I heard on the radio over the weekend of a Canadian Pacific train that derailed in the small MN town of Gully. The probably cause given was too much snow that had built up on the seldom used rail line (maybe 1 train a day). My question is, how common is it to have a train derail because of too much snow on the line?
The report also stated the locomotives just “jumped” the tracks and didn’t tip over, still pretty interesting to see the power of built up snow and ice.
Others heard of this?
I haven’t heard of this but it is defanitly interesting. !!! I don’t think I’ve ever head of a train derailing because there was too much snow. I’ve heard of them derailing due to ice frozen on the tracks.
all it takes is for sufficient snow/ice to build up in the flangeways of a switch or highway grade crossing. once the flange is higher than the rail - off it goes. I suspect a grade crossing because the traffic will pack snow in the flangeway all day long during a snow storm and at night it will turn to ice and 6 to 8 inches of ice will support the weight of a RR wheel sufficient to clear the flange. another MOW nightmare.
dd
Snow plowed off the highway has also caused problems, IIRC.