BNSF Head-On in California

[Anonymous]

Five BNSF crewmen were injured today when two BNSF freight trains collided head-on near Madera, California. Some of the crewmen jumped before the collision as others rode the engines to impact. One crewman remains in serious condition while the others were treated for minor injuries and released.

Madera is about 150 miles southeast of San Francisco. Amtrak also uses the railline and had to bus passengers. The line remains closed while railroad officials investigate the accident.

No hazardous materials were spilled but one engine did leak some diesel fuel. One train carried cement while the other carried pentane, a methane-based liquid fuel.

Those viewing the accident stated it was a miracle no one was killed. "It's a big, mangled mess," according to Erica Stuart, a spokeswoman for the Madera County Sheriff's Office.

[coborn35]

OMG. Let us all take a moment (or two) to PRAY for these people and this very unfortunate situation.
How did it happen anyways?

[Anonymous]

The cause is unknown at this time. The accident is being investigated.

[Lyon_Wonder]

What road numbers were involved in the collision?

[Train 284]

I saw the video. Bad accident.

[ericsp]

It happened at the end of a siding (Kismet). It appears as though it involved the M BARSTO and M RICBAR. The back end of the M RICBAR was on the mainline.

As to injuries, I have heard that one crewmemeber suffered a broken hip. I have heard that someone is in critical condition, someone is in serious condition, and the rest suffered minor injuries. Some news sources state three people jumped, some say four. At this point, it looks like three jumped. Last word is that none of the injuries appear to be life threatening.

Madera is a few miles northwest of Fresno, so I have included links from Fresno news sources.
http://www.ksee24.com/Story.aspx?type=ln&NStoryID=4349
http://www.kmph.com/home/3050216.html
http://www.cbs47.tv/breakingnews/story.aspx?content_id=2FEEFB71-270A-4A4C-9217-4A00BAA0AF89
http://abclocal.go.com/kfsn/story?section=local&id=4264208
http://abclocal.go.com/kfsn/story?section=local&id=4271676
http://www.kmj580.com/pages/46422.php
http://www.fresnobee.com/local/ (No story yet).

Pentane is a "methane-based liquid fuel"? I am not a chemist or chemical engineer, but I seriously doubt it was made from methane. It probably came for the refinery in Richmond. Has anyone heard of it being used as a fuel? Perhaps it will be made into 2,2,4-trimethyl pentane and become part of gasoline.

[rrandb]

May our prayers be with them and there families. I wi***hem a speedy recovery.

[spbed]

Here is another link

http://www.ktvu.com/slideshow/news/9369792/detail.html?qs=1;s=1;dm=ss;p=news;w=400

[:p]

QUOTE: Originally posted by jhhtrainsplanes

Five BNSF crewmen were injured today when two BNSF freight trains collided head-on near Madera, California. Some of the crewmen jumped before the collision as others rode the engines to impact. One crewman remains in serious condition while the others were treated for minor injuries and released.

Madera is about 150 miles southeast of San Francisco. Amtrak also uses the railline and had to bus passengers. The line remains closed while railroad officials investigate the accident.

No hazardous materials were spilled but one engine did leak some diesel fuel. One train carried cement while the other carried pentane, a methane-based liquid fuel.

Those viewing the accident stated it was a miracle no one was killed. "It's a big, mangled mess," according to Erica Stuart, a spokeswoman for the Madera County Sheriff's Office.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Lyon_Wonder

What road numbers were involved in the collision?

BNSF # 4059 is one of them.

[Lord Atmo]

what types were the locomotives? dash 9? because dont wide cabs exist because of the collision posts in them? if so, then well, what happens when 2 widecabs collide with each other?

god i hope these poor crewmembers will be ok. if only they were able to jump off before it happened. i'm positive they all would have if they could. man....[V]

[BNSF_GP60M]

Looking at all the video, there were two Dash 9 #4059 and I think #995, BNSF GP30 #2437, FURX SD40-2 #8110 and a former Conrail SD60 I think . There were two locomotives on the other side that I didn't see.

[petervonb]

QUOTE: Originally posted by ericsp

It happened at the end of a siding (Kismet). It appears as though it involved the M BARSTO and M RICBAR. The back end of the M RICBAR was on the mainline.

