Train Wreck pics

so this is the train tracks that go through my property and of course all the damage is right in the middle of my property so still awaiting a meeting to see what i get for compensation for letting them tear up my property and my roads and tearing down alot of my pines luckly it wasnt to close to my house! Enjoy
http://i475.photobucket.com/albums/rr111/flowmasters40/Train%20Wreck/photo.jpg
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http://i475.photobucket.com/albums/rr111/flowmasters40/Train%20Wreck/photo-1.jpg

what caused it? Looks like some of those cars were filled with automobiles huh? Thats crazy

Dude, what happened?

i will have to get a pic the bridge failed!

yea a bunch of chevys! haha

If I had a RR that ran through the yard, I'd be hurting for money. Trains are so cool, I'd sit there and watch everyday. LOL

Hey, at least you didn't have to do, or pay for the cleanup :D

If I had a RR that ran through the yard, I'd be hurting for money. Trains are so cool, I'd sit there and watch everyday. LOL

Hey, at least you didn't have to do, or pay for the cleanup :D

yea i should get some good money out of it cause they tore up my property
and yea it is a blast to wtch them things come through

Your gonna make a lot of money off of this if you push the issue. Good friend of mine works for the railroad in PR and they pay out the ass for stuff like this.

more pics
http://i475.photobucket.com/albums/rr111/flowmasters40/Train%20Wreck/photo-14.jpg
http://i475.photobucket.com/albums/rr111/flowmasters40/Train%20Wreck/photo-4-1.jpg
http://i475.photobucket.com/albums/rr111/flowmasters40/Train%20Wreck/photo-1-1.jpg

Wow been a while since I have seen a train wreck

Dang, thats crazy! So do they pay you to have the tracks run through your property?

I guess that your property is in Ideal, Georgia, right? I live in Fitzgerald, Georgia and work for CSX Railroad. I ride trains on that same rail almost every day. I recognized the carnage from your pics. The cause of the derailment was that the rails spread too wide and the railcars actually fell in between. I'm very surprised that the engines didn't derail too. I was on a train that derailed four autoracks filled with brand new Nissans just north of Manchester, Georgia about two years ago. What a mess! CSX is self-insured and all the autos are shredded for salvage. They will not even sell a tire off of the autos. They don't want to be held liable later on down the road. Anyway you WILL be getting a very nice chunk of money for all the damage and mess on your property. Good luck!

Those excavator cranes look cool got any info on them?

Huh where ats is this? I've got a place in abbeville and this is the first ive heard of it.

Thanks for sharing the pics. I love looking at trains and carnage LOL

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVr5AJz2xNo

The cars are just chevys, so no great loss.:pointlaugh:

.Im no investigator but that must be what the accident looked like.

Thats pretty cool. Im like everyone else. Im intrigued by trains!

The cause of the derailment was that the rails spread too wide and the railcars actually fell in between.
From the photo's, it looks like that stretch had concrete ties. Unless there was a stretch of wood ties where it actually derailed............it's not real likely that wide gage was the cause.

Without knowing any info, my first thought (given the time of year and concrete ties) on the cause...............would be a track buckle due to warm weather.


Anyway you WILL be getting a very nice chunk of money for all the damage and mess on your property. Good luck!
If they used his property to gain access to the derailment site, I'm surprised they didn't ask permission (with at least a verbal agreement to pay damages/access rights) ahead of time.

That's what I always do.

i will have to get a pic the bridge failed!

Here's what happens when a bridge fails.

Having a train of NASA rocket motors.......................... ensures that you get national media coverage that you really don't want. :(

Those excavator cranes look cool got any info on them?

It's a custom machine made by Utilco Railroad Services.

They call it "Big John" and has proved to be more versatile than side-booms............ in a lot of situations.

Thanks for sharing the pics. I love looking at trains and carnage.

Not me.

I've seen enough derailments................to last two lifetimes. :(

Since the attachment limit is only 5...............here's a few more.

