Goodwell, OK; Two UP trains have collided head on

[Bananarama]

As far as I can tell, the NTSB investigator is simply site-surveying the track for compliance. From the image here (and on the NTSB site), I cannot see the damage you mention.

[SCLJim]

Wow. You know, I'd be really surprised if they ran in and out of the siding. I'm not saying that could happen but it really makes you wonder wth was going on with the crew to run completely through a siding and not be aware of what was going on. I always assumed that it was a deal where someone was supposed to hold the main and failed to do so. That would be a lot easier to happen, with the crew failing to realize what is going on or missing something.

I'm really interested in what the NTSB findings will be on this one.

Now that I look at the picture more, this is what I am assuming happened. At first I was thinking in terms of them running out of the siding and through the switch lined main to main. What I am thinking now, and more than likely what happened, train A was to hold the main, B was lined into the siding. Train A failed to hold at the head block, ran through the switch ,which was lined into the siding, and continued on.

Anything could happen to cause someone to miss a signal and it definitely does happen. I've missed them, and I've had engineers that missed them. Luckily enough one of us caught the aspect. Fatigue is another huge issue. It is way, way, easy for both crew to doze off and all it takes is a split second.

[Kali]

I'm seriously amazed this sort of thing can happen in this century... a GPS + radio token system interlocked with the train brakes would be pretty cheap & have prevented this :(

[Bananarama]

I'm not sure what a 60+ mph train would do to a non-sprung switch, but in any event it would make one heck of a racket, and unless the crew were deaf, I doubt anyone could sleep through that. I'm also having some doubt as to the train that was "supposed to take the siding" even entered it. For one thing, it would take quite a distance to reach track speed from the slow down through the turnouts to the point of impact. My feeling is that the train bypassed the siding altogether, but then I'm just guessing.

[up_8677]

No, it was run through from the main. The point on on the LH side of the image is clearly set for movement to the diverging path from the main, while the RH point appears to have been bent away from the rail. Plus if you look closely there are bent parts in the throwbar mechanism between the points. As I understand it, a switch which not set for travel through either path AND has some bent parts is a classic run through.

[up_8677]

I'm not sure what a 60+ mph train would do to a non-sprung switch, but in any event it would make one heck of a racket, and unless the crew were deaf, I doubt anyone could sleep through that. I'm also having some doubt as to the train that was "supposed to take the siding" even entered it. For one thing, it would take quite a distance to reach track speed from the slow down through the turnouts to the point of impact. My feeling is that the train bypassed the siding altogether, but then I'm just guessing.

As I understand it, the eastbound Z was traveling near track speed, about 68 mph at the time. It would have derailed at the WSS if it was supposed to be the one taking the siding as these are 30 mph switches. It would appear that the westbound at the time was slowing down to take the siding, which the Z was supposed to be stopped at the main waiting for them to take the hole, a classic meet.

[Bananarama]

No, it was run through from the main. The point on on the LH side of the image is clearly set for movement to the diverging path from the main, while the RH point appears to have been bent away from the rail. Plus if you look closely there are bent parts in the throwbar mechanism between the points. As I understand it, a switch which not set for travel through either path AND has some bent parts is a classic run through.

I didn't notice it before - thank you.

[BNSF650]

Here is a pic from above

531633_10150922181154024_691826634_n.jpg

[arizonachris]

Holy crap!

[Bananarama]

What Chris said! Geez - that's one scary scene - can you imagine the kinetic energy from those two trains at impact?!

[up_8677]

Holy crap is right; thanks for posting the pic.

[evafan002]

Holy crap!

you can say that again i am amazed that there's anything left that even remotely resembles a loco

[up_8677]

I'm seriously amazed this sort of thing can happen in this century... a GPS + radio token system interlocked with the train brakes would be pretty cheap & have prevented this :(

The Pratt sub is CTC territory; as long as the crews obey the signals everything works. There really are only two possibilities: 1) the crew on the eastbound Z made a fatal mistake or were asleep/incapacitated in some way or 2) the signalling system failed. To me, the picture of the run through switch at Goodwell points to #1. As I understand it, that should never happen in CTC territory so long as the signals are obeyed.


Also,

http://utu.org/2012/06/27/services-set- ... kla-crash/

[up_8677]

NTSB has released their preliminary report.
http://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/2012 ... eport.html

[xianggang]

I heard there was freight derailment in Ohio last week. I believe it
Was a Norfolk Southern train. Could have caused serious damage to
The surrounding area.