UP Derails Nine Cars In Arlington, Kansas ARLINGTON, KS -- Nine cars carrying vehicles on a westbound Union Pacific train derailed Monday night, blocking the intersection of K-14 and Arlington's Main Street. Six of the train cars rolled over, and three left the track but remained upright, Reno County Emergency Manager Bill Guy said. While there were no people hurt, one car rolled out of the vehicle carrier and damaged equipment at the Cairo Co-op Equity Exchange alongside the train tracks in Arlington. "Debris slammed into the elevator's dust equipment," said Fire Chief Jeff Fountain with Reno County Fire District No. 4. Two power line poles were hit, snapping a cable television line. The derailment, which occurred at about 18:57, according to Guy, was under investigation. No estimate of damage had been determined Monday night. "This is the very same spot where 49 cars derailed on May13, 2000," Fountain said. At that time, the train was carrying hazardous materials and the wreck punctured one of the co-op's fuel tanks, causing a fire. Along with Reno County Fire District No. 4, emergency crews responding to the derailment Monday included the Reno County Sheriff's Department, crews with the Union Pacific Railroad, Midwest Energy and the Kansas Department of Transportation Fountain said the crews would remain on the scene throughout the night. - The Hutchinson News
yes they are very lucky if memory serves the tracks ared really close to the road and the coop scale house. it's been several years since I've been down that way but it's only about 30 minutes or so from me. might have to go see about some pics the news paper doesn't have any in it. or at least the online version doesn't.
well I got some pics I need to pick threw them and see which ones are the best ones. from the looks of the site they have all of the automobiles unloaded and was loading them on transports to go back to probably Kansas city or where ever they where from. I met a empty semi carhauler on my way back probably going down there to pick up what was sitting on the ground. the auto racks looked pretty well done for.I'll see if I can figure out how to put pics on this post if not I'll start a picture page. all the pics where from today at about 12:00 noon
Here's one of JB's shots And here is a link to the rest. http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/showgallery.php/ppuser/6183/cat/500
yep I think it was. on the way down and back home from there there was what I'd call mow crew checking rails or something. I know by the time I went out and back to town they had went about 5 or 6 miles with there machines.and from what I could tell and I saw on the sides of the rails where they had painted them in some spots.and are also getting ready to put in some new crossings.
All I can say is YIKES!! Man, I hope they find out quick what caused this. Not being familiar with area, is it blocking/slowing train traffic?? John
Investigation continues.... Derailment Clean-up And Investigation Continues ARLINGTON, KS -- Officials with the Union Pacific Railroad continue to investigate why a portion of a 64-car train left the tracks intersecting with highway K-14 at about 19:00 Monday. Union Pacific spokesman Gene Hinkle couldn't say when officials will complete their investigation into the derailment, saying that a final determination depends on information found at the scene and in the train's on-board event recorder. A portion of the westbound freight train fell from the tracks just before 19:00 Wednesday. Ten freight cars fell from the track, including several cars carrying Toyota Tundra pickups and Sienna minivans. No one was injured in the accident, but local officials reported Monday that pieces of the derailed train damaged a portion of the Cairo Co-op, which sits next to the rail line, and ripped up a section of track. Arlington Fire Department Chief Jeff Fountain said the damage to the elevator was limited to the exterior and didn't harm the building's structure. "It's significant," Fountain said. "But in the grand scheme of things, it's really not." Fountain said he released most of his crew at about 22:30 Monday, but he kept a single engine company on the site until about 04:00 Tuesday as a precautionary measure. "We were dealing with automobiles, many that were upside down," Fountain said. "They all have batteries, and they all have a little bit of gas in them." The derailment "roughly" is in the same spot as another train accident in 2000, Fountain said. On May13, 2000, a Union Pacific railroad train fell from the tracks while traveling nearly 70 mph. The impact of the crash punctured a fuel storage tank at the Cairo Co-op and ignited a fire. Although crews expected to resume rail operations by 14:00, Hinkle said it will take a considerable amount of time to clean up the wrecked vehicles and rail cars from the area. Union Pacific employees will sift through the damaged cars and determine what components can be salvaged or rebuilt, Hinkle said. The same process will take place for the unknown number of passenger vehicles, which were en route to California. Fountain said K-14 remains closed for about a block near the area of the accident because railroad crews still have equipment near the accident site. - Jason Probst, The Hutchinson News
well it didn't seem to slow them down a lot there have been several trains running threw here. with all of the rain and temperature changes the past week I bet the rails and ties have shifted or something like that. seems we have problems with that every year around here.
I like the part about UP employees sifting through the parts for salvageable or rebuildable parts.The answer is none.All vehicles that are damaged by the RR like this are scrapped no matter what.Looks like Toyota made some good money here.
I'll be interested to see UPs official explanation. It is that time of year and I think some the recent derailments posted here are likely caused by that. As for the ruined cars...well UP just bought a trainload!! Think they will terminate the train crew? John
If the derailment occurred towards the rear of the train or at least past the locomotives that can be an indication of a track misalignment.
