Train derailments

[Starr DiGiacomo]

Spain Experiences its Worst Train Accident in 40 Years An increase in train derailments was one of the first symptoms of the approach of Planet X to become noticeable, being expressed even before Planet X entered the inner solar system in 2003. Planet X was described as affecting the Earth from afar, like tugging on the edge of a spider web where the effects are felt elsewhere on the web; in this way there has been an increase in earthquakes and unpredictable weather going back years, even before Planet X entered the solar system, due to the increased swirling of the Earth’s core. It is therefore logical that an increase in train derailments would accompany any increase in seismic activity – train tracks need to be straight and even the slightest shift to the side of a section of track would cause a train to derail. The area most affected by train derailments is the stretch zone.  Stretch zone quakes are silent, and people are generally unaware anything is happening, although signs such as booms and trumpet sounds can occur. This zone stretches from Western Europe across the Eurasian Plate, and also includes the South-East United States, the St. Lawrence Seaway, the Red Sea and the African Rift. In other parts of the world, shifting ground is more associated with earthquakes that people are aware of, such as the Pacific which is compressing, so authorities inspect railway tracks after any seismic activity, reducing the likelihood of accidents. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Some Examples (click on pictures for link):

[Starr DiGiacomo]

Cleanup Continues of Derailed Coal Train

(Ashdown, AR) -- More details are emerging this morning about a multi-car train derailment in Arkansas.

It happened Tuesday afternoon along Highway 71 in Ashdown in Little River County, Arkansas. 

Little River County first responder Tim Stinnett was traveling on U.S.Highway 71 when he witnessed cars from a Kansas City Southern train derail.
"I saw coal cars flying and a big cloud of black coal smoke," Stinnett recalls.

Around 4:00 Tuesday afternoon, 33 cars loaded with tons of coal left the tracks just south of Ashdown.  It was a close call for a motorist approaching the rail road crossing at Little River County Road 23.

"There was a lady in a car at the crossing and she saw the train beginning to shake and she backed away in a hurry and fortunately she got away from it," says Don Hale, with Little River Emergency Management office.

One man received minor injuries after being hit in the face with flying coal. "And the guy blue pickup was black and he was covered in coal dust," Hale says.

Wednesday, workers were busy trying to clean the mess left behind and get rail traffic back and running through Little River County.  Kansas City Southern officials will not say what caused the derailment, but Little River authorities are just glad this train was only crying coal.

"It was something like you see off the movie I have never witness one before and I really don't want to witness another," Stinnett says.

Last year, Kansas City Southern had another train derail less than five miles from this site. No one was injured in that incident.

http://ozarksfirst.com/fulltext?nxd_id=483687

[Starr DiGiacomo]

Train derails over bridge in Shelby County, Indiana, denatured alcohol spilled into the river.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1DVGKcDSGOU

[Starr DiGiacomo]

Update: Train line reopens at site of two-train collision this afternoon in DeWitt

Published: Wednesday, July 06, 2011, 5:12 PM     Updated: Wednesday, July 06, 2011, 7:38 PM

 

View full sizeProvided photoScene of a train derailment in the Town of DeWitt today. More updates to follow.  

Update: One track of the train line from Albany to Buffalo reopened this afternoon following a two-train collision in DeWitt, a CSX train company spokesman said.

The track where the collision occurred is expected to reopen Thursday morning.

The heavily-traveled route carries Amtrak passenger trains as well as freight. -- 5 p.m.

DeWitt, NY -- Two CSX train workers jumped out of a moving locomotive moments before it plowed into the rear of another train in DeWitt, a witness said.

The two CSX workers were battered and bruised, but did not appear to suffer serious injuries, the witness said. A CSX spokesman confirmed two were taken to area hospitals.

One train apparently crashed into the rear of another train, causing eight to 10 train cars to derail, witnesses said. A train car carrying two modular containers ended up partially on top of the locomotive, sticking up into the air. The smell of diesel fuel wafted in the breeze.

The impact shook businesses along Court Street Road. Several witnesses said it felt like an earthquake.

Herb Goulet was working behind the counter at Barnes & Cone Architectural Masonry when the trains crashed.