That's enough for now..........I need to recover from the memories. :(

The official reason for the derailment was that the rails spread too wide. The distance between the inside of the ball(top) of the rail is 4 feet 8 inches plus or minus 1/2 inch. Yes concrete ties were being used but the rails spread anyway. I know the engineer that was operating the train very well. As the engines were going across this particular piece of track the crew (engineer and conductor) noticed it was very rough and backed off on the throttle and was calling the dispatcher on the radio to inform him when the train went into emergency due to derailment. The train originated from Waycross, GA. and was heading to Manchester, GA. with this crew and then to Birmingham, AL. with a new crew. I am not guessing or assuming any of this it is all fact. I am a conductor myself and it's my job to know this info as well as all track conditions and info from Jacksonvile, FL. to Atlanta, GA. and everywhere in between.

The official reason for the derailment was that the rails spread too wide. The distance between the inside of the ball(top) of the rail is 4 feet 8 inches plus or minus 1/2 inch. Yes concrete ties were being used but the rails spread anyway. I know the engineer that was operating the train very well. As the engines were going across this particular piece of track the crew (engineer and conductor) noticed it was very rough and backed off on the throttle and was calling the dispatcher on the radio to inform him when the train went into emergency due to derailment. The train originated from Waycross, GA. and was heading to Manchester, GA. with this crew and then to Birmingham, AL. with a new crew. I am not guessing or assuming any of this it is all fact. I am a conductor myself and it's my job to know this info as well as all track conditions and info from Jacksonvile, FL. to Atlanta, GA. and everywhere in between.

I didn't mean to come across as questioning your veracity, as to what you were told was the cause. Sorry if you were offended.

It's just that I've been doing this for 34 years and all too often the "official" cause.........isn't the real cause. :shrug:

For the record, standard gage is 4' 8 1/2" (56 1/2"). You are allowed 1/2" less (56") and up to 1 1/2" wider (58") depending on class of track..........which is based on track speed.

The comment by the crew, that the track was "very rough" ...........just reinforces my opinion that the primary cause probably wasn't wide gage.

It's very difficult to "feel" wide gage from the loco.

If the track buckled (misalignment) under/just ahead of the train, then the crew would definitely feel that. They would also feel any surface anomalies (one rail higher than the other).

Either of these conditions can cause the lateral force of the wheels to roll (tip) the rail and cause the wheels to fall in. The aftermath would show that the wheels fell inside inside the gage but, the primary cause isn't wide gage. :shrug:

It's just very rare for a concrete tie section to develop wide gage, unless it is in a very sharp curve (which by the pic's, it wasn't).

Derailment investigation is a complex science that oftentimes requires equal parts; Investigation, measurements and intuition.......... based on experience.

Anyway, it's good to have another railroader around.

It's a tough business but, there are some damn fine people doing it.

Regards,

Rick

I wasn't offended by your statements Rick. I am very sure you know a hell of alot more about railroading than I do if you have 34 years experience. Are you a locomotive engineer or do you work with the engineering department? By your knowledge I would guess engineering department or maybe even a private contractor. I also really agree as to the "official" reason being the real truth. I tell my friends that the railroad treats us like mushrooms, they feed us crap and keep us in the dark. We as employees are told the same story as the media. All I know is since the derailment there are countless 25 mph temporary speed restrictions from Fitzgerald to Manchester where new track and ties are being replaced. I think somebody really high up in management got their ass chewed and you know it all runs down hill. Anyway take care and be safe out there!!
Norm

I wasn't offended by your statements Rick. I am very sure you know a hell of alot more about railroading than I do if you have 34 years experience. Are you a locomotive engineer or do you work with the engineering department? By your knowledge I would guess engineering department or maybe even a private contractor. I also really agree as to the "official" reason being the real truth. I tell my friends that the railroad treats us like mushrooms, they feed us crap and keep us in the dark. We as employees are told the same story as the media.
Good guess Norm.

I'm on the Engineering side.

Started out as a track laborer in 1976.................and have held just about every position along the way.

Tamper/regulator/liner/brushcutter/tie inserter/tie crane/Jordan spreader (etc., etc.) operator, Section Foreman, Extra Gang Foreman (ties/rail/surfacing/construction), Work Train Supervisor, Track Inspector, Assistant Roadmaster, District Roadmaster, General Roadmaster, Superintendent of Maintenance, Director-Way and Structure Projects and Vice President - Engineering.

