Probably the best thing that could have done with an unmanned train. Brings up the question why isn’t the route protected by a few runaway train turnouts much like SOU RR’s Saluda ?
Maybe UP needs one or more after its runaway ?
Anyone know how long this single down hill grade was ? What are some of the US long ones as well ?
Video of the derailment. Take a week to clear up the mess. No indication how long to replace rail ?
https://www.9news.com.au/2018/11/06/06/34/bhp-runaway-train-derailed-in-wa
b The runaway track mentioned could have a prediction circuit that would divert a train above a set speed onto the runaway track much like SOU RRs
The UP track is not considered “Mountain Grade” territory because the gradient is only 1.55%. It is in the category of “Heavy Grade” which is greater than 1% but less than 2% which also has a minimum distance requirement as well.
The switch for the runaway track on Saluda Grade was kept set to divert any eastbound train to the runaway track; if an engineer of an eastbound signaled that he had the train under control the switch was thrown so that the train could continue downgrade. (I do not recall seeing or hearing how the switch was handled for westbound trains. The time that I rode up to Asheville I did not ask the conductor about that matter). Originally there were two runaway tracks, but over the years one was taken out.
It may be possible to have a system which gauged the speed of the descending trains and diverted a train that was running too fast for safety.
Of course, if the train had a two-person crew…
Instead, perhaps they will make the train crewless, which of course will prevent such accidents in the future.
Being crewless will not prevent the runaway - it will prevent the death of the crew.
Being crewless will certainly prevent the death of the crew in the case of a runaway. But it will also prevent runaways that happen to be caused by the crew.
Then it will be caused by computer programmers that had an error in their braking algorythem. Man is falible. Machines made by man are also falible.
To err is human, to really foul up requires a computer.
That’s how I udnerstood it worked (using a simple timer). I may be mistaken, though. Wouldn’t be the first time.
And crews can prevent runaways that happen to be caused by the computer. But you will never hear of those.
BaltACD wrote the following[in part]:
“Then it will be caused by computer programmers that had an error in their braking algorythem. Man is falible. Machines made by man are also falible.”
To err is human, to really foul up requires a computer.
An “…al gory rythem…”
Prophetic? Maybe? Certainly forward looking! [:-,]
Seems Balt has coined a new term for railroading in this computer age of screw-ups? [:-^]
The saying of an old head SF engr told me a generation ago when I entered the industry: uphill slow, downhill fast, tonnage first, safety last.
So described in the training video for Saluda Grade with the coal train.
Cleaned-up audio: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9IABM8UPplY
Always heard - Safety Fast, Quality Cheap!
My apologies–I tried to make this statement as sarcastically as I could, but I think I failed; I needed a "tongue-in-cheek emoticon.
On the CNW, and because the railroad’s motto was, “Safety First”, we used a variation: “Tonnage first, safety last; run 'em slow instead of fast”.
Second Derailment.
Thank You.
The news contains this provocative nugget:
“While the driver was off the train, it began moving. Every safety mechanism on the train failed as it hurtled driverless through the Pilbara desert.”
This, and the second accident, have me thinking sabotage.
There was an accident with an early Geep many years ago that was reminiscent this – a large number of ‘coincidences’ all adding up to produce an incident. Too many coincidences, at least for me.
And I think with the quasi-terrorist intent that rational people would surely conclude, but not quite be able to prove to the police or a judge, that it’s intentional…
Can you think of a motive for sabotage? What would it be?