Workers at the industrial facility are used to loud noises, but this was something else all together, Goulet said.

A dispatcher saw the crash on a security camera and yelled, "Get out! A train's coming off the tracks," Goulet said.

He evacuated with six custormers and all 35 Barnes & Cone workers took a roll call across the street. None of them were missing.

Goulet went to the tracks behind the business and saw two men -- the CSX employees -- running down the track.

Goulet and other employees offered the men aid until an ambulance arrived, he said. The men were calling CSX on cell phones to tell train dispatchers to close the tracks.

 

[Starr DiGiacomo]

Train derails in Shelby County

Posted: Jul 06, 2011  

 

 

 

Photo by John Walker

 

Photo by John Walker

 

Photo by John Walker

SHELBY COUNTY - State police and Shelby County emergency personnel are investigating a train derailment just west of Morristown.

It happened late Wednesday afternoon on tracks which are situated parallel to US 52.

Bob Sullivan, a CSX Railroad spokesman, said the train was traveling from Cincinnati to Indianapolis.  The train had two locomotives and 94 freight cars.

Preliminary reports say that 9 cars have derailed, and 5 of them are in the Big Blue River, according to Sullivan.  It appears the train bridge over the river has collapsed.

There are no injury reports.  Sullivan said CSX has crews en route to the scene to recover the train and to work with local officials to assess any environmental impact.

The train's engineer told Eyewitness News that, as he approached the bridge, he noticed one of the rails on the bridge was bent.  He said he applied brakes, and most of the locomotive made it over the bridge without derailment.  However, some of the wheels of the locomotive left the track.

 

Earlier story:

SHELBY COUNTY - Crews are at the scene of a train derailment near Morristown. Reports indicate several train cars are derailed, and a bridge was damaged. No injuries have been reported.

The track is a CSX line and Morristown Police Department and Indiana State Police are on the scene.

Eyewitness News has a crew headed to the scene. Pictures will be added to this story as soon as they are available.

http://www.wthr.com/story/15037103/train-derails-in-shelby-county

[Starr DiGiacomo]

• Posted July 5, 2011 at 7:20 p.m., updated July 5, 2011 at 8:23 p.m.

UPDATE: A total of 18 CSX train cars derailed about five miles south of Henderson off of Anthoston-Frog Island Road Tuesday afternoon, spilling loads of grain, sources said.

CSX spokesman Bob Sullivan said the train had three locomotives and 81 freight cars. He said it was traveling from Effingham, Ill., to Waycross, Ga., when the derailment occurred around 3:51 p.m.

Robbie Williams, who farms that land for his cousin, Steve Reed, said he and fellow farmer Scott Keach flew up in an airplane above the derailment once they heard about the spill.

“We wanted to see how bad a mess we had,” Williams said.

The derailment is about a half-mile into farm land north of Anthoston-Frog Island Road.

CSX is handling the clean-up of the spill, the cause of which is under investigation.

David Denton, Robards Fire Chief, was out at the scene to make sure there were no hazardous materials on board the train.

He said the derailment is out in a rural area, and no homes or roads are affected by the spill.

“CSX was on the scene when I got there,” he said. “There will be a lot more of them tonight.”

PREVIOUS:

An estimated 22 CSX train cars derailed about five miles south of Henderson off of Anthoston-Frog Island Road Tuesday afternoon, spilling loads of soybeans, an eyewitness said.

Robbie Williams, who farms that land for his cousin, Steve Reed, said he and fellow farmer Scott Keach flew up in an airplane above the derailment once they heard about the spill.

“We wanted to see how bad a mess we had,” Williams said.

The derailment is about a half-mile into farm land north of Anthoston-Frog Island Road.

Henderson County Dispatch said CSX is handling the clean-up of the spill, which was reported around 3:51 p.m.

David Denton, Robards Fire Chief, was out at the scene to make sure there were no hazardous materials on board the train.

He said roughly 17-20 cars derailed, and they all had soybeans on them. He said the derailment is out in a rural area, and no homes or roads are affected by the spill.

