Interesting video, appears the tank cars (carrying Ethanol) were derailed before getting to the crossing.
BTW Fairmont is where they used to make the 'speeders'.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkcH2WP3mf0
Shelf couplers at work...
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...
If they made the crossings like my HO set they would have re-railed!
Thinking I would have made a U-Turn and exited the area sooner.
Anyone notice that slab-like whatever-it-was that wound up on the grade crossing?
I wonder if that had something to do with it?
By the way, if I'd have gotten the hell out of there as soon as those cars did those rolls!
Those cars in the weeds reminded me of something:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqClWdOcWog
That looked like one of the grade crossing panels between the rail.
(I did not make the same connection, but I am glad you did!!)
Flintlock76I wonder if that had something to do with it?
Based on a comment in the story and what I saw in the video, the cars were already on the ground when they got to the crossing.
Train was on the ground before the video even started.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
You know, for the first time ever, I watched that video and said "I know exactly where that crossing is!" So, I got that going for me, which is nice.
Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.
Train was pulling out of the ethanol plant there. When the video first starts, it looks like the cars are derailing at the extreme left of the frame. It's too bad, but understandable, that he panned to the right.
It looks like there's a switch stand partially hidden by the train and crossing signal box. If it's the switch to the plant, from what little is shown it looks like the cars start derailing around the frog.
Jeff
After the cars start to derail, tthe train starts to visibly slow down. Is that just the dragging cars doing their thing, or would the engineer feel something was wrong and hit the brakes?
Murphy Siding After the cars start to derail, tthe train starts to visibly slow down. Is that just the dragging cars doing their thing, or would the engineer feel something was wrong and hit the brakes?
Probably a little of both.
I would opine that the brake line didn't part until the cars started to roll over, so there wouldn't have been an emergency application at that point.
The dragging cars would have caused two things - a physical slowing of the train (threw the anchor out, so to speak), and a rising ammeter in the locomotive, which would have suggested to the engineer that there was something amiss.
The CP and UP both serve Fairmont MN who went on the ground?
herdebu The CP and UP both serve Fairmont MN who went on the ground?
It was a UP train.
As of this morning, Carlisle is still not open. The rumor is that the spot had been reported by a crew a few days previous has being rough.
jeffhergert It was a UP train. As of this morning, Carlisle is still not open. The rumor is that the spot had been reported by a crew a few days previous has being rough. Jeff
Murphy Siding jeffhergert It was a UP train. As of this morning, Carlisle is still not open. The rumor is that the spot had been reported by a crew a few days previous has being rough. Jeff I'm curious. If a train crew reports a spot as being rough, what happens then?
I'm curious. If a train crew reports a spot as being rough, what happens then?
On CSX when I was working it was immediately reported to the Roadmaster (official in charge of the specific location) and it was upto the Roadmaster to have one of his Track Inspectors look at the location and issue speed restrictions or other actions to operations as he found necessary from his inspection - the Track Inspector does have the authority to take the track Out of Service pending repairs.
Would this be a front-burner item? It's in the yard at Northern Maine Junction. The PanAm part, I think. I can't believe no crew has seen this. The track is in use. I saw an engine go over it.
Still in training.
Lithonia OperatorWould this be a front-burner item? It's in the yard at Northern Maine Junction. The PanAm part, I think. I can't believe no crew has seen this. The track is in use. I saw an engine go over it.
On a minimally used yard track - despite the gap between rail ends - both ends appear bolted in the angle bars. It is adequate to operate over. If the track was going to be subjected to a high volume of traffic, it should be properly repaired.
While the video is from WW II and other than US equipment - it illustrates that derailing equipment is not a simple as many people believe.
I recall seeing a video of a section of stick rail that was not tied to the ties at all.
The video showed a train passing over it. It was flopping up and down as the wheels rolled over it, but the tie bars to the adjacent rails were holding it gauge.
Interesting phenomenon...
Lithonia Operator Would this be a front-burner item? It's in the yard at Northern Maine Junction. The PanAm part, I think. I can't believe no crew has seen this. The track is in use. I saw an engine go over it.
Of course .. there is a bolt missing
rdamon Lithonia Operator Would this be a front-burner item? It's in the yard at Northern Maine Junction. The PanAm part, I think. I can't believe no crew has seen this. The track is in use. I saw an engine go over it. Of course .. there is a bolt missing
It looks like the bolt is sitting in the ballast above the rail gap, and the nut is sitting by the right end of the joint bar. I might guess the rail split off at that bolt hole, and there is no longer anything for the bolt to hold.
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