Comcast News reports the Vermonter derailed 10 miles from Montpelier due to a rock ledge breaking and faiiling on the tracks.
The simple solution would be to ban rocks but I’m sure another poster will be along soon with a more complicated idea. [;)]
We could have mandatory rock ledge registration and rock ledge background checks to see if any part of the ledge has a history of falling. Maybe we should just ban all rock ledges.
You mean like mandating PRC? (Positive Rock Control)
There you go assuming the rocks are guilty. Maybe they just wanted some attention.
Maybe we could get a gov’t agency to spend a bunch of money on studying what effect passing trains, over the past 100 years, have on the rocks and ledges in the area. That way they could justify some new hair-brained regulation, like “Rock Free Zones”.
Excellent !! Looks like no one was killed and maybe only one with serious injuries. Hope everyone recovers quickly.
The obvious answer is to ship those illegal rocks back to the moon where they came from. Derailing trains is work for honest, law-abiding earth rocks!
Nope. We need a RTWL. (Rock Terrorist Watch List) That way we can prevent these Terroristic rocks from being able to travel to other locations and continue this dangerous terroristic activity.
These home grown wacko terrorist rocks are dangerous!
You guys are really rocking now.
Here out West through Colorado there are slide warning fences. Rock Slide hits the fence, trips the signal system to show red and I belive a radio signal is broadcast as is done at a Hot Box Detector. Im sure a dispatcher in Omaha get a alarm.
Steve
For goodness sake - don’t give them any ideas. Next thing you know it’ll be trees.
How about, for Adirondack Scenic, PLC; Positive Leaf Control (available only in the Fall.)
Every tree near the right of way should be required to wear an trunk monitor. Then we could establish a Department of Arbor Regulation to alert the public when any tree trespasses.
I believe that the part of the former Central Vermont is “dark”
territory which is not signaled.
Where I am in Western Colorado, the North Fork Branch is “Dark Territory” but there are slide detectors that when activated will start a radio alarm. I am making an assumption due to the radio antenna I see on the track side equipment.
Steve
The area where the Vermonter derailed was opened by the Vermont Central in 1848. The tilted strata in the region is pretty stable, but does split on occasion, usually sliding vertically down the slope of the cut. It appears in this case the section that split tipped onto the track instead. The line has been affected by washouts a couple of times in the last 35 years, but this is the first time I can remember a problem with rocks on the rails. I-89 is cut through similar rock.
Must have been “OLD” rocks. When the joints go bad look out!!!
All rocks are old, in human terms and even dog years!
Steve (from Hotchkiss, Co):
My wife and I vacationed in Colorado this summer and spent the night in your area. How often does UP run coal trains or locals on the North Fork Branch? It seems the coal industry is shrinking on that branch.
BTW, Black Bridge Winery is outstanding. We also had a great meal at Hightower Cafe in Paonia.
I did chase a coal train form Paonia to Hotchkiss but really couldnt get in front of it to get a decent photo.
Ed
Ed-
The 2 mines run 6 to 8 trains a week. Some days there are no trains, other days one or two trains a day. The Railroad is putting money into upgrade on the line. The Railroad bridge over the Gunnison River is being replaced. And they are building a highway overpass over the RR to eliminate a grade crossing west of Hotchkiss. That project is basicly all highway work, no change to the track except removal of the crossing gates when finished. Also I see the UP has new ribbon rail laid out along portion of the track. So the UP must be planning for the mines to keep the railroad busy moving coal for a while.
Steve