Amtrak Wreck in Kansas

[mudchicken]

BaltACD

What has been the temperature differential between High and Low in that area the past several days.

My carrier had Heat Orders out last week because of temperature differential and highs into the 80's.

 

30-35 degrees, all well below the neutral temperature of the rail. It is finally cooling off out here, Hi (never above 78) & Lo (Never below 28) are going down after today. Hardly extreme or unusual in this country. NTSB and FRA are most likely looking at multiple scenarios, multiple angles and descriptions from multiple parties....MP 373 to MP 375 ot there are getting a serious going over as is the railcars, locomotives and crew. Takes a while to get from symptoms to root cause in an area with light grades and curves (almost flat and arrow straight)... Depending on which account, you hear dip, bend or odd noises for a long time.

Track supervisor and roadmaster most likely have no more concerns than Amtrak crew, mechanical or anyone else to this point. Details need to be carefully examined and collected.

Five minutes could be 6-7 miles here, 20 minutes could be 25 miles, all the way back to the last station stop at Garden City.

(And now, there is something else being proposed as having moved the rail ... Detective KissyMyTrainfinder has just oozed onto the scene looking for agridummies  and or errant rubber tired bubbas.....next!)

[BaltACD]

What has been the temperature differential between High and Low in that area the past several days.

My carrier had Heat Orders out last week because of temperature differential and highs into the 80's.

[cefinkjr]

Euclid

.... engineer noticed a significant bend in a rail ...

Help Wanted: BNSF is looking for an experienced Track Supervisor to fill a newly opened position.

Also: Disclaimers like this really frost me: "The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because the official wasn't authorized to speak publicly about the federal investigation."  So why was he speaking to the reporter?  If you're not authorized to speak publicly about something, keep your mouth shut!

My worth.

[Euclid]

“CIMARRON, Kan. - An engineer noticed a significant bend in a rail and applied the emergency brakes before a passenger train derailed in western Kansas early Monday, an official said.”

“The Amtrak train apparently was travelling at about 75 mph when the engineer noticed the deformity in the rail and pulled the brakes, a U.S. official told The Associated Press. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because the official wasn't authorized to speak publicly about the federal investigation.”

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/amtrak-derailment-in-kansas-5-cars-on-their-side/

[cefinkjr]

My SWAG is 60-40 on a broken wheel or flange. The 40% is on a broken rail.

[tree68]

Reports of a possible kink in a rail and "noises" for 20 minutes before the wreck...

Of course, if it's the "ubiquitous 20 minutes" we encounter in the fire service, it could be five, but, still...

[schlimm]

This news event is also posted on the Passenger forum, where it belongs.

[Victrola1]

Train derails in Kansasutoplay videos

At least 29 people were hospitalized early Monday after a cross-country Amtrak train derailed in southwestern Kansas.

Amtrak confirmed that its Southwest Chief 4 train derailed approximately 20 miles west of Dodge City shortly after midnight local time. 

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2016/03/14/injuries-reported-after-amtrak-train-derails-in-kansas.html?intcmp=hplnws