Here is a article that appeared in the local newspaper the day after the incident
http://www.sbsun.com/search/ci_3669600
Please click on the below link then choose the gallery BNSF Derailment @ Sullivans Curve. The 1st picture showing the smoke rising was taken as the loco & the car were going to the ground.
http://vgalleries.com/members/railfan1/The+Trainfan.vrg
[:)]
Nice pics and also great way to get in the paper. Even the RR admitted their own employees do the same thing.
Maybe I am missing something but I do not exactly get what your post was getting at? I happen to be the ONLY eye witness to the derailment since the front of the train was probably 3/4 to 1 mile further west from the derailment area so the engineer/conductor surely did not see it. [:)]
I fyou read the article in the paper the spokesperson even admitted their own employees on their time off are also railfanning.
So what did that have to do with the derailment if some RR workers go train fanning also? [:I]
Thanks for sharing the pictures.
You just never know what is going to happen. Good reason to stand away from the tracks.
I think the only drama I have seen in 40 plus years was a smoking axle. That was back in the 70’s and I gave the rubbing hands signal to the caboose.
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Yes my wife said the same thing as I like to get real near the trains. No more after that incident. Yes I knew something was wrong before the train entered the turn as the truck on one car was smoking real badly & I thought at 1st the car itself was on fire but as it began to trun I saw it was the truck & I also saw it was on the ties so I knew what happen would occur & sure enough 10 or 15 feet further up the track it just when plop. The car that did it was the 5th or 6th car from the 1st DPU not one of the cars further up the tracks which also derail & some of those cars also uncou[ling. [:)]
in-I-restin’.
What a catch! A rare event indeed. It’s one thing to read and see pictures of a derailment, but to actually witness it??? And to be the only one at that. You are very fortunate. Too bad I can’t say the same for the railroad.[:p]
Quoted from the newspaper story - “This is like Las Vegas,” Roland said. “You can’t have any better luck than seeing a trail derailment in front of your own eyes.”
Ah, I think you’re pretty lucky that investigators from BNSF aren’t knocking on your door after saying something like that. Seeing a derailment = lucky?
That’s a sure way to endear us railfans to the RR community. [V]
Yes I estimate the RR had to lay at least 1/2 mile of new track which supposely cost 1M per mile to put down so there is 500Gs right there. Then the cost of the equipment to clean up the mess + the cost of the cars + delays to trains I would guess it cost them 1M or more for that incident.[:)]
I’m sure the RR knows how rare it is to have someone actually see a derailment as it occurred. I would guess the odds are as hi to see one as winning lotto [:)]
Also the BNSF has my name/address/phone# & Email address if they desired to contact me about that remark. [:)][:)]
Congratulations on what must have been a very exciting few minutes.
I’ll bet the RR will be watching you for a while, just to make sure you don’t get so “lucky” next time you are out fanning [8)]
Thanks for the kudos.
Yes it was truly a exciting few minutes from the time I saw the hopper’s truck smoking until the eventual end of the incident. Actually waiting for the end result was like watching time standing still. It sure taught me a lesson to insure myself & all my assets are far enough away from the nearest track to me so that if I ever see another one I will insure my own safety by being out of harms way. I used to want to be trackside but hat disappeared on 04/03/06 for sure
S’hhh keep it under your hat but I am supposed to be in Washington state next month.
[:o)]
Well, I imagine that IF you were to get stopped for trespassing, your name will likely come up on some one’s “hot sheet”, and they will treat you like royalty…[;)]
I guess but I always try to stay on public property to insure that I am not trespassing & after my experience I will surely stay at least 50 ft from the ROW to insure my own safety so I would not forsee my name popping up on a hot sheet [:)]