Auto train derailment south of Deland 3/26

[Thirdrail7]

Thanks. I will monitor your monitoring.

So far, it looks like it is detouring. They're making it up.

 

[pennyk]

So far, it looks like it is detouring. They're making it up.

Do you think it will leave SFA at 4pm and pass WPK around 4:30?

 

[Thirdrail7]

It is still in the facility.

 

[pennyk]

It is still in the facility.

app says it departed at 4:23

 

[user 14106]

It appears the Silvers resume service to MIA starting with tonight's southbound trains, but 3/30 and 3/31 auto train are canceled. I wonder what's going on there.

 

[Thirdrail7]

app says it departed at 4:23

That is when it started doubling to its car carriers. It is still on the outskirts of the facility. I'll let you know which way it heads one way or the other.

 

[pennyk]

That is when it started doubling to its car carriers. It is still on the outskirts of the facility.

Thanks. I still have my "indoor" clothing on now, and will wait until I hear from you before I put my "outdoor" clothing on and make my way to the tracks. It is 91 degrees outside, so I do not want to arrive too early and stand in sun.

 

[Thirdrail7]

It is coming up to Lake Mary. Preeety sure that's south!

 

[pennyk]

It is coming up to Lake Mary. Preeety sure that's south!

It is. Time to get ready. Thanks.

 

[Thirdrail7]

Thanks. I still have my "indoor" clothing on now, and will wait until I hear from you before I put my "outdoor" clothing on and make my way to the tracks. It is 91 degrees outside, so I do not want to arrive too early and stand in sun.

It is definitely heading your way. It is by Longwood. I would think 15 mins or so.

 

[Thirdrail7]

It is. Time to get ready. Thanks.

Coming by WPK. It is closing to 4 miles. If I'm reading this correctly, you should see an engine, the car carriers, the passenger cars with two engines on the rear.

 

[AmtrakBlue]

Coming by WPK. It is closing to 4 miles. If I'm reading this correctly, you should see an engine, the car carriers, the passenger cars with two engines on the rear.

Super rare @pennyk - don't screw up (JUST KIDDING)

 

[Thirdrail7]

Super rare @pennyk - don't screw up (JUST KIDDING)

Yeah, and since you had enough notice, perhaps you took some video!!! It is already by her so hopefully, she won't have to jog home this time either!!

 

[pennyk]

Yeah, and since you had enough notice, perhaps you took some video!!! It is already by her so hopefully, she won't have to jog home this time either!!

Although I had enough notice, the train was traveling faster than I expected and I got delayed because of the zoom virtual birthday party for my great nephew. It is hard enough for me to multitask, but really hard when it involves technology and losing a signal in a stair well, having to mute, when I was outside, yada yada yada. I was a few blocks away when I saw the train. Although I was not right there, I did see it. I did see the car carriers after the first engine, which surprised me. It looked like only one engine in the rear, but I could be mistaken since I was a few blocks away and there was traffic on the road. It seemed like 52 was traveling faster than 53 the other day.
Sorry no video (since I was zooming at a birthday party at the same time - they knew I was outdoors but not why), but I took one photo and will try to post from my phone.
Again, thanks for the heads up. It is rare that I have 2 things to do at the same time (especially during a "stay at home" order by our city), but today I did.


Edit: Pretty poor photo of the train which is too far to see, but pretty good photo of "For Lease" sign. Sorry, I failed, but I tried.

 

[AmtrakBlue]

Will it go through Plant City or is that south of where it turns north?

There's a rail cam at Plant City

 

[Thirdrail7]

Again, thanks for the heads up. It is rare that I have 2 things to do at the same time (especially during a "stay at home" order by our city), but today I did.

Edit: Pretty poor photo of the train which is too far to see, but pretty good photo of "For Lease" sign. Sorry, I failed, but I tried.

It's ok Penny. At least you got to see it and hear it. Unfortunately, not everyone as understanding and wants to weigh in on the situation:

Will it go through Plant City or is that south of where it turns north?

