Union Pacific Grade Crossing Collision in Pecos, Texas

Trains Magazine General Discussion
1

Yet another grade crossing accident with truck on a railroad crossing. In this case both of the head end crew are dead, the train derailed and I believe destroyed the Chamber of Commerce building. In the videos I have seen this was a wide load that got stuck on the tracks. How does this keep happening everywhere? Should there be a Federal permit process?

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2

In addition to being an oversized load - there was a Pilot truck that is shown in at least one of the videos - which make it even worse as at least TWO individuals had the opportunity to notify the railroad of what was taking place DESPITE them being on a route that would not clear the load.

The job of the Pilot Truck is not just to drive ahead of the oversized load to to LEAD the load on a cleared route.

3

From what I gather the load was hung up over the main for 40 minutes or more! Seemingly plenty of time to notify those in the operating department (blue response sign posted at the crossing).

Ed

4

I called a few friends I have in the oversize hauling side of my area of expertise. Here’s 3 big nightmare issues with this accident that the carrier had zero control over. 1st the route for this load was provided to them by the Texas Department of Transportation following their entire stupid rules of routinely sending oversize loads down roads that should never see anything bigger than a straight truck. 2nd this crossing had been redone with steeper approach and departure angles and nobody had notified anybody about the change in angles. Last one and if it’s true Union Pacific itself is going to be screaming in court. The escort company trucking complete and Texas highway patrol escorts had all called the emergency phone number listed and given the crossing number listed as blocked for a minimum 30 minutes prior to the accident occurring.

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5

I spent several years in the dimensional shipment industry. I would recommend that the Escort business be somehow more ‘professionalized’. There are Very low requirements for entry.

6

If UP was called - those calls will exist on UP recordings.

7

My comment would be, why doesn’t TxDOT monitor the results of these permits more closely via supervision and self correction. If this was done via TxDOT properly. Just inexcusable this keeps happening over and over again.