I have seen portable derails fail at a good rate of speed, but in 22 years never saw a fixed derail fail. Anything is possible.

Editorial in today's Utica Observer Dispatch:

"If it is determined that a youth playing atop a 265,000-pound rail car was somehow able to send it careening through the city during rush hour, then officials need to take immediate steps to tighten safety procedures to make sure something like this can never happen again."

Read the entire editorial here:

http://www.uticaod.com/article/20150724 ... /150729713

he had to have hit some brake valves releasing the brakes. I tend to believe the car was not properly secured.

How long do you think a freight car keeps air in it's system? Most will bleed off within eight hours or so from the time they are cut away with the angle cock open. I don't think anything has been written about how long the car had been sitting in the yard? With current rules for securing a car from the ground with a brake stick, you're not going to get the hand brake wound down as tight as if the person setting it got up on the brake platform. So, it probably wasn't that hard for a kid to trip a release lever. Unless the yard's rules required putting a track skate or chain against the downhill side of a wheel, or not leaving one car sit alone, it was probably secured in the siding and cut away from.

I am just now learning of this rule for not applying a handbrake while on a car. When did this start being adopted? It appears to me to be sheer lunacy, as I find it hard to believe that you can get a good tight handbrake application from yanking on a stick.

Rick, it isn't really a rule, yet. Some railroads have adopted a brake stick rule for one reason- prevent injuries related to climbing on and off equipment. I agree, I have used a stick and I don't think you can get the brake on as tight.

Dinwitty,
I have seen cars leak down in an amazingly short time. When I am switching, I always set a brake or two even if the cars won't be there but a short time.

Adam

The bleed down time is entirely dependant on the condition of the brake system on the car, especially the brake valve. I have seen cars release within a couple of minutes of being cut off and I have seen them last for days, at least a week or so.....they average a few hours.
That said, if the car has a handbrake with a easy release handle, a kid could easily release it....again they don't always work, depending on exact age and condition.
The brake stick is pretty much standard on CSX, as the management felt they would save money.....or rather it would be "safer".... this is a product of the new "safety" culture on quite a few railroads where they have come to believe that making new rules makes the job safer, rather than training employees to do that "dangerous" job correctly to keep from breaking equipment or hurting people......I call it safe image vs safe practice.
The point being, I was taught, when leaving a car secured by itself.....especially on a grade, it should be chocked somehow.....perhaps with a stick under a couple wheels, etc....as usual it depends on the area, conditions ,etc. The best chock being a skate...if one is available......It might also be noted that it is common to have to "test" the handbrake when leaving cars, as well as doing multiple stretches of couplings......which while well intentioned, are too often useless time wasters. The new rule takes away experience and common sense...so the company can brow beat employees with the rulebook at will.

Here's a short video showing the scene as of early this morning:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03_IX1AURv8

Thanks for posting that, although it looks like not much has been done so far; would have thought the hopper would have been removed by now.

Here are additional pics from tonight:

And another:

Closer views of the damage to 6721 & its tender plus a view from the passenger walkway:

https://youtu.be/b2k7EBYzrvM

Insurance CO's may say do not disturb for a while so assessment can be done and investigation.

That was done on the Hesston train shed fire with the Shay inside, took out several passenger cars and equipment. The Shay has been fully restored. Give it some time, all the pieces will probably get unravelled, the financialbilities worked out, perhaps the engine will get worked on. That would be a nifty engine if operationally restored.

So what happened to the bumper? Is it under the hopper somewhere, or did it get pancaked between the hopper and the engine's pilot beam?

-Philip Marshall

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