How I spent my Sat afternoon; Derailment

[Greg]

I got a call to go work at about noon today and was told there was a derailment that we had to go straighten out. I grabbed my stuff, including my digi camera figuring I'd like to have pics of this.

It happened just west of Rifle, CO in Rulison. It was an west-bound train that had caused the derailment. 2 empty coal cars derailed, just a 1/4 mile before a switch. The train was going into the siding to meet an oncoming east-bounder, which was going to be on the main line. When the derailed cars got to the switch, one of the derailed axles stayed on the main line side until the cars got too far apart. The knuckle broke and the train split into 2. The 2 cars that derailed were jackknifed, blocking both lines of traffic & shutting down the RR in either direction. Here's the pics-

Looking towards the switch, derailed cars behind me-

And looking the other direction-

Clearing the 2 cars that derailed. We were fortunate enough that the cars derailed right in front of a guys house that owned a few nice pieces of heavy machinery. Both of these trackhoes belonged to him, I sure he was paid well for allowing us to use his equipment-

 

[Spork]

Looks like more fun than going to the walmart with the wife and kids...

 

[Herzog]

Whoa...

I want a set of trackhoes.

 

[Greg]

Moving the 2nd car-

Here's what cause the derailment. Luckily it wasn't track-caused, which would have been a problem on our end. The culprit was metal build up on the wheels-

I'm not sure if this is the axle that actually caused the derailment, but it looks like it may have been. See all the metal flake on the running surface of the wheel? That's not supposed to be there... it should be shiney & smooth.


We got really lucky, the track was shut down for about 8 hrs, then put back in service. The fact that the derailment happend thru a switch it almost always bad news, but the damage was minimal. In the end, we had to remove approx. 450 rail anchors then install new ones. I left my house before 1pm and was home by 7pm. Not bad for cleaning up a mess like this. Usually derailment cleanups are a 2-3 day event, and we usually work around the clock to get the track into running shape.

 

[I Lean]

Here's what cause the derailment. Luckily it wasn't track-caused, which would have been a problem on our end. The culprit was metal build up on the wheels-
I'm not sure if this is the axle that actually caused the derailment, but it looks like it may have been. See all the metal flake on the running surface of the wheel? That's not supposed to be there... it should be shiney & smooth.

I see a huge flat spot, too. Looks like that wheel was dragging for a while, which could have caused the metal buildup too. Blame the car department at the departing terminal. (or the train crew, if they were the ones to perform the initial terminal air brake test)

 

[JoeT]

OK so why did you guys knock the cars over? Was that just a quick way to reopen the lines?

 

[Bart]

I was just glad to hear Carl wasn't driving.

 

[Meat_]

OK so why did you guys knock the cars over? Was that just a quick way to reopen the lines?

Looks like the trucks were broke loose.

 

[I Lean]

Looks like the trucks were broke loose.

The cars just sit on the trucks anyway....nothing holds them on besides gravity. They just have one center locating pin.

 

[Meat_]

The cars just sit on the trucks anyway....nothing holds them on besides gravity. They just have one center locating pin.

Ahh, maybe the pin or the pin hole was fubar? corse I guess you really couldn't run that wheel anyway.

 

[Amy]

That's amazing.

 

[Tacoma]

well, looks like all of us non-train people are learning an awful lot.

I did not know that the cars weren't rigidly attached to the trucks.

How does metal build up like that????

 

[mbryson]

Wow, that's cooler than spending it in my garage. I want a trackhoe..........

 

[Greg]

I see a huge flat spot, too. Looks like that wheel was dragging for a while, which could have caused the metal buildup too. Blame the car department at the departing terminal. (or the train crew, if they were the ones to perform the initial terminal air brake test)

That flat spot was pretty deep, pics don't do it any justice.

 

[Greg]

OK so why did you guys knock the cars over? Was that just a quick way to reopen the lines?

Pretty much. It's the easiest & quickest way to get the traffic flowing again. When we can't move traffic on the RR, we're loosing money. Plus, the cars were so messed up it wasn't like they were going to run down the track normally. Push them off & worry about it later!

 

[Greg]

Ahh, maybe the pin or the pin hole was fubar? corse I guess you really couldn't run that wheel anyway.

Most of the running parts were totally wasted. They'll probably rebuild the cars & put new trucks under them, but there's no way they could be reused as they were.

When we pulled up the guys from the car department were torching the knuckles apart, in order to seperate the cars from each other. As they finished up the cuts you could hear the tension release and the cars settled... you could see how nervous the guy was who was running the torch. I wouldn't want to be in his position.

 

[Greg]

well, looks like all of us non-train people are learning an awful lot.

I did not know that the cars weren't rigidly attached to the trucks.

How does metal build up like that????

Carl mentioned the flat spot on the wheel... for one reason or another that wheel probably wasn't rolling and started to build up metal.

 

[Tacoma]

yeah, I suppose that would do it. looks like it was on both sides of the flat spot though???

Trains fascinate me. Some very patient worker tried to explain how they monitor brake temps when were stuck trying to get to Stansbury Island once.The wind and noise made it kind of hard to understand LOL

 

[Meat_]

... you could see how nervous the guy was who was running the torch. I wouldn't want to be in his position.

Was he using one of those long assed scrapping torch heads?

 

[Clutch]

Greg, please take your video camera next time!! That was really cool too see what you guys did to clear the line. Glad to see your finallly earning your keep...