Unlike a lot of guys who get their college degree, spend 6 months on a few different gangs and then are made a Roadmaster.........I did it the old fashioned way.

I screwed up and.......... they promoted me. :eek:

Just kidding. :D Not that I haven't screwed up because, trust me.........I had plenty of opportunities to 'gain experience.' :(


All I know is since the derailment there are countless 25 mph temporary speed restrictions from Fitzgerald to Manchester where new track and ties are being replaced. I think somebody really high up in management got their ass chewed and you know it all runs down hill.Sounds about right. :D



Anyway take care and be safe out there!!
Norm

You too.

Here we go. :ford:

Now I know where the old saying f***** up like a train wreck came from.

Well Rick you sure did learn your trade the old fashioned way. We all screw up from time to time. With the railroad we are just lucky if our screwup didn't get us killed. If we learn from our mistakes then it wasn't all a big waste. I know what you mean by college degree trainmasters. I'm not putting them down it's just that management throws them out there and demands WAY too much out of them. Everybody has to learn there job and EARN respect. If they come out here all pumped up and start harrassing us then he won't last long because we can make him or brake him and I know that you understand what I am saying. I am sure you know Randy Dixon right? He is the best trainmaster that I have met so far. He is also the smartest and fairest. I wish he was still in charge of the Fitzgerald Subdivision! Anyway I believe we all can survive if we look out for each other. Take care Brother!
Norm

Well Rick you sure did learn your trade the old fashioned way. We all screw up from time to time. With the railroad we are just lucky if our screwup didn't get us killed. If we learn from our mistakes then it wasn't all a big waste. I know what you mean by college degree trainmasters. I'm not putting them down it's just that management throws them out there and demands WAY too much out of them. Everybody has to learn there job and EARN respect. If they come out here all pumped up and start harrassing us then he won't last long because we can make him or brake him and I know that you understand what I am saying. I am sure you know Randy Dixon right? He is the best trainmaster that I have met so far. He is also the smartest and fairest. I wish he was still in charge of the Fitzgerald Subdivision! Anyway I believe we all can survive if we look out for each other. Take care Brother!
Norm

Roger Dat! :rockon:

Wow that is crazy. So how many flat pennies do you have from setting them on the tracks???

Trains are so cool, I'd sit there and watch everyday. LOL


and yea it is a blast to wtch them things come through
It gets old after a while

.... CSX Railroad. I ride trains on that same rail almost every day.


How long have you been a conductor? Your response just sounds a little unusual to me. I would have anticipated something more like "I run that line." or "I work between...."

I guess I'm busted. I have been a conducter for only five years so I guess I don't have that ole railroader lingo right. What can I say, it's a new railroad out here!

I guess I'm busted. I have been a conducter for only five years so I guess I don't have that ole railroader lingo right. What can I say, it's a new railroad out here!

Adam (Smokin6-0) is only 26 years old.

Don't let him 'old-head' you. :D

Adam (Smokin6-0) is only 26 years old.

Don't let him 'old-head' you. :D

Not trying to old head anyone old man. It just sounds unusual. Keep making fun of my age Rick, your career path sounds alarmingly like mine.


PS you never answered my question about authorized speed on the Jordan Spreader.




FatFish - I am a Trainmaster so let the hating begin.


Edit - Rick I still want to pick your brain sometime. I have a lot of respect for your experience even if you are politically confused.

Wow been a while since I have seen a train wreck


I see 'em on this site everyday! LOL


How long did it take 'em to clean it up? I'm figuring they got in and out pretty quick, at least the bulk of it.

.

Not trying to old head anyone old man. It just sounds unusual. Keep making fun of my age Rick, your career path sounds alarmingly like mine.
Relax dude.

I'm not making "fun of it."

I'm just 'old-heading' you. :D


PS you never answered my question about authorized speed on the Jordan Spreader.
I must have missed it. :shrug:

We had a number of maximum authorized speeds, depending on the situation.

If it was being pulled/pushed with the nose trailing............it was 10 mph. The mess it could make if the wings came out while traveling backward (bridges/switch stands/buildings/vehicles) is pretty sobering. Especially when you realize that it is a little over 40' from wingtip to wingtip.

