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LIRR causes commuter delays, train cancelations
How fast was the freight train going? 3/4 mile of track? 4 tracks all at once? What were they doing? Borrowing one of UP’s Donner Pass plows with the blades down?
Slap down a temporary panel track off to one side and keep things moving. But then, this is New York City. Common sense and logical thinking isn’t applied by the local population. Speaking from first hand experience.
Actually this derailment happened between Woodside and Forrest Hills by the old Rego Park cut off. There the ROW is plenty wide, but still four tracks. The derailment took out the third rail (power) and the wheel flanges obliterated the cement ties. Yesterday afternoon there were still two coaches (m-8’s) on the ground. It’s a busy main that sees close to 300 trains a day. Freight service does not occur on these tracks, it appears to have been a equipment move. And FWIW, track speed there is 60 mph or better, so its quite a mess.
“The Metropolitan Transit Authority”
The article was written by a NON-New Yorker.
As of this afternoon, (03-22-13) the ties are all down and ballasted,and the third rail is just about finished being re installed. Looks like everything will be restored in time for Monday am. MTA/LIRR definetly got it done with in the estimated time window. Considering that not much else seems to work that way on the LIRR, it is quite an accomplishment.
Jeff. If you’re so well informed from such a great distance from the scene, I’m sure the LIRR people would appreciate your clairvoyance in dealing with future derailments. I’m sure the people dealing with the derailment are at least as smart as you.
The M7 train (LIRR has no M8’s) was apparently at speed, and supposedly a non-conducting connector between rails failed, thus causing the derailment. I’m guessing that a true first class railroad would have had this cleared up in 24 hours. Hey, at least they didn’t spend $20 million studying the problem for 6 months before doing the repairs. But I would note to Jeffery that there is not enough room in the right of way to add a temporary track down next to the damaged one. But I do find it strange that so many of the new, expensive cement ties were destroyed.