Train hits Washout

[Chessie8638]

Why small washouts are so dangerous, you can only see them at the last moment. Good thing the locomotive stayed upright:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zuv3uVrcoio

[Shortliner]

Holy......wow....I bet they had to change underwear after that!

[Unlimited]

That actually happened to the railroads where I live. I posted a topic about it with images of it. Good thing the driver came on that one, one week later more than likely he would have derailed the full ethanol tankers.

[arizonachris]

Good thing the locomotive stayed upright

Yeah, wow, it did sound like it derailed tho. Yeah, definately need to change into some clean skivvies.

[bsrrco]

On July 14,1973 Birmingham Southern Railroad, Train #1 Port Birmingham fell into a washout at approx 9:45 a.m. The train speed was estimated at 25mph when it crossed a weakened section of track which gave way under the weight of the locomotives. All five Sw1000 locomotives & three cars were destroyed, nine others had substantial damage and all five crew members were killed in the accident. After the investigation it was determined that the accident happened so quickly the crew did not have time to react.

[JimM]

Well, they got it stopped before the grade crossing anyhow...

[mapitts]

On July 14,1973 Birmingham Southern Railroad, Train #1 Port Birmingham fell into a washout at approx 9:45 a.m. The train speed was estimated at 25mph when it crossed a weakened section of track which gave way under the weight of the locomotives. All five Sw1000 locomotives & three cars were destroyed, nine others had substantial damage and all five crew members were killed in the accident. After the investigation it was determined that the accident happened so quickly the crew did not have time to react.

Washout does not come close to describing that wreck. It was a pile more, or less, down the washout. Was that not also the same wreck that they did not know had even happened and sent a locomotive out to Birmingport to see where they where?

[bsrrco]

Washout does not come close to describing that wreck. It was a pile more, or less, down the washout. Was that not also the same wreck that they did not know had even happened and sent a locomotive out to Birmingport to see where they where?

It was the same wreck. That afternoon when the BS transportation supervisor discovered that the train had not arrived at birmingport he sent a loco to locate the train, who upon arriving at the wreck site, reported the accident by radio. My dad has slides of all five SW1000's before the accident. Locomotive numbers were 11, 14,15,16,& 17.

[mapitts]

They printed a book on the BSRR. I thought that I remembered it that way. After I put up the post and went and looked it up. Always nice to meet another BSRR fan. It always amazes me the amount of railfans in this state that does not know that the BSRR even exists. Thanks for putting up the pics!