While plowing with the wings out....it was 15 mph. Of course, any faster than that and it rocked so bad it would lift a wheel off of the rail.

While just plowing snow with the nose (no wings out), maximum speed was 40 mph. It used to be 49 mph...... until I started running it and I slowed it down.

There's very few thrills greater than running 49 mph, with the nose down between the rails and realizing that you just lost hydraulic power as a turnout is coming up! :eek:

These photo's are of an incident with the nose hitting a broken angle bar and it took the Spreader and loco's over with it. :(

Edit - Rick I still want to pick your brain sometime. I have a lot of respect for your experience even if you are politically confused.

Last edited by Smokin6-0 : Today at 10:41 PM. Reason: Inserting Love for Little Ricky
Of course. :cool:

Hey Adam, you should know by now I have a pretty good sense of humor.............. when it involves folks who are politically delusional. :D

I am relaxed Rick. If I was mad I wouldn't be on here. We don't use that type of OTE in this area and I am not familiar with it. For our purposes OTE must operate at a speed that permits stopping with in half the range of vision.

I am relaxed Rick. If I was mad I wouldn't be on here. We don't use that type of OTE in this area and I am not familiar with it. For our purposes OTE must operate at a speed that permits stopping with in half the range of vision.

I'm guessing you've never seen something like this then either (1st pic). The mainline is between the two sets of equipment and was actually cleaned just a couple of hours previously. :eek:

We also used ballast regulators, outfitted with special snow plows/wings when possible (2nd & 3rd pic).

That is some pretty wild stuff right there. We do not work in the weather in those pics. FELA has a way of viewing working in extreme weather that I don't agree with.

I am actually writing up a derailment right now.

That is some pretty wild stuff right there. We do not work in the weather in those pics. FELA has a way of viewing working in extreme weather that I don't agree with.

I am actually writing up a derailment right now.

Incident/accident paperwork sucks!

As far as "wild stuff," here's a few pic's of the stuff that kept me up at night during the winter. :(

Of course we did 'fight back'......... as noted in the last pic. :D

flowmasters40 - Please accept my apology for hijacking your thread. :o

It's just that your photo's got the old juices flowing.

You'll have to excuse us old railroaders..........we're a little strange when it comes to our job. :doh:

Damn that autorack got fuked! I see railcars like that all the time at work. That's a pretty good wreck! Just be glad the tank cars didn't rupture! Oh and all the cars in the autorack are now totaled, insurance totals them whenever they are in a train wreck.

Rick i found out that there in now another "official" reason for the derailment at Ideal, Ga. Now they are saying that as the engines rolled over that particular section of rail 14" of the ball broke off. Not top to bottom, just the ball. It happened around 1:35AM in the morning. I was told that a total of 34 cars derailed. Does this official reason sound more realistic?
I don't hate trainmasters.Well maybe just the ones with their heads up their asses. You have a job to do and you catch crap from both sides of the fence so to speak. I sure as hell don't want to be one. I have only been with CSX for five years but I will be 56 years young next month and have experienced alot in my life and learned a hell of a lot. The opportunity came along and I figured why the hell not. I figure I'm on cruise control until I decide to retire. I have a perfect record so far and believe in earning my pay and not look for the easy way out. I can still outwork most of the younger employees. I should go to engineer school some time later this year. That's the main reason I hired on with CSX. This is probably the coolest job I have ever had. I spent 10 years in the Navy on nuclear submarines and that was really cool too. Enough for now. Be safe!
Norm

Norm - I am willing to bet that you are more than capable of outperforming your younger counterparts. Most of the guys that come to the Railroad, after a lifetime in the "real world", are very successful. Just to clear up a little rumor, not all TMs enjoy making heads roll, it is actually one of the few parts of my job that I don't like.

