some of the cars they use for passenger service are actually converted freight cars. I can't tell from the photos whether this car is one of them.

   

  • Member since
    January 2008
  • From: Big Blackfoot River
  • 2,788 posts
Posted by Geared Steam on Friday, December 29, 2017 9:54 AM

Journalism strikes again, there's a very big difference between "tipping over" and "tipping". I pictured the car rolling down an embankment before I seen the pictures. 

Anyone notice the switch besides the car? I wonder if it picked a switch, although that wouldn't explain why the truck was detached?

Glad no one was seriuosly injured, and I hope this incident doesnt cause the attraction to close over financial issues trying to defend itself.  

"The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination."-Albert Einstein

http://gearedsteam.blogspot.com/

  • Member since
    September 2011
  • 6,449 posts
Posted by MidlandMike on Thursday, December 28, 2017 8:14 PM

Was the train starting from Silver Plume or Georgetown?  Was the train backing eastbound or WB ?

  • Member since
    March 2016
  • From: Burbank IL (near Clearing)
  • 13,540 posts
Posted by CSSHEGEWISCH on Thursday, December 28, 2017 6:52 AM

blue streak 1

Question.  How is a RR car attached to its trucks ?  Specifically the car in question.  Could a mechanical failure happpened there ?

 
The trucks on most freight cars are attached to the car by gravity.  I don't know about passenger cars.
The daily commute is part of everyday life but I get two rides a day out of it. Paul
  • Member since
    December 2007
  • From: Georgia USA SW of Atlanta
  • 11,919 posts
Posted by blue streak 1 on Wednesday, December 27, 2017 10:31 PM

Question.  How is a RR car attached to its trucks ?  Specifically the car in question.  Could a mechanical failure happpened there ?

  • Member since
    December 2017
  • 1 posts
Posted by GimmeStars on Wednesday, December 27, 2017 5:15 PM

My family (of 14) was in the rail car that derailed yesterday (12/26/17) on the Georgetown Loop Railroad.

The train parks at the end of the track at the station on level ground, so it must first backup (back out of the station) to begin it's route.  Since we were in the last coach car, we had a front row view while backing up. We had just started rolling away from the station when there were sudden bumps (like a washboard) and the rail car left the track and tilted left, tossing passengers to the left side of the car and came to a rest in the snowy embankment.  The derailed car never detached from the next car and did not roll away.

Luckily no one was hurt and my family was actually laughing before, during and after the craziness. (a few of us shared video captured during the derailment on our FB pages (fb/Debi.13.Holmes)

I will add, all railroad employees acted calmly and quickly to escort passengers to the next car and shortly thereafter, off the train. Everyone on the entire train ride was issued a full refund. I also just learned my daughter-in-law was interviewed over-the-phone by Denver's Channel 4 news to air today at 5p & 6p.

I hope this adds clarity to yesterday's event. 

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Denver / La Junta
  • 10,820 posts
Posted by mudchicken on Wednesday, December 27, 2017 4:38 PM

There are other local news media reports quoting Georgetown Loop people saying mechanical failure. (not sure I would want to put much stock in the newsworker reporting or the G'Town Loop adult supervision)

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
    December 2007
  • From: Georgia USA SW of Atlanta
  • 11,919 posts
Posted by blue streak 1 on Wednesday, December 27, 2017 3:32 AM

Here are some better pictures.  Cannot remember for sure but doesn't train go downhill loco first ? Then loco pushes back up hill ? Is strange that one picture shows car truck on rails.

http://kdvr.com/2017/12/26/georgetown-loop-railroad-tips-over-during-passenger-trip/

 

  • Member since
    December 2007
  • From: Georgia USA SW of Atlanta
  • 11,919 posts
Georgetown loop derailment
Posted by blue streak 1 on Wednesday, December 27, 2017 3:10 AM

No info yet just this article maybe ran some distance after derailing ?

http://www.9news.com/news/local/georgetown-loop-railroad-car-tips-off-tracks-with-passengers-on-board/502560939

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