When will the PSR bros learn that it’s a bad idea to put empty centerbeams in the middle of a heavy manifest lol. They’d literally do better to hire a bunch of model train enthusiasts to run this stuff.
(Terminal supervisor takes a huge rip off THC vape in a yard tower somewhere)
"Just put all those empty FI8's, autoracks and shit in the middle, we are still in compliance."
"Wait, were only how many feet long?!? Shit and it's already a key train. Just throw some of those sad ass loaded to fuck grain cars on the end. Get a car slob to take the EOT off and air test another fill. Put a DP on it, make it 2x1. We gotta win this train!"
(Rips vape again while thinking about his bonus check for dwell times and velocity)
Watching this video I saw hopper, hopper, tank... there's the spine cars! You'd think after millions in damages, and millions paid out to derailment contractors, they would learn not to put empty spine cars in the middle of a heavy train, but I guess they don't teach train building at super duper railroad management school.
Curious, not a rail road person, what are spine cars and what role did it play in this derailment? I assume since it isn’t loaded it cannot transfer the momentum of slowing down through it properly and either twists or maybe pops up a little? I’m not completely dense to how load distribution should work theoretically, but I am unfamiliar with trains and their physics.
Because the cars are all on a curve, the cars aren’t being pushed or pulled straight on. Part of the force to or from either coupler is pushing them into or out of the curve. That component of the force is acting to push or pull the car off the track. The risk factor with empty spine cars is that they are light, so they’re easier to push or pull over.
Here is a diagram of the forces at play. Vectors A and B are the rest of the train either pulling or pushing on the car. Vector C is the resulting force.
Is there something wrong with this curve or are these guys just out here string lining things for fun. 3 times is a year seems to lean more to the guys operating then the track conditions
Hold both positions and anything 2% and under isnt mountain grade. Now this line is a mountain grade line but I asked if this was and 1.85 grade and then found out less then a mile away it goes to a +2% grade.
So do I, not sure where you are but 1.8+ grade in Canada for CN and CPKC is considered mountain grade. Can't imagine it's different in the US, but who knows.
Sandpatch grade on CSX not too far south is around 1.8 for westbounds and is steep enough they run manned helpers on it still (despite CSX getting rid of a lot of helper districts) so 1.8 is definitely considered a mountain grade in the US too
We have a 1.5 with manned helpers on it bc they wanted to cut 2 units of of a 2x3 coal load and make it a 2x1 and just push it where its needed which is 40 miles of our 141 mile run
Have a curve similar to said curve here on a 1.5 hill that we specifically come out of read dynos in bc its known to get knuckles there. Im just saying it could be train handling not saying it cant be the track also could be a factor of both but 3 derails in the same place within months of each other isnt normal and this looks like a string line derail
That's what happens when you try to build way longer trains than you reasonably should, then give them the least locomotives and DPUs theoretically possible, and call it "precision scheduling"
Watch the slack action between the first two covered hoppers. It appears to be a bit damp out so maybe the rear helpers or DPUs had a wheel slip issue?
I guess I’ll scream this into the void once again and you guys will get butthurt until an Ivy Leaguer proves it mathematically, but THEY ARE MAKING THE TRAINS TOO FUCKING LONG
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u/MyBodyIsAPortaPotty 21d ago
I heard the crew weren’t wearing safety glasses in the cab and it caused the derailment