Rick i found out that there in now another "official" reason for the derailment at Ideal, Ga. Now they are saying that as the engines rolled over that particular section of rail 14" of the ball broke off. Not top to bottom, just the ball. It happened around 1:35AM in the morning. I was told that a total of 34 cars derailed. Does this official reason sound more realistic?
The reason sounds more plausible but, a "broken rail" is like an 'Act of God' and.................... no one gets blamed or fired over it. ;)

It is probably the single biggest reason given for derailments and.................often isn't the real reason for the derailment. :rolleyes:

Especially on big rail (115#+)........... like what appears the photo's.

What happens is that to avoid placing blame on a particular department, someone will find a piece of broken rail (duh) and say........voila! The real key is to determine if there are any rust streaks that would indicate the rail was already cracked. They very seldom catastrophically break...................... without showing some sign of a previous defect.

I never played that game as I wanted to know what caused it........... so I could stop the next one.

Here's a photo of a rail that actually caused a derailment. Note the old break (rusty areas), the size of it and what a new break looks like.

There was no question in this case.




I have only been with CSX for five years but I will be 56 years young next month and have experienced alot in my life and learned a hell of a lot. The opportunity came along and I figured why the hell not. I figure I'm on cruise control until I decide to retire. I have a perfect record so far and believe in earning my pay and not look for the easy way out. I can still outwork most of the younger employees. I should go to engineer school some time later this year. That's the main reason I hired on with CSX. This is probably the coolest job I have ever had. I spent 10 years in the Navy on nuclear submarines and that was really cool too. Enough for now. Be safe!
Norm
Good for you Norm.

No Sperry car in the land of snow and ice?

And yes, they can make a mess. :(

We have a new young TM that walked into a real WOS! I say young he is 28. ROTC all through school, active military over in Iraq, came home and joined the drug task force somewhere up north. He is gung ho all the way. He is a good guy though. The Fitzgerald Subdivision was the best in the whole Jacksonville Division last year. The TM we had then moved on up to higher places. I believe he might be up in your neck of the woods. His name is Robert Holtz. Anyway we get this new gung ho TM and now we are the worst . It's not his fault but I think he is taking it personal. He has it in his head that the men get hurt on purpose to make him look bad. Or that's how I see it anyway. I told him he needed to talk and work with all the men but that he could not be their best buddy. Everyone has to know and understand he is our TM.

I interchange with CSX on their Florence Division, Portmouth Sub, and we have met some real jewels so far.

I can definatly see the difference in the old and new broke rails. You know this already I'm sure but everytime an engineer gets a knuckle the first thing we do after replacing it is to piss all over it. Instant rust. It might save the engineers job so what the hell.

I can definatly see the difference in the old and new broke rails. You know this already I'm sure but everytime an engineer gets a knuckle the first thing we do after replacing it is to piss all over it. Instant rust. It might save the engineers job so what the hell.

Yeah it can't hurt. You might get by with one if he sees the rusty knuckle and doesn't pull a tape.

No Sperry car in the land of snow and ice?Since we had passenger trains, I tested every spring and fall up there.

You can't do it when the track is full of ice/snow.

Ultrasonic detection (even with induction) is far from 100% accurate however. Ask any experienced track guy how many defects they miss, that were marked the previous run (not bad enough to take out though).

Those photo's were of a derailment in Alabama, whereby Sperry had went through not more than 30 days previously!!

Their position was basically...."read the fine print, we aren't perfect and we're not responsible."

Hell, they even admitted that their testing speed was too fast and the operator was too new. :doh:

They said that they would..."do better next time." :rolleyes:

I can definatly see the difference in the old and new broke rails. You know this already I'm sure but everytime an engineer gets a knuckle the first thing we do after replacing it is to piss all over it. Instant rust. It might save the engineers job so what the hell. Yeah, pissing on the knuckle is an old trick.

Kind of like old Roadmaster's I've heard about who carried around defective rails, of various sizes, to throw in the pileup.

However, I prefer to know the actual cause........... so it can be prevented from happening again.

We have a new young TM that walked into a real WOS! I say young he is 28. ROTC all through school, active military over in Iraq, came home and joined the drug task force somewhere up north. He is gung ho all the way. He is a good guy though. The Fitzgerald Subdivision was the best in the whole Jacksonville Division last year. The TM we had then moved on up to higher places. I believe he might be up in your neck of the woods. His name is Robert Holtz. Anyway we get this new gung ho TM and now we are the worst . It's not his fault but I think he is taking it personal. He has it in his head that the men get hurt on purpose to make him look bad. Or that's how I see it anyway. I told him he needed to talk and work with all the men but that he could not be their best buddy. Everyone has to know and understand he is our TM.