“CSX was on the scene when I got there,” he said. “There will be a lot more of them tonight.”

CSX was not available for comment after hours.

No other information was immediately available.

 

[Starr DiGiacomo]

Amherst demands answers: Second derailment has officials alarmed

Friday, July 1, 2011

Photo courtesy of Michael Krasnik

Seven cars carrying lumber and crushed granite veered off the tracks near the Station Road crossing in Amherst just after 3 p.m Saturday. It was the second derailment in that area in a month.

 

Select Board Chairwoman Stephanie O’Keeffe said she is alarmed by the pair of derailments that have occurred recently near the Station Road crossing and questioned why the railroad should be allowed to resume running while investigations are under way.

"Why should we trust them that this isn't going to happen again?" she asked Town Manager John Musante at the board's meeting Monday.

After the second train derailment in a month took place in the same part of South Amherst on Saturday, Musante called for the general manager of the New England Central Railroad to come to town to explain. Steven Coomes, who is based in St. Albans, Vt., met with him and Amherst's public safety and public works officials here Monday. While investigators had not yet pinpointed a cause, Coomes told the Bulletin he is convinced the accidents are unrelated.

"We feel very confident that these are separate incidents," he said.

Crews have been working on the tracks where the derailments took place, and freight and passenger trains were expected to return to near-normal by the end of this week, Musante said.

Saturday's derailment, which occurred near the Station Road Crossing, and the one on May 31 took place only 2,200 feet from each other. Musante said the close proximity of the accidents "begs the question" about the condition of the track. But he said a "fairly intensive investigation" is being conducted by the railroad and the Federal Railroad Administration.

When the track reopens, the trains will travel over it at only 10 miles per hour instead of the usual 20 to make sure it is working properly, Musante said.

O'Keeffe speculated that perhaps the tracks are being allowed to deteriorate because there are plans to upgrade the tracks on the west side of the Connecticut River for passenger train service. Musante said that freight trains will continue to use the tracks that pass through Amherst even if the Amtrak stop moves to Northampton.

Passengers on Amtrak's Vermonter train were bused from Springfield to St. Albans this week because of the latest derailment. Spokesman Cliff Cole said passenger service through Amherst is expected to resume on Friday.

Saturday's incident took place in an area visible from the Norwottuck Rail Trail and close to wetlands which have been expanding in recent years because of beaver activity there. Guilford Mooring, the superintendent of public works, said that this activity, combined with above-normal rainfall recently, could have played a role in destabilizing the railbed.

The area is also close to an underground water source that feeds into wells that supply some of Amherst's drinking water. Although neither derailment resulted in the spill of hazardous substances, some neighbors expressed concern over the potential danger.

Michael Krasnik of Tanglewood Drive said he walked on the tracks after Saturday's derailment and noticed that many of the ties are rotting. Some of the train cars that didn't derail appeared to be carrying liquid carbon dioxide, he said.

"The town has to take a more proactive role," he said. "It's not the town's responsibility but considering that it's so close to the water supply, the town should take some measures instead of waiting for the railroad to fix it."

Musante said he told Coomes that this section of track is "particularly sensitive." He said of Krasnik's comments, "We share that concern. That's why we convened the meeting."

Saturday's derailment occurred farther away from the underground water supply than the one May 31, said Mooring.

If a train carrying hazardous chemicals derailed there and they spilled into the ground, there are steps that officials could take to minimize the damage and protect public health, he said. A chemical spill near a surface water supply such as the Atkins Reservoir would be more dangerous, Mooring said.

Musante said that Coomes was "very responsive" to the town's concerns at Monday's meeting.

"It was helpful to hear about the series of steps they're taking to repair the track and test the condition of the remaining railbed to make sure it doesn't happen again," he said.

 

[Starr DiGiacomo]

Grass derails Bicol Express ‘soft run’ sked

By Jaemie Quinto, Juan Escandor Jr.
990 AM, Southern Luzon

3:07 am | Friday, July 1st, 2011

 0 share9  8

Naga City, Philippines—A six-hour delay marred the much-touted “soft run” of the Bicol Express train as it encountered a stretch of soft, potentially dangerous ground on its way here.

