Train De-Rail this morning. Part of train went off bridge onto highway
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/amtrak-derailment-train-crashes-near-tacoma-washington-n830751
Steve
Amtrak Train 501
http://www.cnn.com/2017/12/18/us/amtrak-derails-washington-latest/index.html
There are reports of casualities, hope for the best for the passengers.
Ahh, the Talgo again.
This looks extremely bad. Scroll down in the CNN coverage to the ‘close-up’ shots of the damaged cars (I tried to paste an image or link to their pictures, but the format is evidently incompatible with the Kalmbach tools).
rdamon was able in the General Discussion section to paste at least one CNN image (before that thread was locked), and anyone here is invited to link this if they can:
blob:http://www.cnn.com/d5eb149a-dd91-8443-b5ed-7118bd4aecd3
One very likely consequence will be increased difficulty in getting FRA waivers for lightweight HSR construction. Some of these cars appear to have been opened like beer cans, almost worse than wood-car telescoping. How much of this is distinctly ‘Talgo’ rather than normal lightweight construction remains to be determined, but this might be thought of as an American Eschede.
According to the Newswire report, "SEATTLE – At least three people are dead after a southbound Amtrak Cascades train has derailed near Olympia this morning, blocking traffic on Interstate 5.
The Seattle Times reports that the three fatalities were aboard the train, although motorists below the overpass were also injured."
Sorry … I forgot to look here …
http://www.cnn.com/2017/12/18/us/amtrak-derailment-washington/index.html
News said that they were running on a new route on recently renovated track.
Too early to say, but the Talgos might’ve held up pretty well as the train was probably going pretty fast at this point. We will have to wait and see. Other trains are now using the old Point Defiance line.
Did you see the upside Talgo on the ground with the crushed roof?
The bridge appears to be old and covered in grafitti–although that can happen quickly these days. My guess is it’s on the old route.
John Timm
Yes, but it looks like the passenger space largely remained intact. The fatalities weren’t in that car but apparently the cars that ended up in the woods.
DD,
It says new route for the Cascades, not necessarily a new track.
Was this in push mode?
Interesting question. I’ve seen the train dozens of times (rode it just once) and I can visualize the cab cars on the southbound end, but I’m not sure if that’s SOP or not.
John Timm
Engines on both ends-new SC44 1402 leading on south end, P42DC 181 trailing. They’re breaking in the new units this way.
[quote user="NorthWest"]
Engines on both ends-new SC44 1402 leading on south end, P42DC 181 trailing. They’re breaking in the new units this way.
[/quote]
I picked up on this derailment from a broadcast on FBN. One of their reporters noted that this was the inaugeral run of this train(501). Similar info was detailed in the following linked site, and similar photos[as also posted in this Thread] @ http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/amtrak-train-derails-on-highway-bridge-in-washington-state-several-killed/ar-BBGYGOH?li=BBnb7Kz
FTA:'…The train struck several cars on the highway, he added, causing injuries but no additional deaths.
Seventy-seven people were transported to hospitals in Pierce and Thurston counties, the Tacoma-based CHI Franciscan Health healthcare network said in a statement. Four of them were considered “level red” patients with the most severe injuries.
Approximately 78 passengers and five crew members were aboard the train, Amtrak said in a statement…"
The FBN report mentioned that this ‘new’ high speed route had been the area in which several miles of ‘new track’ had been placed. It was not mentioned if the site of the derailment was specifically in that area of replaced track.
Interest to note the comments of a local mayor FTA:"…The mayor of one of the towns through which the rerouted trains travel warned earlier this month that the high-speed trains were dangerously close to cars and pedestrians.
“Come back when there is that accident, and try to justify not putting in those safety enhancements, or you can go back now and advocate for the money to do it, because this project was never needed and endangers our citizens,”
From:
https://www.amtrak.com/alert/cascades-schedule-change-new-trips.html
Amtrak Cascades: Schedule Change and Two New Round Trips between Seattle and Portland
Effective December 18, 2017
The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) offers new Amtrak Cascades service with twelve trains every day between Seattle and Portland, effective Dec. 18. WSDOT’s new Tacoma Dome station also opens as do the new tracks on the Point Defiance Bypass. The two new round trips between Seattle and Portland will be Trains 511, 512, 514 and 519. Also, some train numbers have changed. For details, visit www.AmtrakCascades.com.
News said former freight tracks
More info:
https://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/Rail/PNWRC_PtDefiance/default.htm
This project reroutes passenger trains to an inland route. The bypass is on an existing rail line that runs along the west side of Interstate 5 (I-5), from south Tacoma through Lakewood and DuPont. It reconnects back to the BNSF R
https://seattle.curbed.com/2017/12/18/16791118/amtrak-cascades-train-jblm-derailment
Unconfirmed … Speed was 81 (79 Limit) may have it object on tracks
http://komonews.com/news/local/derailed-train-falls-off-bridge-onto-i-5-lanes-south-of-tacoma
There’s no way that S-curve over the highway is good for 79mph track speed. Looking at Google Maps, it would seem the I-5’s curve just west of the bridge is broader than the railroad tracks. The railroad S-curve has be at most 40mph.
Watching the live feed … Looks like the lead did not make the turn
