Empties or loads? Believe I saw mention of ethanol. Very flammable, but unless those cars were broached, shouldn't explode like petroleum.
I would not be sitting there taking video. I would make a quick U-turn and be moving away from the scene. I'd rather find out there was no explosive or chemical danger on the news while I am safely at home, than assume there was no danger and be wrong, in person at that distance.
Exactly. Being that close to the track DURING a derailment is a good way to have a bad day. We saw how far the car rolled down the hill when it derailed; you'd be right in the crosshairs. Railfanning too close to the tracks, too, for that matter.
Watch the trucks just as they emerge from behind the signal control box. Looks like a rail fell over.
I did not hear any sound on this version from TV news but there is another version on Youtube with sound and the passengers in the car are hear shouting at the driver to get the *&%# out of here.
Just to get our minds off what could have happened, I once knew a gorgeous girl from Fairmont. Her name was Jessica and she looked exactly like her namesake, Jessica Simpson. She tended bar at TGI Friday's in Rochester but got homesick and moved back to Fairmont. Doug
At 6-9 seconds a piece of rail tie or something jumps up on the left of the video. I have no idea what it was or if it made the accident happen, but it did not look good.
That appeared to be a block of rubber roadbed from the grade crossing. Most grade crossings have the same blocks to smooth the crossing for autos.
Either way, I'm not sticking around!! The way those take cars rolled over when derailed-right onto your hood would NOT be good!
Not that this is a legitimate excuse but I was about 50, at the time, and she was 20. She didn't know what LP's/records are. Doug