And, according to one account, the revived railway service also ran into another unexpected hazard: Grass.

The Philippine National Railway (PNR) maintained that despite this “minor delay,” Train No. 611 arrived safely at 10:24 a.m. Thursday with 53 passengers and crew from the Tutuban station in Manila.

Five hours earlier, the train was forced to make a “safety stop” with less than 40 kilometers to go, after “portions of uneven tracks” were discovered in the Malaguico area between Lupeviejo and Sipocot towns in Camarines Sur province, the PNR said.

The uneven tracks were caused by “underground water seepage” that eroded the soil following days of heavy rain brought by Tropical Storm “Falcon” last week, the state-run company explained in a statement.

“In the interest of public safety on its maiden voyage, the PNR crew decided to halt its travel to avoid possible derailment of the train,” the company said.

Engineers have been testing the route since last year, the company said, but “unfortunately, due to water seepage in that area, it caused a delayed erosion (Wednesday) night.”

After undergoing repairs, the affected tracks were declared safe at around 9 a.m.

According to the PNR, the Bicol Express can complete the Manila-Naga trip (or vice-versa) in just under 10 hours—or about the same time as a bus ride.

But the train that left Manila at 6:15 p.m. on Wednesday made it to Naga the next day after 16 hours.

On and off

The Bicol Express carries a whiff of nostalgia for many people with its on-again, off-again operations since 1938. Plagued by lack of funds for repairs and new coaches, it has gone idle in the last five years after Supertyphoon “Reming” ravaged the southern Luzon region in 2006.

“(This) long hiatus definitely took its toll on the conditions of the rail tracks,” said PNR General Manager Junio Ragragio.

In an interview with Radyo Inquirer, PNR spokesperson Jera Sison said the train to Naga also had to make brief stops to have its filters cleared of blades of grass that got snagged along the way.

In some areas, it was as though the train served as a “lawn mower” as it ran past tall, dense patches of grass on both sides of the track, Sison said.

Still under repair

Aside from the problems with the railway, only one of the two trains that were supposed to start commercial runs on Wednesday made it in time for the soft launch, according to another PNR official.

Only the Manila-to-Naga train was ready that day because the other train that should go the opposite direction at 6:30 p.m. was still undergoing repairs on its window grills, said Constancio Toledano, manager of the southern rail line’s Area 3.

Toledano said the resumed Bicol Express service would offer introductory fares of P440 per passenger for reclining-seat coaches, P760 for four-passenger cabin coaches and P1,120 for single-passenger cabin coach.

The train includes a dining car, cabin coaches with cushioned beds for single or multiple passengers, and a coach with seats similar to that of buses. The air-conditioned coaches also have separate toilets for males and females.

Between the Tutuban and Naga stations, there are also stops in Blumentritt, España, Pasay City and Alabang in Metro Manila; Lucena City and Hundagwa in Quezon province; and Ragay and Sipocot in Camarines Sur province.

Toledano, who started working at the PNR in 1976, recalled that the name Bicol Express first became popular in the 1970s and ‘80s.

It then referred to PNR’s economy class train servicing the Legazpi City-Manila route via Naga City, he said.

The different trips even came with their own names: The Kalayaan Express referred to the train that left Naga at 6 p.m., while the Peñafrancia Express was the train that left at 7:30 p.m.

The 3:30 p.m. trip from Legazpi City was called the Mayon Limited, he added.

Lost ‘Prestige’

There was also the the Bicol Night Express that left Legazpi City at 9 p.m., and also the Prestige Train that only consisted of four coaches and could make it to Naga City from Tutuban in just six hours.

Toledano said the Prestige was considered the fastest PNR train at the time but it was decommissioned in 1984 for lack of maintenance.

The official said the PNR, despite the revival of the Bicol Express, had yet to contend with problems posed by illegal settlers virtually choking the railway lines.

He said the company was ready to extend financial help to residents willing to relocate outside PNR property, but that it would still need the help of local governments on the matter.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/20171/grass-derails-bicol-express-%E2%...

