Train Wreck

[jinman]

About three weeks ago there was a derailment just about 5 miles from Sunset, Tx on the BNSF track. A freight train with 96 cars had 39 of them derail and catch on fire. I haven't heard whether they think the fire caused one of the cars to come apart, or if the fire was a result of the derailment. At the time of the wreck, they didn't know for sure. Today was the first time I was by the wreck when I had my camera, so I took a few shots. There are still burned out cars spread around the tracks for about 1/2 mile. A state hwy runs right along the tracks, so you can't miss seeing sights that really get your attention. The first picture attached is a tank car that's crushed like a discarded aluminum drink can. It's amazing how much power must have been exerted to do that. Oh, BTW, there was only one injury in the train wreck. A 26 yr old man lost control of his car when he suddenly ran over debris because he was watching the train derail. The train was loaded with plywood, lumber, drywall, wine, and one tank car spilled it's load of hydrogen peroxide. The tracks have been repaired and trains are again passing through, but it may be several weeks before all the wreck is salvaged.

 

[jinman]

One more picture...

 

[Robert_in_NY]

I am sure there are a few TBN members that could find a use for some of that steel laying around over there. Maybe if they asked you nice you could pick up some pieces and mail it to them? Glad it was not too serious a accident.

We had a train derail about 10 miles from here. I don't remember the chemicals it was carrying but the company ended up buying one guys house and a lot of acres of vineyards that were contaminated by the wreck. Leveled everything and it is just a big field now. Of course it happened about 3000 feet from a nursing home so it had a lot of people worried around here.

 

[s1120]

Had a train derail next to my house durning the tornados we had this summer. Luckly they stayed on the tracks. Hate to see one that bad here.

 

[jinman]

It's funny, but most of the cars just toppled off the tracks and fell over on their sides. The one place there was lots of cars jammed together was the place where the fire was. They spilled out onto a field on the opposite side of the tracks from the highway and covered about a acre with smashed cars and burning freight. There are cars still there all burned out. They have pushed most of them up into a big pile. The fire must have been pretty hot because some of the boxcars have sides that just melted away as if they were made of plastic. Maybe they are aluminum; I didn't get close enough to see for sure.

 

[Hoosier_Daddy]

Wow, just think of all the tractor weights that are laying around.

 

[jinman]

Someone where I work suggested that the railroad was foolish for leaving the wheels right by the road where they could be stolen. I just laughed, because thieves would have to have something as big as an excavator just to lift them. I think they are pretty secure just laying there...but we can have fantasies about making wheel weights out of them. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[Buckcreek]

I think a set of axles and wheels only weigh about, 3000lbs. ive moved many of them when i worked for NS railroad. Worked in a round house . used for car repair, would bring them in and set them in place for the carmen to put the trucks together. the cat for truck i ran could move two at a time with fork extensions. but it would get a little light on the front end. also have had the pleasure of workin train wrecks. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[ScottAR]

I've snagged some pics from another site of train wrecks in the northeast. Mostly the recovery efforts. This is in PA. Winters rigging was the contractor. These are Cat 583s. A D8 with a sideboom. These are actually modifed with 594 winches ( a D9 sideboom) and reinforced booms. They can lift 100 short tons with the boom vertical.

 

[jinman]

Well, I thought they were more like 5000#, but that was really a guess. I still don't think some "bubba" driving a pickup with a bale spear on the back is gonna take off with a set of wheels. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif ...but I'd pay admission just to watch him try. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif