CSX Derailment (Another One)

[JerryC]

There was minor derailment in Resaca, GA last night, about ten miles from my house. Ten cars of a 150 car freight train derailed at the North Resaca siding, next to the Confederate Cemetery. The cars were carrying potatos, corn, fire-proofing board, scrap metal, and ethanol (empty). There were no injuries, and the damage is still unknown to the general public. It doesn't seem to be a big deal, as the newspaper isn't reporting it, and the fire and police weren't even called until thirty minutes after the accident, even though the dispatch was notified immediately.

CSX seems to be having a bad week, from the ballast to the boardroom.

[NStrains]

Wasn't it just earlier this week one of their trains hit a disabled bus and killed a few passengers? It's a shame the crew wasn't notified in time.

[ZekTheKid]

Am I the only one that notices this stuff happening after Harrison was announced CEO?

[buzz456]

Am I the only one that notices this stuff happening after Harrison was announced CEO?

Yes you are. Conspiracy much?

[NStrains]

Yeah it's just coincidence. CSX has had these problems for awhile now.

[ET44C4]

Looks like a lot of stuff is going on... Gotta get caught up with Trains magazine. I think I'm still in the January issue...

[JerryC]

The problem as I see it with Harrison is that he is a slash to the bone businessman. The problem with CSX is that the are already bone. Half the system should already be slow-ordered, how well is it going to work when you combine velocity increase with deferred maintenance? I've already ducked away from photographing a couple of ethanol trains; i'm thinking of foregoing the rest as well.

Ironic that CSX is supposed to hold an open-to-the-public safety seminar next Tuesday for the townfolk.

[jalsina]

Wasn't it just earlier this week one of their trains hit a disabled bus and killed a few passengers? It's a shame the crew wasn't notified in time.

If there could have been time to notify the crew, it would be to vacate the bus.

[JerryC]

The Biloxi crash made the headlines, but there was also a minor derailment this week in Emerson, GA ( same line as Resaca, but farther south), and a serious crash involving a boom lift and chemicals in Newburgh NY.

Folks, I don't know how you feel about being politically correct or coddling members of society, but I think it is about time to start handing out some life-altering fines and 25 to Life jail time for running crossing gates. It is just the absolute stupidest thing that a person can do. As far as the non-crossing derailments, CSX has really got to up its game or we are eventually going to end up with a Lac Megantic here that is going to tank the rail industry for good.

[PapaXpress]

Here in CA we can be ticketed for just holding a cell phone while driving so getting a fine for running a grade crossing should be a no brainer. I see people running crossings all the time. Even when the train is sitting right there unloading passengers at the platform.

[JerryC]

Let me clarrify what I said earlier. The life-altering fine would be any and all damages - including civil litigation by all affected parties - if running a crossing gate causes a derailment. And I do mean pay for everything - from the damaged track to the locomotives, rolling stock, and cargo. And the law should also state that NO insurance company can cover this. The 25-life should be given if a death other than your own occurs due to your runnng around the gates. That is a concious decision and should be at least the equivalent of 2nd degree homicide. There is just absolutely no excuse for this to happen.

Dan, we have the no texting law here, but no one is enforcing it, just like the grade crossing violations. Cops got better things to do, bet hey, I think it would be easier than sitting at the local gas station and waiting for a U-turner, and xing violations would be a guaranteed source of revenue.

[WcCrupper]

So far, CSX doesn't have a good track record (No pun intended) as for derailments/track maintenance in my area (Evansville, Indiana). Not too long ago, a few cars derailed in Vincennes, Indiana after a rail broke, I believe. As well as that, the link I am posting below shows you the track conditions in the closest CSX Railyard to me...

https://www.facebook.com/jimpearsonspho ... =3&theater

[JerryC]

Those tracks are not really unusual. Human eyes don't pick up those imperfections with our range of vision, but camera zoom lenses pick it up really well. Go out to a nice long stretch of welded rail in the middle of summer and look at it through a pair of binoculars or a 300mm zoom lens. Even if it's well manicured, you will see pretty much the same thing.

[frankenthal]

Wasn't it just earlier this week one of their trains hit a disabled bus and killed a few passengers? It's a shame the crew wasn't notified in time.

If there could have been time to notify the crew, it would be to vacate the bus.

It was noted, the bus was on the tracks that were clearly marked low clearance, in addition the bus was stuck more than 5 minutes, long enough to both vacate the bus and call the railroad emergency number at the crossing. As for the other derailments, We all know the North American Rail system isn't design like those such as Germany.

[Ericmopar]

Let me clarrify what I said earlier. The life-altering fine would be any and all damages - including civil litigation by all affected parties - if running a crossing gate causes a derailment. And I do mean pay for everything - from the damaged track to the locomotives, rolling stock, and cargo. And the law should also state that NO insurance company can cover this. The 25-life should be given if a death other than your own occurs due to your runnng around the gates. That is a concious decision and should be at least the equivalent of 2nd degree homicide. There is just absolutely no excuse for this to happen.

Dan, we have the no texting law here, but no one is enforcing it, just like the grade crossing violations. Cops got better things to do, bet hey, I think it would be easier than sitting at the local gas station and waiting for a U-turner, and xing violations would be a guaranteed source of revenue.

The problem is Jerry, you can't bleed a turnip. Most of the people I've seen run grade crossings are ghetto types in ghetto areas.
The one exception for some odd reason is yuppies. Where I grew up, yuppies have a "get out of my way" attitude that defies description until you see it in action.
I find it particularly odd, since yuppies have higher education and should know better...

Side note:

I'm tired of hearing peter thumping from Europe about how safe "so and so's" railroad system is. You people have fewer accidents in your countries, because your route mileage is much, much lower. We have about 140,000 (225308 Kilometers) route miles here.
And even then, you still hear about real whopper euro rail accidents over here on our news, on a regular basis.