Montana derailment

badlandnp Sep 26, 2021

  1. badlandnp

    badlandnp TrainBoard Member

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    Barstow Rick mentioned this, sooo being up here in the Big Sky, I had to look it up. Sure enough, up in Joplin on the Hi-Line (ex GN main) there was a derailment. Yes, injuries and deaths. Prayers for the families of the injured and deceased. Sad. Here's a few links;

    https://www.kwch.com/2021/09/26/amtrak-cross-country-train-derails-near-town-montana/

    https://www.khq.com/news/montana-em...cle_65cc5a50-1e58-11ec-b324-cfd45ae13669.html

    https://www.yakimaherald.com/news/n...cle_d7a0151e-9bcc-5c43-a49a-f657058f7b54.html
     
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  2. Sepp K

    Sepp K TrainBoard Member

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    Wow! We rode #8 from Seattle to East Glacier during 08/31-09/01 and it had 2 track inspection cars on the rear end. At Spokane they added #28 ahead of the geo cars, keeping them at the rear of the train. I assumed they were testing all the way to Chicago, but don't know definitely that that's what happened. That was almost 4 weeks ago, and the route gets heavy traffic. DSC08870.JPG DSC08865.JPG
     
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  3. gjslsffan

    gjslsffan Staff Member

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    So, what happened? I dont see power on the ground images yet. A sad sight to see. Hate to see any rail/ passenger cars on the ground. I hope to hear some details and images soon.
    I hope and pray the best for all, I dont want any more bad news.
     
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  4. badlandnp

    badlandnp TrainBoard Member

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    From the videos and stills, it appears to me as if the trailing cars in the train picked the points of the switch. It seems like the train was entering a siding by the looks of it. The power is still at the far end of the train.
     
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  5. Hytec

    Hytec TrainBoard Member

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    This photo was in a New York Times article.

    [​IMG]
     
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  6. BNSF FAN

    BNSF FAN TrainBoard Supporter

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    Clicked Like on all this but very sad to hear about this. :(
     
  7. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    We have been experiencing temperature swings. Below freezing at night, eighties during the day,. It is entirely possible a sun kink was at least part of the accident. I am hearing and reading rumors that a switch was involved, but that DOES NOT mean it was the cause. They could have been on the ground before then, and then hit the switch which would have really put things really askew. Waiting to hear more. Hoping that all of those injured recover quickly.
     
  8. Hytec

    Hytec TrainBoard Member

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    The train contained ten cars, though only seven appear in the photo. Those seven could have remained coupled and been dragged while whipping back and forth. The close proximity of the seventh car to the sixth and fifth implies it remained coupled until nearly stopped then finally going onto its side. Note also the random angles of cars 5, 6, and 7 to each other implies they were whipping fairly severely.


    The brakes would have gone into emergency the instant the first brake line parted. Though no telling which air line parted first. I’m thinking probably between seven and eight based on my rationale above.
     
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  9. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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  10. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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  11. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    The latest on area radio news this morning. Cause still undetermined. They do say there had been a freight train through there within a couple of hours beforehand and no troubles. Tracks were inspected within the prior 48 hours. Speed of the train was under the posted limit and the derailment, as I had surmised, started before hitting the switch.
     
  12. HemiAdda2d

    HemiAdda2d Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    It's so hard not to try to pregame the whole derailment, guessing what may have happened. So I won't, and will just let the investigators do their thing. I don't expect to see any NTSB preliminary report any time soon, and the final report for 2-3 years or more. It is tragic what happened, and also has the after effects of backing up and diverting other rail traffic. Traffic west of Minot has been really thin recently, when the fall color has been best! :confused::rolleyes:
     
  13. Kurt Moose

    Kurt Moose TrainBoard Member

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    Tragic as this is, and devastating to some family and loved ones, it warms my heart to know that the locals didn't think twice about helping get those people out of the train. One report said a local was driving up to the crossing when he seen all the dust and debris and didn't even hesitate to call someone to "bring as many ladders as you can" to get the people out.
     
  14. gjslsffan

    gjslsffan Staff Member

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    Good ole' country folk, willing to do and give everything they have to help in a crisis. Some of the best of us for sure.
     
  15. Hytec

    Hytec TrainBoard Member

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    It's an attitude developed by any group that has to survive harsh six (+) month winters, be it Alaska, northern Plain States, northern New England, and most of Canada. I'm told this also applies to Scandinavians, northern Russians, and Siberians. God Bless Human Nature, regardless of race, nationality, creed, or politics.
     
  16. Doug Gosha

    Doug Gosha TrainBoard Member

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    I read an article on one of the online news "sources" (hint, its name is three letters of the alphabet) with a comments section after the article. Many opinions on what caused the accident.

    It is still amazing, to me, how many truly stupid people there are out there.

    Doug
     
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  17. gjslsffan

    gjslsffan Staff Member

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    Oh Man, are you right... I was with a few friends some time ago, we were talking RRing, a guy was trying to listen in on our conversations, he just wanted to be relevant (I hope), he asked us, "how do you keep all that stuff on top of the rails?" Without hesitation my friend said, "we have a really big steering wheel". It is truly amazing how ignorant people are.
     
    Last edited: Sep 29, 2021
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  18. Doug Gosha

    Doug Gosha TrainBoard Member

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    I'll give an example. One guy insisted Amtrak has their own speed limits and completely ignore the maximum limits set by the BNSF and THAT'S what caused the derailment.

    Doug
     
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  19. gjslsffan

    gjslsffan Staff Member

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    And they wonder why a guy has a drink.
     
  20. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    FYI- This is not speculation. It is information released to the public by the NTSB. If that is not "official" enough for some folks, well..... :rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:
     
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