Train derailments--What is it really like?

[Anonymous]

Hello all,


I was reading a comment made by the engineer involved in the Sept17th Metra derailment and just wanted to know something...Has anybody in here been involved or witnessed a train derailment while it was taking place? What does it actually sound like or look like while it is happening? Another reason why I am asking this is because I live near Landers yard in Chicago and when they are coupling trains,it sounds louder than usual...Let me know...

Cway

[nbrodar]

I've been in/seen a number of slow speed derailments in the yard. Basically there's a load crash, some screeching metal and the cars go on the ground. But you really can't discribe it, you have to see it.

[csxengineer98]

they arent fun..you have to awnser alot of questions..and as soon as the movement stops...you start to question yourself....did i do something wrong..was this my fult..am i going to get fired...
csx engineer

[Anonymous]

the air goes, the SBU starts to chirp, and the DPU control panel starts to scream and beep
you then come to a stop

[mudchicken]

Lots of finger pointing![X-)]


[swg][swg][swg]

[coborn35]

OH SH**!!!

[wabash1]

i dont know about you guys but first thing i do is go in the bottle and blow in the machien then start getting drilled with questions

[mackb4]

And how do the officials get there so quik when you can't ever get ahold of them to get some time off ?I had an engine climb the rail while switching one day and I didn't even notice that I was riding the ties until I was getting closer to a coal train that was coming in the yard in the track beside me.When we all got stopped there was about (3) inches of room between my engine and the coal train [:O].They found the switch points to be to high on the switch I derailed on,so MW ground them down.Derailments is the main cause railroaders carry "fired insurance" [D)].

[Anonymous]

I felt like I had to puke when it happened to me....then I had to pee and blow.

[mackb4]

Almost like when you hired on the RR except ,"cough for me",[V].

[samfp1943]

Really Ugly Sounds, and then a deafening Silence, followed quickly by a personal inventory and interogation, and then your systems evacuate in such close progression you cannot believe it........THEN, you hope you can find the grip with some fresh clothes in it.[censored][%-)][oops]

[tree68]

Haven't even been close. I could identify with the story in the latest TRAINS, though, (about the train that hit a snowslide) as far as being in a situation with a potential outcome I don't want to think about and not being able to do a danged thing about it. Kind of like losing it on an icy road and just hoping you don't hit anything solid.

I suppose it depends a lot on whether your engine is going on the ground (or worse) or it's cars back in your train. Both have happened in my area over the past several years. You'll still have to deal with the tests and questions, but your life probably won't flash in front of your eyes if you lose cars back in the train a ways.

[zapp]

I've not been in one (knock on wood!) since becoming a hogger, but when I was a trainman I was involved in several.
From the cab: Your jus' a clippin' down th' road (being awake is optional for the conducter) and depending how far back it is either fred will start beeping his***off and the slack will come in (sometimes way in!) or if it happens on the head end the opposite of above!
then the B@#$%^&*t begins. Call up the dispatcher. Grab paperwork,and "big hole bag" and start walking.
When you come up on it,it's kinda freaky to see all these giants laying around,144lbs.rail twisted like pretzels,then you start praying or looking at your car list for the hazmat (if any) you get the last car with the wheels to rail and if you can find the other end and see if you have any still on the rail. Get that car number and call in the info. then secure everything,and wait....

[BaltACD]

To watch a derailment taking place gives new meaning to the phrase 'kinetic energy'.

You see the first car hit the ground, you hear the train brakes apply in emergency, and the train continues to move as the next car goes on the ground and the next and next and the next....each with a slightly slower motion than the prvious car until all the kinetic energy within the train has exhausted and the whole train has come to a stop.

It is a real visual experience when the cars begin to jacknife or begin a general pile up as the cars begin to stack on top of each other. In general SLOW MOTION that cannot be stopped.

[Randy Stahl]

I would have had a front row seat had I not hit the ground with my face at 35 MPH..... I missed the good stuff, all I was concerned about was running away so as to avoid something big and heavy falling on me.
Randy

[CShaveRR]

There can be an awful moment when you realize that something is awry, and there's nothing you can do about it. Then you wait for things to settle. Then the questions. Then the ****-and-blow routine.

Happened to me too many times to count. [:(]

[Rodney Beck]

Sh** happens quick been in one can not describe it other than sh** happens quick. Then questioning begins.

Rodney

[chad thomas]

I have never been in one but I have worked a couple cleanups. One was a huge mess. 2 tank cars ruptured, one had pancake syrup, the other had molassas. Turned a huge area into sweet smelling swamp. Had to lay planks of plywood down anywhere we needed to get to. One clown was screwing around and fell into the mess. He was up to his neck in seconds. Luckily he was pulled out.

[Anonymous]

Most of the derailments I have seen, or been involved with have thankfully been small, at most a couple of cars off entirely. The 20 questions and pee in a bottle is annoying. As long as nobody is hurt and no hazmat is leaking you have to let it roll off your back. Comparing a non-injury deailment to an incident where someone is injured or killed (employee or not) it is really just an annoyance.

LC

[CSXrules4eva]

I personally, haven't witnessed a huge derailment but, I have witnessed a mini derailment. This was due to poor track maintence on CSX's switching terminal in Lansdale, PA. One of the box cars I believe the reporting marks were AOK, had all four axles on the ground. The engine that was switching the car also decided to break down (SD50) after the box car hit the ground. When the car hit the ground it did sound like a loud thunder, clap.

Well, I guess when I get hired out on the road I'll get to witness some more derailments in which I won't be too happy about. It would be.

[edblysard]

Love Carls description...as it is so true...once it starts, all you can do is yell at the engineer to plug it, then stand back and watch the show, not a thing you can do but hope none of the tanks rupture.

You keep waiting and waiting for it all to stop moving, and when the dust settles, you get even more amazed how all those cars can stack up in such odd positions!

You blow and go...fill out the "what you did wrong" report, hope they find a broken rail or bad frog point, and then go home...

Ed

[Anonymous]

(Joke)

*loud thud*
Engineer/conducter: WHA'D DA H*** WAS THAT!!!

Thats about It from the cab I guess.

(/joke)

[csxengineer98]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Brak710101

(Joke)

*loud thud*
Engineer/conducter: WHA'D DA H*** WAS THAT!!!

Thats about It from the cab I guess.

(/joke)

that right thier is exacty what happend on one with me...after the what the hell was that... there was...that cant be good...and is i looked out the back window of the engin...i seen my train start to roll down a hillside twards a river....thank god it was only empty coal hoppers... but it was all sureal...slow motion.. wild to see happen right befor your eyes..but after the rush is over... then the seconed guessing starts...and it has been with previous issues...that i have learned that as soon as the MOVEMENT STOPS and even befor the conductor hits the ground..im writing eveything down..speed...throttle postion..amps drawn... eveything that lead up to the derailment... becouse sometimes it is a few hours after the fact befor managmetn shows up for the "inqizition" so to keep the facts fresh and stright in my head..i WRITE everything down.....and then i have a hard copy of the facts for my own file should thier be some kind of displanary crap...
csx engineer

[mackb4]

We call it "Kangaroo Court" on the NS [(-D] .

[Rodney Beck]

The same on BNSF.

Rodney