This just caught my eye, i work for csx out Tampa. Ive seen these guys like this come nad go as did Holtz..Nice knowing theer are some fellow railroaders on here.

This just caught my eye, i work for csx out Tampa. Ive seen these guys like this come nad go as did Holtz..Nice knowing theer are some fellow railroaders on here.

I wonder how many other railroaders are on here?

I wish I was a railroader!

I wish I was a railroader!

:whs:

last summer i had the priviledge of meeting Mr. Hulcher, the owner of Hulcher services. From talking to him his company is the largest derailment/RR cleanup company in the U.S. He is a very nice man and since im always interested in this type of stuff he was more than willing to tell me some stories. Like how his company basically started over a cup of coffee with a stranger at the local diner.

last summer i had the priviledge of meeting Mr. Hulcher, the owner of Hulcher services. From talking to him his company is the largest derailment/RR cleanup company in the U.S. He is a very nice man and since im always interested in this type of stuff he was more than willing to tell me some stories. Like how his company basically started over a cup of coffee with a stranger at the local diner.

Hulcher is a good company but, RJ Corman is just as big.............or bigger.

And Rick Corman is truly a first class individual. :cool:

Hulcher is a good company but, RJ Corman is just as big.............or bigger.

And Rick Corman is truly a first class individual. :cool:

Corman is involved with transportation also.

Corman is involved with transportation also.

I didn't know that. :D

i did not know that. im not a railroader. my family just happened to be parked next to Mr. hulcher last summer at a campground in wyoming.

i did not know that. im not a railroader. my family just happened to be parked next to Mr. hulcher last summer at a campground in wyoming.

Don't get me wrong, they are a fine organization and have some very good people working for them.

I didn't know that. :D

Shut up

Shut up

It was a once in a lifetime experience that my wife and I will always treasure.

And Mr. Corman (please call me Rick.....Rick :) ) spent a lot of time (1 hour +)on the way back, just talking to the both of us. :cool:

He has been fighting cancer for a few years now and his unfailing optimism............. is simply amazing.

He is one of the finest individuals I have ever had the pleasure of meeting!! :cool:

thats kinda cool do they need a taker for the cars ill be there asap haha

Corman is involved with transportation also.

Corman rules the rail road contractor wise I work for CSX on the engineering side and no matter where a derailment is on CSX lines Corman will have a whole army of track hoes and sidewinders there within hours to start clean up. they do move freight and also sell lots of materials to CSX

no matter where a derailment is on CSX lines Corman will have a whole army of track hoes and sidewinders there within hours to start clean up.

I would suspect that depends on where you live. Cranemasters seems to be the dominate contractor for rerailment in my local area.

I would suspect that depends on where you live. Cranemasters seems to be the dominate contractor for rerailment in my local area.

Not to mention that it was Utilco, in the OP's photo's, that was cleaning up CSX's mess in his area.

Hulcher is pretty dominate down here in Florida, especially around the bone valley.

i just finally rad the whole thread

i just finally rad the whole thread

Me too.:D

i just finally rad the whole thread

Well what happened did they settle with you ?

i am acyually going up tommorrow they are finally getting there stuff off our property at the moment we cant drive to our house because there is rail and ties all over the place i will let yall know

well we are up here working the dozer clearin roads

any updates

any updates

:whs:

so how would one go about getting into the world of locomotives? we lived off the tracks in my hometown and i always wondered how those conductors got their jobs!

wonder what that sounded like

what sounded like?

so how would one go about getting into the world of locomotives? we lived off the tracks in my hometown and i always wondered how those conductors got their jobs!

call the train compaines and see if they are hiring and you will have to go to conductor school

what sounded like?

the train wreck silly

oh i thought you meant the trains goin by my parents house i was guna say the elevator blocked out all the train noise (its like a huge concrete sound barrier

so how would one go about getting into the world of locomotives? we lived off the tracks in my hometown and i always wondered how those conductors got their jobs!