The auto pain will turn north prior to Plant City but if it makes you feet better, the lite engine that is leftover from the tow move may pass Plant City...twice.

 

[jiml]

Hoping someone gets photos or video before dark.

 

[cocojacoby]

Waiting in Wildwood now

 

[jiml]

So do they reverse in Lakeland and ditch the spare engine there or continue further west to the alternate track?

 

[Thirdrail7]

Waiting in Wildwood now

It left LKL a few minutes ago.

So do they reverse in Lakeland and ditch the spare engine there or continue further west to the alternate track?

Once it clears the wye, they cut the tow engine off and the engines on the rear will pull it to LOR. By doing this, they make sure the automobiles are properly pointed for unloading.

 

[Railroad Bill]

Fortunately this weeks derailment was relatively minor, as such things go. I talked with a friend of mine who had some inside information, and provided the following update to some friends of mine yesterday as follows:

• Appears it was a track issue / sun kink (or track defect), but no official cause yet
• Train was doing 40 MPH when it went into emergency
• Derailment occurred south of the De Land Amtrak station
• That track is owned and maintained by SunRail, though they do not operate on that section between De Bary and De Land
  • Apparently CSXT had to help out as SunRail had no protocol in place or contacts to bring in Hulcher (or what-ever crane / re-railer service they brought in)
• 10 carriers derailed, 2 upright, 8 on their sides
• There were 90 vehicles on the 10 cars, and these included the passengers who paid the priority loading premium.
• Amtrak had 90 rentals at Lorton upon 52’s arrival the next day, and big $$$ in vouchers etc. for the passengers, plus Amtrak reps, Amtrak police and some EMS (just in case)
• All told, 28 rail cars arrived Lorton, believe 17 superliners and 11 auto carriers, so they had 21 carriers on departure (assuming the two upright cars were left behind, and the 28 count at Lorton is correct)

Apart from the Crescent City wreck in 2002 I do not recall any major Amtrak Auto Train derailment; perhaps a few minor ones similar to this weeks. I am sure someone could elaborate on that. The original Auto-Train Corporation had several major wrecks from1971-1981.

As for Crescent City, here is the damage list of the superliners: @=scrapped, *=wrecked/out of service and returned to service in 2003 or later (list is from Amtrak Superliner):

04/18/02 - train 52 Crescent City FL - sleepers 32074 - 32084 - *32090 - @32100 (New York), Deluxe sleepers *32501 - 32502 - *32503, AT Lounges *33100 - 33101, coaches *34120 - @34125 - @34126 - *34129, diners 38052 - *38054. Cars with no indicator likely returned to service in 2002, not sure when 32502 and 32503 returned.

The list is not in standing order. Trans-dorm 39002 was the lead car and not in above list. If it derailed it was upright, and as I recall the lead sleeper was derailed but upright (and perhaps another, leaning), then the following sleepers and 1st class lounge and diner were on their sides, followed by a general pileup (the three cars which were scrapped were in the middle of that). I had been at that exact spot photographing 52 twice before that wreck (pre-superliner) and had parked where the general pileup occurred.

32501 Palm Beach was not returned to service until March of 2011, after $2.1M of repairs funded by the stimulus package back then.

32501 Palm Beach after wreck
View attachment 17166

32501 Palm Beach May 2011 at National Train Day Tampa Union Station (early AM before crowds), same side, after rebuild and $2.1M:
View attachment 17167

Did I miss the information re" personal item in the cars on the wrecked autoracks? Valuables, other items that would have been in the individual autos? Were those recovered yet?

 

[Thirdrail7]

Waiting in Wildwood now

Are you still out there? it is north of DDE and is roughly 30 miles from the outskirts of WWD.

 

[Train2104]

It appears that 52 and 53 (28) ran and didn't have to detour, which implies the line has been reopened since the wreck. So why is today's train detouring?

 

[AmtrakBlue]

Found this video taken at Lakeland:

 

[Qapla]

Is the auto train detouring thru Waldo today? If so, what time?