[Starr DiGiacomo]

Train carrying automobiles derails in Bullitt County; no one injured

8:17 PM, Jun. 30, 2011  |   9 Comments

An official surveys the wreckage following a train derailment in Brooks, Ky. (By Sam Upshaw Jr., The  

Bullitt officials talks about train derailment: Bullitt County officials talk about the train carrying automobiles that derailed in the same location as a train carrying chemicals did several years ago.

Purchase Image Zoom

A train carrying vehicles from the Ford plant in Louisville derails in Bullitt County. (By Scott Utterback The Courier-Journal) June 30, 2011 / cj

Zoom

Train derailment in Bullitt County near Ky. 1020. (By Tony Cundiff, Special to The Courier-Journal)

 Tom Price was standing near his garage on Huber Station Road Thursday afternoon when he saw cars from a train hauling new automobiles tumble off the tracks that run past his home.

 “The brakes all came on the train and the only thing you could see was the white” plume of dust, Price said. 

 Seventeen cars of the 48-car CSX train derailed shortly after 3 p.m. Thursday afternoon near Brooks in Bullitt County — at roughly the same location as a fiery train derailment in 2007. 

 The train was traveling south from the Osborn rail yard at Grade Lane and Outer Loop bound for Tampa, Fla., said Bryan Glover, CSX spokesman for Kentucky. 

 No one was injured in the derailment. Thursday evening the train remained twisted over the tracks and spilling into the yards of nearby homes along Ky. 1020 (Coral Ridge Road) and Huber Station Road. A few new automobiles that had been in train carriers were scattered about, a witness said.

The cause of the derailment is being investigated, Glover said. He wouldn’t speculate about how long the investigation might take but estimated that clearing the train from the area would take between 16 and 24 hours.

The National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the accident, said Zoneton Fire Chief Rob Orkies, but the Bullitt County Sheriff’s Office believes it might have found a possible cause to the derailment.

Late Thursday, the sheriff’s office announced that it was looking for a tractor trailer that may have damaged the track minutes before the incident.

Witnesses reported seeing a dark green tractor trailer attempting to turn around on Coral Ridge Road and striking the tracks as it was backing up, said Chief Deputy Sheriff John Cottrell.

The truck left the area and about five minutes later the train derailed near the same point where the truck struck the tracks, Cottrell said.

Ky. 1020 was shut down Thursday night in a half mile stretch between East and West Blue Lick roads. In addition, Huber Station Road was closed to anyone who didn’t live on it.

Zoneton Fire, Shepherdsville Police and the Bullitt County Sheriff’s Office responded to the incident.

 

[Starr DiGiacomo]

Norfolk Southern Train Derails in Monroe County

Submitted by Bernard O'Donnell

Wednesday, June 29th, 6:26 pm

 

A Norfolk Southern Railroad freight train derailed in Monroe County north of Juliette on Wednesday morning.

The spokesman for Monroe County emergency services, Shane Cook, said one of the trains 48 cars was carrying the hazardous chemical, chlorobutane.

Sheriff John Cary Bittick said no chemicals were spilled and no one was hurt.

Even though they jumped track, all 18 derailed cars stood upright.

Norfolk Southern's director of public relations, Susan Terpay, said 18 cars of the 48-car train derailed at 8:30 a.m.

She said "no hazardous materials are involved in the derailment."

Crews are working around the clock to get the cars back on the rail, and repair the track.

A news release says between 25-30 trains use the track everyday, and it's expected to re-open Thursday.

The cause of the derailment in under investigation.

http://forsythmonroe.13wmaz.com/news/news/norfolk-southern-train-de...

[Starr DiGiacomo]

Railway closed after freight train derails

Posted Thu Jun 30, 2011 12:32pm AEST

• Map: Emerald 4720

Queensland Rail says the main western railway could be closed west of Emerald until Saturday after a train derailment early yesterday.

A QR National freight train struck a bridge at Blackboy Creek, between Emerald and Alpha.

Queensland Rail says crews are still carrying out repairs.

The Spirit of the Outback passenger train stopped at Emerald yesterday, and passengers are being transferred by bus from Longreach today.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/06/30/3257574.htm?section=b...