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That is just the big ones

well we just got our compensation check from them going back up this weekend to do some bobcat work on our roads and put up a nice cattle gate

well we just got our compensation check from them going back up this weekend to do some bobcat work on our roads and put up a nice cattle gate

Were they fair with you?

.

Were they fair with you?

.

they were definatly fair with us we gave them a number they wrote the check

they were definatly fair with us we gave them a number they wrote the check

then at that second you second guess your self and say i should have asked for more :doh:

i'd make them pay for your yard and aggrivation and take the metal to the scap yard

they were definatly fair with us we gave them a number they wrote the check

That's the way it should be. :cool:

I've been the guy writing the checks quite a few times and have never had anyone that was so outrageous............ that I had to negotiate with them.

Having direct access in a situation like this, saves so much time and money...........it would boggle your mind.

Everything from getting the tracks back open, to running trains again (revenue), to easing the hassle of removing the wrecked cars.............adds up really fast.


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gandy i was just curious i do not know if this question will be out of line but what does something like this cost to clean up? i am very familiar with big rig accidents due to the fact a very close family friend has a towing company. Just wondering if you can give out that kind of information.


thanks
Charlie

Charlie, just as Rick hinted at earlier, it isn't always the cost of cleanup that is so hard for the railroads to stomach. Often the delay of t####ic and dammage to lading can make the cranes and checks written to the public seem like a drop in the bucket.

gandy i was just curious i do not know if this question will be out of line but what does something like this cost to clean up? i am very familiar with big rig accidents due to the fact a very close family friend has a towing company. Just wondering if you can give out that kind of information.


thanks
Charlie

Every one is different, but let's say you have a 10 car pileup, 1/2 the cars destroyed, 1/2 needing repairs, about 200' of track tore up and you have good access to the site.

This kind of mess could be ready for trains in 48 hours from the time of derailment, if everything went just right.

- It will run about $45K for a single unit of a contract derailment crew w/side booms/hoes/cats/trucks/etc. (includes mob/travel time to and fro/24 hours of work/demob).

- +-$250K replacement cost per destroyed car (book value is less) + $100K for repairs on the other 5.

- +- $30K for track repairs (material and labor).

- +- $30K for support costs (personnel/overtime/fuel/rooms/food/per diem/etc.).

- +- $20K for cleanup of old ties/rail/OTM (other track material).

As you can see..................a half million dollars can be reached pretty quickly, just on a fairly routine derailment.

In addition, this does not include the cost of any spill cleanup, lawsuits, loss of lading (commodity/load) or environmental remediation that may be needed.

The other big ticket item is the loss of normal trains. If you were running 10 trains a day over the line in a 24 hour period and each train was making you $25K, in the 48 hours the line was closed............you could lose another half million (20 trains X $25K each) if you had to reroute them over another railroad and lost the revenue.

As the saying goes........... "railroading ain't cheap." :(

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more pics
http://i475.photobucket.com/albums/rr111/flowmasters40/Train%20Wreck/photo-14.jpg
http://i475.photobucket.com/albums/rr111/flowmasters40/Train%20Wreck/photo-4-1.jpg
http://i475.photobucket.com/albums/rr111/flowmasters40/Train%20Wreck/photo-1-1.jpg

This has been very informative thanks guys.

But I think you missed the real cause if you look at the one pic you can see clearly that someone ran it to the pilings with a boat! LOL!!!

- +-$250K replacement cost per destroyed car (book value is less) + $100K for repairs on the other 5.

Clarification.

The above should read......... $50K each for the replacements ($250K total) and $20K ea. for repairs ($100K total).

Sorry if I confused anyone.

It was late. :doh:

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Clarification.

The above should read......... $50K each for the replacements ($250K total) and $20K ea. for repairs ($100K total).

Sorry if I confused anyone.

It was late. :doh:

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WOW i knew that the price was going to be up there and as you said this was just a small derailment that everything went correctly (which it never does) on the clean up. thank you for that information i was always curious as to just the basic cost.

great info and pics

Any pics of the site all cleaned up