Derailing accidents and the conditions of our roadbeds

[joesap1]

Last Christmas I rode the Sunset Limited/Texas Eagle to Ft Worth and the Heartland Express to Oklahoma City. On the return trip through Texas the Limited would open it up a little on the straight stretches. During these times of top speed(maybe 70 mph) we would run over sections of track that would cause the whole train to jerk violently from side-to-side. Clearly, as one fellow passenger noted, the roadbeds and rails are not maintained as they were in the past. The great ru***o move freight, and that at only 50 mph, doesn't stimulate the UP or the BNSF to keep their rails in tip- top shape. Consequently, don't you think, this has lead to more derailing accidents than we had in the past????? I remember traveling on the City of Los Angeles from Upland, CA to North Platte, NE and that train would top out over 90 mph in the open stretches.
No way the Amtrak trains can reach that speed today. Only our local Metrolink that has concrete ties and welded rail can travel quickly and smoothly on their right-of-way. Isn't it about time the railroads started putting concrete ties and welded rail everywhere? It would certainly cut down on the accidents.
Probably save a few lives, too. What do you think? Am I crazy? Don't answer that!

[mistercivil]

Talking to some of the old boys at work, when there used to be sectionmen, there was a lot of pride in their section of track and that section was tight and smooth. Nowadays, no more sectionmen, no more pride - crappy track.

[joesap1]

Sectionmen...that makes alot of sense. Is this the cause of all the derailments nowadays, the elimination of sectionmen?

[Anonymous]

The main problem in San Antonio as far as derailing--4 or 5 this year including chemical spills and fatalities--is overworked, tired crews.
All new track etc costs up to $1 million or so PER MILE.
So, sectionmen is a much better idea.

[joesap1]

The costs of lawsuits nowadays has got to be eating into the railroads profits and may make new track seem less costly. At a recent UP derailment near me(in Southern California), a pregnant woman, who lived in the house that a railroad car rammed into, wanted to know what was in the car because she might sue for exposure. How about the fatality in Kansas with a new employee on the railroad. There will certainly be a major lawsuit there that could have been avoided if the tracks were in better shape.

[Anonymous]

There are track related derailments....

That being said, the leading cause of derailments is man failure.

[railman]

Derailments are caused by both...everyone needs to be aware of conditions.

[Anonymous]

In our worst one, spilled chlorine formed a gas cloud that spread over many miles.
2 ladies died in their beds, as well as the conductor, and hundreds are still ill.
Not track-related, as far as anyone has said, and UP is now hiring over a hundred new crew members for our area.
Lawsuits are covered by the RR's insurance, while new track and new hires are not....

[Anonymous]

As we have seen from the major auto manufactors time and time again.... It's cheaper in the long run to pay off the wrongful deaths, ect...Then it is to fix the proble(s) in the first place. It's alright to them, having to pay for higher rates (if there are any). Due to the fact they can raise the price of there products/services to cover it.

[CSXrules4eva]

The number one problem when it comes to railroad accidents (derailments) is human error. I know that in the past (1850's - early 1900's) many derailments happend due to poor track maintainence and poor track laying. This was the result of expansion. Many railroads rushed their labor's to lay down track fast, this was done to compete with other railroads. Railroad management didn't care about the work's safety, they strove for quanity over quality. Also the track back then wasn't steel it was brittle iron. Other infastructure like railroad tresstles weren't built properly because of this too. So I think the rails back then wern't as safe as the rails today. But, then again just because the today's welded steel rails are better equiped than the "old iron" that dosen't mean that u can neglect them from cleaning and service.