http://www.semissourian.com/story/1972577.html
http://www.cnn.com/2013/05/25/us/missouri-train-collision/index.html?hpt=hp_t2
Apparently happened at an at-grade crossing of BNSF and UP - several news report say that one train “T-boned” the other. It also happened right under an overpass of County Highway M, which then collapsed - near Chaffee, Missouri, at these Lat./ Long. coordinates:
N 37 12’ 17" W 89 38’ 24"
- Paul North.
Here’s what the location looks like:
I see someone put a Google Earth pic up, thanks, Big thanks for the coordinates. I put in Chaffee, MO and followed to the coordinates you posted.
This is an example of why when something like an accident or derailment happens I usually find out on a Mainstream website (nbcnews.com this time) and then come here. Often someone here is more informed. Then I can get a later detailed story from Trains News Wire. Then if it’s really significant (like the Chatsworth wreck) in a future Trains issue.
There is a great amount of quality people with very wide ranging knowledge here. IMO one of the best forums anywhere on the net.
I haven’t heard of any fatalities thank god. Hopefully it turns out that just a bunch of stuff got banged up and no humans were sacrificed.
Randy
MSNBC reported 2 train crew, several motorists injured, no fatalities.
What’s really different about the coverage here versus the, “Mainstream,” is the intelligence and relevance of the commentary. Over there, starting with the first posted comment, all the partizani, anti-terrorists, conspiracy theorists and just plain ignorant came out to play. I had to go half way down the page (and past two, “How can a train T-bone a train?” comments) before somebody admitted that they’d looked at a map and found the location in the photo above. I already had it in another window…
Chuck
Very evident that one train had the signal for the crossing and one did not - the big question becomes - which one?? Which will be answered by dispatcher(s) and/or data that the crossing itself captures. Then the question becomes Why?
All:
I find it a bit strange, but when an airlines goes down, a former pilot will give a detailed account of the cidrcumstances, but when a train derails the news media is stupid.
Several years ago, a Twin Cities TV station was broadcasting just outside the new Minnesota Twins baseball park in Minneapolis. The young thing doing the report called the BNSF’s Minneapolis to Willmar main line, a “spur line”!
Most reporters or ignorant with a capital “I”.
Ed Burns
NP-BN-BNSF Retiree from Minneapolis
Part of the overpass came down, and a few automobiles went down with it. Luckily no one was seriously injured. Seven people went to the hospital in nearby Cape Girardeau but all were released. Two were train crewmen, conductors according to the TV folks. It’s quite a mess, but rail traffic has been going past my house all day so they must have cleared it up. (I live on the River Line at MP 11 and Chaffee is the next division point south)
A spokesman for the NTSB was interviewed on TV and said they were going to check the work records of all crewmen for the previous 72 hours. He’s thinking crew fatigue perhaps?
I will bet that is what he is thinking. If only they had inward facing cameras, they could be certain.
If you click on the image provided by Southwest Chief, it will take you to the local news site which has a collection of photos of the wreck.
Another case for PTC?
Maybe - but, do either of the routes handle passengers and/or HAZMAT’s? If not, then the lines would not be subject to PTC.
This is an important line for UP–although it doesn’t handle the Amtrak trains (they go on the ex-MP), it’s probably the busiest UP freight route from Missouri to Texas. And, in terms of rail freight, the word “Texas” is practically a synonym for “hazmat”.
After reading the comments posted at the bottom of the CNN linked page, i find that I really appreciate the intelligence level of the folks on this forum. Wow.
PDN and I will be looking to see if the bridge bents/ support piling had crash rails or not. Crash rails are big concrete collars poured around the bridge supports for additional protection. Big controversy between the AREMA and the AASHTO/ASCE highway bubbas over this recently.
The ex-Frisco River Sub is no slouch for traffic in this area as well. Plenty of chemical coast traffic on both.
EDIT: It would appear from the CNN video that this bridge is relatively new and had NO crash/rail barricades at the site. The pig feathers will certainly fly on this one.
Standard procedure in every NTSB investigation for many years. Always a part of the report at the end.
Pull back from those coords on Google Earth and you will see a train of auto racks approaching the diamond from the west. Eerie! (Nobody on the other track, though.)
PTC-eligible or not, pretty clearly a case of the current signaling/traffic control system failure. If not, then operator failure. Can’t blame this one on an auto, a truck, or the media.