Yesterday a UP unit coal train dumped 16 cars off the tracks near Hotchkiss, CO on the Somerset-Delta line. This line is used for coal train service from the mines around Somerset & PAonia. Some of the cars blocked Highway 92 for a time until they could be cleared. No reports of injuries or deaths, but by looking at the Page 1 photo in the local paper, the track's a mess. Looks like Hulcher's Vultures (I say that with a smile) will be kept busy. The hoppers are starting to stack up in both yards here in Grand Junction..... ------------------ Ship IT on the Frisco! Bob T. http://hometown.aol.com/slsf1630/myhomepage/profile.html
I remember when a BN coal train derailed near the site where Elitch Gardens is today about 5(?)years ago... I think they left the cars there for weeks, while they had a huge pile of coal where they scooped it up with tractors. What a mess, i can only imagine 16 cars worth...
That ain't anything. 36 Coal hoppers derailed of a CSXT train that had AEPX hoppers and rolled down through a cornfield .The rest of the cars were parked at an abandoned mine of 8 years. this happened 1 1/2 years ago. There 3 Union Pacific Cars on that train and NTSB determined it was the UP cars that caused the accident. only took CSX 1 day to restore rail traffic. and 2 weeks to clean up. I heard there was an empty, old CSX boxcar that CSX let the farmer have (it landed right side up) and turned it into a chickenhouse. ------------------ Appalachian & Atlantic Model Railroad "QUALITY at WORK with SAFTEY in MIND"