So if the rear was sticking out onto the Main, and the other train hit that, how is it called a "Head-on"? Was there a control cab on the back end of the freight train that was on the main?[;)]

[chad thomas]

QUOTE: Originally posted by petervonb

QUOTE: Originally posted by ericsp

It happened at the end of a siding (Kismet). It appears as though it involved the M BARSTO and M RICBAR. The back end of the M RICBAR was on the mainline.

So if the rear was sticking out onto the Main, and the other train hit that, how is it called a "Head-on"? Was there a control cab on the back end of the freight train that was on the main?[;)]

I was wondering the same thing?

Any detours on other routes?

[BNSF_GP60M]

It was a head on. The Northbound train (M-BARSTO) was heading into the siding when the southbound train (M-RICBAR) was on the main.

[Anonymous]

From that small amount of info, one would speculate the SB on the main ran/missed a stop indication, slamming into the train pulling into the siding....that's my first guess, without any facts yet, of course.

[rrandb]

Or it was a dispatching error. Depends if it was under computer controll?

[ericsp]

QUOTE: Originally posted by chad thomas

QUOTE: Originally posted by petervonb

QUOTE: Originally posted by ericsp

It happened at the end of a siding (Kismet). It appears as though it involved the M BARSTO and M RICBAR. The back end of the M RICBAR was on the mainline.

So if the rear was sticking out onto the Main, and the other train hit that, how is it called a "Head-on"? Was there a control cab on the back end of the freight train that was on the main?[;)]

I was wondering the same thing?

Any detours on other routes?

I should have been clearer. The back end of the M RICBAR was sitting on the mainline next to the siding when I was there yesterday. See KFUZTV's reply.

BNSF was detouring over UP yesterday. The line is reopened now.

QUOTE: Originally posted by kfuztv

It was a head on. The Northbound train (M-BARSTO) was heading into the siding when the southbound train (M-RICBAR) was on the main.

I should note that those trains are my guess from the cars that were out there. All of the cars that were on the north bound train that did not derail were gone by the time I got out there yesterday. Initial reports were it was a local (too many 2 bay covered hoppers for that), then a cement train to the Bay Area. The latest is that it was a cement train to Polk (Sacramento area). They were changing the order of the cars on the M RICBAR, so LPG cars were not next to the locomotives, when I was out there and preparing to move them back north.

This article includes an aerial photograph.
http://www.fresnobee.com/local/story/12321566p-13054608c.html

Notice that blue LPG car sitting on the mainline. It was still sitting on the mainline when I was there yesterday. When I went out there today, I noticed that they had knocked it off the tracks and let it roll down the embankment. I wonder why.

You can smell the cement out there. When I was first there I was wondering why is smelled like freshly poured concrete, then it finally hit me that is was probably from all of the cement in the hoppers.

http://www.terraserver.microsoft.com/image.aspx?T=1&S=10&Z=10&X=3798&Y=20509&W=3&qs=%7cKismet%7cCA%7c

[oskar]

The crew is very lucky to have had survived for the ones that stayed on thier loco's. must have been veterans or engineers that belive to stay with their trains in a thing like this.

kfuztv- FURX 8110 is a ex BNSF exx BN in one of the news links there is a pic of a SD40-2 in green paint with a BNSF H1 loco off the tracks.

Spbed- Why do you have a smiley face in this topic which is a head-on collision or wreck that had 2 people in serious condition. What would happen if there was type of chorine in a taker involed in this wreck? would a smile be apporpeitte if there was a death or even a wreck?
This kinda reminds me of someone that put 3 smiley faces on a topic that had a Amtrak derail due to it hitting a dump truck and killing 2 people in Raleigh,NC. I wonder who that was?

Please do not Quote me Thank You.


kevin

[ericsp]

There were serious injuries. The two crew members who stayed in the train were in serious and critical condition last night. Appearently they were both in serious condition this morning.

[spbed]

Cause I am very upbeat person. So far nobody died which makes it a great day. [:D]

QUOTE: Originally posted by oskar

The crew is very lucky to have had survived for the ones that stayed on thier loco's. must have been veterans or engineers that belive to stay with their trains in a thing like this.

kfuztv- FURX 8110 is a ex BNSF exx BN in one of the news links there is a pic of a SD40-2 in green paint with a BNSF H1 loco off the tracks.

