Is 9,000' 18,000 tons to much in mountain grade territory?

[Missaberoad]

The mid-trains act as a repeater.

Are they still with the current version of locotrol? We can set out the mid train and still use the tail end robot. Or is it a case of redundancy?

[C855B]

Redundancy.

[nkalanaga]

Ed:  They wouldn't need any rear-end telemetry to know they lost air pressure on this one!

[nkalanaga]

It has happened before, and possibly on the Union Pacific.  This doesn't look like mountain territory.  Notice that the side sills broke in the same place, and the same way.

From the original post, on https://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/155322-recent-derailments/, June 14, 2020:

"Mel_H
Posted June 14 (edited)

And, if you chuck too much power on the front, and too much weight on the back AND the train isn't on a tight curve, something has to give. In this case, it was the covered hopper, which was literally torn in two at Floyd, Texas, June 2005 [pic: Jim Satterwhite]. I understand, this isn't that unusual in the 'States. Over here, we did used to do the same thing with wooden-bodied wagons and, I understand, the occasional brakevan

Floyd Texas June 2005.jpeg

Floyd Texas Jim Satterwhite.jpeg
Edited June 14 by Mel_H "



Copyright Jim Satterwhite, originally posted on RailPictures.net.  Google images couldn't find the original, but found it on multiple other sites.

[Albert in N]

   Looks like this is another case of CEOs and Board of Directors only focused on cutting "payroll burden".  Broken trains blocking mainlines and "pissed off" customers are the result.  Professional locomotive engineers and trainmen should not be destined to be "gig" workers.  I have no railroad experience, but I have seen this "cut staff" mind set pemanently damage the property and casualty insurance industry.  Remember the days when an insurance claims person actually came to examine your damage AND have authority to immediately pay you for your loss? 

[peteski]

Remember the days when an insurance claims person actually came to examine your damage AND have authority to immediately pay you for your loss?

Funny that you mentioned that.  Some  insurance companies still do that (and surprised the heck out of me).  My car was recently involved in an accident. It was derivable.

The insurance appraiser was scheduled to come out and do the appraisal couple days later.  I must have not heard him knocking at the door (at his scheduled time), because when I came out a bit later I found an envelope containing the appraisal and a check cut to cover the repairs minus my deductible!  I couldn't believe it!

But his speed was actually a detriment, because he didn't see the car's low mileage (it is still considered a new car) so his estimate was for aftermarket (not new) parts. Also, the accident was not my fault (and by that time my insurance adjuster already acknowledged that), so I would not be paying the deductible).  So the check was nowhere high enough to cover repair costs.  I was going through my insurance company, so they would be dealing with the other driver's insurance.  In the end it all worked out, but it required few more phone calls.  Still, I was amazed to get the (incorrect) appraisal land a check so fast.

In case you're wondering, my insurer is Plymouth Rock, and even the body shop had positive things to say about them.

[nkalanaga]

Even though the initial check was too low, it was probably nice to have some money quickly, while waiting for the rest, especially since the company acknowledged that it was too low, once they had the facts.

Sounds like you do have a good insurance company.  There are still a few good companies, in all industries, that consider "customer service" to be more than mailing bills and collecting their fees.

[learmoia]

On subject.. I emailed the photos to our Car Dept and noted a couple of 'vintage' ACF cars in our fleet, and they are going to inspect those cars at next opportunity...

Turns out we have another group of cars (different car builder) with the same 'design feature', when they first inspected those, several had to be shopped to resolve potential pull apart, and 1 car was bad ordered, then scrapped, as the car body structure was beyond repair.

[peteski]

On subject.. I emailed the photos to our Car Dept and noted a couple of 'vintage' ACF cars in our fleet, and they are going to inspect those cars at next opportunity...

Turns out we have another group of cars (different car builder) with the same 'design feature', when they first inspected those, several had to be shopped to resolve potential pull apart, and 1 car was bad ordered, then scrapped, as the car body structure was beyond repair.

I wonder if the problem is due to hidden corrosion (like I mentioned in my earlier post)?

[learmoia]

I can ask,  I would assume sub-par painting/coating, leading to rust weakening the structual seams combined with years of repeated stress on the joints...

The corrosion could be starting on the inside where people rarely look..

~ Ian

[645diesel]

i'm just looking at this and thinking about all the grain railroads have dragged up and over some torturous routes and i don't recall this happening with any type of frequency.  it highlights exactly where the stresses are in this design, which are extremely focused.  center beam-less cars are intriguing, the stresses must be enormous.

[nkalanaga]

I don't remember hearing of it in the 70s or 80s, when the ACF cars were newer.  That in itself would lend support to the "corrosion and fatigue" theory. 

And, no, in all of the news reports I've seen on train wrecks, these are the only two cases I've heard of where the car itself came apart.  Two cases in 15 years doesn't sound like much, but with trains getting longer and heavier, and the cars older, it could just be the start.

[nkalanaga]

learmoia:  I've heard of railfans being the first to catch problems out on the line, usually in a moving train.  Is this the first time that a modeler/railfan forum has led to car inspections catching a defect?

[learmoia]

Well, they were already doing periodic inspections on the other group of cars we have based on an AAR or Car builder notice..  That is where the issues were caught previously.

So far, we just added some ACF cars to the radar based on what I learned with this discussion..