| One dead in Calif. train derailment |
|---|
| SACRAMENTO, Calif. – A train maintaining railroad tracks derailed in the mountains east of Sacramento on Thursday, killing one person, injuring several others and sparking a fire in the heavily forested area. The Associated Press reported that at least one person was believed to be trapped in the wreckage of the train, which was loaded with thousands of gallons of diesel and hydraulic fuel. Thick, black smoke could be seen billowing from the scene. Aerial television footage also showed train cars beside the tracks in a zigzag pattern. The Union Pacific maintenance train was working on the tracks about 50 miles east of the state capital when it derailed shortly before noon. A brush fire that broke out shortly after the derailment was contained, but the fuel was continuing to burn, said Tina Rose, spokeswoman for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Authorities confirmed one person was dead and six to eight people were injured, sheriff’s Lt. George Malim said. Malim said another person was missing and presumed trapped in the wreckage, but Union Pacific spokesman Mark Davis said two people were missing. Davis said four crew members, one other Union Pacific employee and up to four contract workers had been aboard the maintenance train. The cause of the crash was under investigation, he said. (The preceding Associated Press story appeared November 9, 2006.) |
Very heartbreaking to read. My prayers and thoughts to the family, friends, and coworker of the crewmember that perished.
So sadly ironic that something like this would happen to a track maintenance train.
Wait. Why did it happen? Does anybody have any idea? I read somewhere that the train was descending the grade, so possibly the brakes were not applying properly and too much speed and momentum was accumulated? Anybody have any hypotheses?
We (U.P. Engineering Dept.) were told that the train got away from them. Of course, this was without any investigation so take it for what it’s worth. I do know that all rail grinders on the system went dormant last night for a safety standdown.
Is there any word on the missing crewman? Its 8:20 pm Eastern.
So it was a Rail Grinder…not a train per se?
Last I heard there were two fatalities. I am guessing that the missing crewman is the second fatality.
Yes, he has been found, unfortunately deceased.
A railfan reported hearing the Blue Canyon detector clear a train as 52 axles and speed 40 mph. This in an area where freights are allowed just 25 mph and Amtrak 30 mph. A local newspaper interviewing one of the Sheriff’s Deputies said that the dazed survivor’s told him that they tried to stop the train with the hand brakes, but failed.
Well, it has locomotives and cars. Sounds like train to me. It’s not exactly a maintenance vehicle, its sort of in between.
Here is an article on the latest:
http://www.comcast.net/news/index.jsp?cat=GENERAL&fn=/2006/11/11/518658.html&cvqh=itn_derail
Another view of the wreck can be found at
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,228460,00.html
No matter how you look at it, it’s sad.
For NTSB investigation of a Runaway the following investigion report is informative (and long)
What I found interesting was that the runaway was caused by brake fade and not loss of air pressure (usual cause for runaways). The report did comment about one similarity between the CSXT runaway and the 1989 SP runaway on the Palmdale cutoff - i.e. that the engineer was not aware of the inoperability of the dynamic brakes in the trailing units.
What is a bit distressing is that the Milwaukee had experienced a very similar accident early in their electric operation (engineer was not able to get regenerative braking working) and they changed operating rules to prevent repeats (i.e. bring train speed under control with air before establishing regenerative braking).
The consit was the power unit, two crew cars(bunk), a five unit grinding dedicated consit and a utility car(non cupolaed caboose). Thou while short this is a train albeit dedicated to maintence. It is still a train none the less and not a piece of MOW equipment. Our prayers go out to not just these but the families who have lost loved one’s to the enterprise we fondly call Railroading. May they all be in heaven an hour before the devil knows they’re dead!
Very Sad… I saw video of it on the Fox News Channel while I was waiting to see the report of the Cheyenne Bulldozer Explosion. Both very sad incidents. Just a reminder to all of to be careful in what we do every day.
Very sad indeed and reminds me of a fatal incident we had in the UK a couple of years back. A road railer trailer ran away down a steep grade in the dark loaded with scrap rail and killed 6 of our track workers working below it. It was said it reached upto 60mph before coming to a halt.
Most of our track worker fatalitys have been when no trains are running. Kinda makes you think!
Im a track worker myself in the UK and my heart goes out to the familys of these two guys who were just earning a living. God rest their souls.
The rear car was a locomotive…see the photos in the other thread. Two of the grinding cars were tank cars, one for diesel and one for water. The train had been working the Nevada sub for about a month and a half, Weso to Sparks.
Jimmy B