Spbed- Why do you have a smiley face in this topic which is a head-on collision or wreck that had 2 people in serious condition. What would happen if there was type of chorine in a taker involed in this wreck? would a smile be apporpeitte if there was a death or even a wreck?
This kinda reminds me of someone that put 3 smiley faces on a topic that had a Amtrak derail due to it hitting a dump truck and killing 2 people in Raleigh,NC. I wonder who that was?

Please do not Quote me Thank You.


kevin

[chad thomas]

QUOTE: Originally posted by oskar



Spbed- Why do you have a smiley face in this topic which is a head-on collision or wreck that had 2 people in serious condition. What would happen if there was type of chorine in a taker involed in this wreck? would a smile be apporpeitte if there was a death or even a wreck?
This kinda reminds me of someone that put 3 smiley faces on a topic that had a Amtrak derail due to it hitting a dump truck and killing 2 people in Raleigh,NC. I wonder who that was?

kevin

Cause he's a

[coborn35]

[(-D]

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by ericsp

Pentane is a "methane-based liquid fuel"? I am not a chemist or chemical engineer, but I seriously doubt it was made from methane. It probably came for the refinery in Richmond. Has anyone heard of it being used as a fuel? Perhaps it will be made into 2,2,4-trimethyl pentane and become part of gasoline.

I'm not a chemist either, so I don't know if this would be along the same lines or not. I remember hearing when I worked at the the local extruded foam factory where I live (they make styrofoam plates, meat trays, and the 'clamshell' type take-out boxes) one of the chemicals they use in the extrusion process is called "Iso-pentane" and from what I've been told it's EXTREMELY flammable, to the point of being explosive. There are 'no smoking' and 'explosion hazard' signs all over the plant.

I'd be willing to bet, Pentane is not as volatile as Iso-pentane, but I still think it would be a fire hazard had any of it leaked.

[oskar]

yeah ok your a upbeat person, but do you remember when somebody put 3 smiley's after they posted a topic about a Raleigh Amtrak wreck? Now 2 people died in that one wasn't a great day and I spent the most of the day worring about 3 of my freinds. If I do remember that guy got alot of complaints. Also that train had Pentane according to jshrade thats flammible not good. Also like in funerals theres a line going to the funeral site cars pull over and stop. Now this had no deaths but still nothing to smile about. Show respect for them.

Chad- I don't know about that but he sure can't read. Look what I put before the name must have saw his name and got excited. Now I am on a week pass from the looney bin beacuse of some stupid stuff quotes are one of the reasons.


P-L-E-A-S-E
D-O
N-O-T
Q-U-O-T-E
M-E


kevin
serving 9/10 days out of Looney Bin tommow is my last day.

[ericsp]

I went out to the wreck site today. There are still 5 locomotives laying around out there. There was also something else I think may have been a sixth locomotive. There still appeared to be several cars, although it appears that many may have been taken away.

They moved BNSF 977 to a secondary siding at the north end of Kismet. This was the last locomotive on the M RICBAR. It stayed on the tracks but was severly damaged by tank cars hitting it. It is a good thing nobody was in that cab. Just about the entire conductor's side is gone.

I have not heard anything in a while about the condition of the two crew members who were severly injured.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the update.

Does it look like the locos can ever be used again or are they total gonners? [?]

[ericsp]

QUOTE: Originally posted by jhhtrainsplanes

Thanks for the update.

Does it look like the locos can ever be used again or are they total gonners?

The wreck site is a few hundred feet from the nearest public road, so I cannot get a good look at the locomotives there. There were 2 SD40-2s and a GP30 that remained on the tracks and appeared to have little damage, these left a long time ago. I keep meaning to take Amtrak through there to get a better look but I have not gotten around to doing it.

BNSF 977's cab is pretty well demolished, like I said it is a good thing no one was in there. There appears to be little damage behind the cab, although I will not be able to examine the frame to see if it is bent. I would guess whether it is economical to repair this locomotive would depend on the frame. The three locomotives that suffered little damage were in front of this one, so I would say the lead locomotives bore the brunt of the collision. The major damage to BNSF 977 came from the tankcars following it coming up over the frame and into the cab.

It has been a week and a half since the wreck and BNSF does not seem to be in a hurry to get those locomotives to a shop. I am no expert, but that does not seem like good news for them.

It would be interesting to hear from someone who has had experience in cleaning up derailments.