Vermonter derails, some injured, no deaths

[wanswheel]

It seems the train hit a rockslide.

http://www.wptz.com/news/amtrak-train-derails-in-northfield/35659188

[rcdrye]

Pretty typical geology for that section of Vermont.  Track speed 59, probably a restriction for the nearby bridge over the Dog River.  The local reporter is a pretty sensible guy (that's my local station).  Looks like a slab dropped off the wall of the cut.  Anyone who has driven I-89 or I-91 through Vermont has seen how much trouble the tilted strata cause Vermont AOT.  Unconfirmed report of one patient airlifted to the regional trauma center in Lebanon NH.

[schlimm]

The track looks like it was from 60 years ago.

[rcdrye]

Track is 115 lb welded rail installed in 2011, with rock ballast.  Ties and ballast redone in 2012 after delay for repairs from Tropical Storm Irene.  Same stuff good for 79 MPH in signalled territory further south on the New England Central. 

[blue streak 1]

Only one serious injury to a trauma centerwith only few minor ones.  That's great.  Damage to train much greater/  Must have really hit hard as at least  one car truck knocked off car.  One car looks like maybe frame bent ?

This east coast rain situation is getting bad.  Is this area now signaled ?  Any requirements for slide fences coupled to signal system ?  With all the rain maybe a hi rail needs to proceed trains thru slide prone areas ?  

 

[blue streak 1]

Very good aerial.

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=549186&nseq=0

 

[blue streak 1]

Vermonter thread mentions rock ledges.  We have  noted in KP posts and others of different RRs .  They seem to have either back step or other cleaances so slides do not get on ROWs.  As well many highways have te same thing.  The 7 month closing of I-40 in NC was a wakeup for many state DOTs 

Any one know if eastern RRs do not have enough ROW to build setbacks in many locatons ?   

 

[conductorchris]

This area is not signaled.  Signals would have given warning only if the tracks were broken which the pictures do not suggest.

The railroad does subscribe to a weather forcasting service that helps predicts localized problems that might cause wash-outs and other issues.  The service has prevented at least one Amtrak derailment in the aftermath of a big and sudden flood.