Fostoria OH, a popular train watching spot, had an earthquake today. Regardless of how minor the damage, just a slight altering of the rail could cause a derailment, is there a way of immediately detecting anything, or is the crew out of luck? If an earthquake is noted what precautions are then taken?
I would hazard a guess that the dispatcher(s) would shut a line down until a visual inspection could be made of the line following an earthquake, depending on how close the epicenter was and the magnitude of the quake.
Look at the posts regarding Chicago a few weeks ago…Simply stated, below 4.9, there is no problem. Above 4.9 on the Richter scale, things start to get ramped-up in stages, starting with the signal system. Each railroad starts with the rules in AREMA Chapter 9.4 and adds their own special, railroad specific inspection rules.
5.0-5.9: railroad at restricted speed within 50 miles of epicenter while M/W forces check signal, bridges and track …and report back.
6.0 and above, all traffic stops within 100 miles of epicenter, no movement until cleared to do so by qualified M/W supervisors
6.5 or above with visible damage, all traffic stops, damage is repaired and all is inspected after aftershocks subside well below 4.9
Unless you feel it or see it, you have no clue it’s coming, unlike most other things in nature.