It happened a few days ago on the UP Moffat subdivision outside Yarmony, Colorado. A coal train that they were testing the units on jumped into the river. Bad track I think. [ 01. July 2004, 06:27: Message edited by: r_i_straw ]
Yup, like they say - there's a prototype for everything! Isn't it amazing how much that loco looks like it's on an N scale layout?
Early Tuesday morning the CEYPS-27, an eastbound, loaded coal train, derailed at the east switch at Yarmony, Colorado. Involved in the derailment were the middle DPUs and approximately 10 cars. The two DPU units were facing nose to nose with UP 6373, a patch SP unit, followed by GM 72, The UP unit has it's trailing truck on the ground (under the cab), but the GM 72 is laying on its side with the back porch dipping into the Colorado River! The first eight cars behind the middle DPUs are "accordion style" with the 9th and 10th cars on the ground, but upright. GM 73 was on rear DPU set and untouched and not derailed. There are EMD representatives on site. Eagle County Hazmat crews are deploying booms below the Yarmony bridge to catch spilled fuel.
Russell, I first looked at that photo and thought, "My God, Russell has managed to Photoshop-insert some great stuff into this N scale layout shot!" Then, after looking and looking at it..... I realized it was **actually a real photo**. Just goes to show that the N scale realistic photography we see here on Trainboard, is really messing with my mind. (smile!)
Should see some of the other photos Tyler shot of the derailment. Uploaded a bunch to the Rio Grande discussion group Files section. Unfortunately, you need to be a list member to see them.
Not to be a UP basher: I do like UP for the most part. However,What are they doing wrong to have a partial melt down in the L.A., Ca. area, wrecking trains in San Antonio, TX and derailing trains in Colorado. They also had a wreck in Utah last week. I'm just wondering were the money for track maintainance is going.
More photos http://www.railpictures.net/images/d/derail_028.jpg.33612 http://www.railpictures.net/images/d/derail_027.jpg.56356 http://www.railpictures.net/images/d/derail_012.jpg.80377 http://www.railpictures.net/images/d/derail_015.jpg.96055
From what I understand, too many years of cutting down to be lean and mean has hurt couple of the big Class 1's: CSXT and UP. It might be more pronounced on the UP. The good economy is hurting UP. Too many trains and not enough track capacity, crews or locomotives to run them. If we remember a few years back the railroads were in a hurry to abandon under utilized lines, they allowed early retirements, and abolished jobs where they could to be lean and mean. But IMHO I think they might have gone to far. Right now they have a shortage of crews, the crews do have are overworked, which could lead to fatigue and accidents. I think this is what you see happening.
