Southwest Chief derailment (June 2022)

[AmtrakBlue]

Engines aren't, all passengers cars and baggage car is.




I wonder how this might effect my scheduled Chief trip in a few weeks.

https://www.amtraktrains.com/forums/amtrak-information.139/

 

[jis]

They are certainly more top heavy but in an accident like this there are so many forces at play it’s complicated. This train went from 90 to 0 with no telescoping and no structural issues.... that’s pretty amazing.

Indeed! The tightlock couplers worked and kept the train together inline.

 

[zetharion]

If the truck driver survived I cant imagine what's going through his mind right now especially when he finds out how many lost their lives.

 

[TinCan782]

Did it derailed first then hit the truck waiting at the crossing?
Or did it hit the truck on crossing and derailed as a result?
Generally hitting a truck would not lead to derailment

I guess we'll have to see what the investigation reveals. Give it time.

 

[Fenway]

 

[alpha3]

Literally no one has said that.

Literally, you can't tell my sarcasm by the 'rolled eyes' emogi. C'mon.

The term "derailment" says that.

No, it doesn't

 

[Trogdor]

The term "derailment" says that.

No, it doesn’t.

Derailment is literally correct. That is what happened. The train is not on the rails. It derailed. It in no way, other than your own attempt at interpretation, implies cause.

 

[jis]

With the SWC derailment, if the train goes to five-days-a-week what days will it probably depart? Can't remember where it was said previously on here.

It is all speculative. I am sure no one has any idea.

Incidentally the previous 5 day thing was not designed to reduce the number of consists needed. It was designed to reduce the number of crew needed. A reduced operation to reduce the number of consists needed will look very very different. But for now let us wait until we get to that river before figuring out which bridge to cross.

 

[Cal]

https://www.amtraktrains.com/forums/amtrak-information.139/

The only thing I could find was days of operation after the Chief went daily.

 

[PRR 60]

"Amtrak said people who need immediate assistance with information about the train can call or text 1-800-USA-RAIL."

Yeah, good luck with that.

Special number is 800-523-9101.

 

[jis]

The only thing I could find was days of operation after the Chief went daily.

As I pointed out in the other thread, the previous 5 day operation did not save any consists. It reduced the number of staff needed. So those days of operation will provide you no guidance in figuring out how they will operate a train with one fewer consist, if it comes to that.

 

[zetharion]

Indeed! The tightlock couplers worked and kept the train together inline.

If they werent like that could only one or two cars have toppled instead? Or does having more go down limit the number of potential rolls?

 

[Sammo]

What about the engineers up front?

 

[jis]

If they werent like that could only one or two cars have toppled instead? Or does having more go down limit the number of potential rolls?

No they would have more likely jacknifed and the cars would have been hit from the side causing much more damage. If there is no track left they would have deraiedl and flown every which way.

There is a century of research that support the idea that tightlock couplers save lives.

 

[joelkfla]

There's double track, and the train fell away from the other track. Looks like they should be able to get a single track open pretty quickly, once the remains of the truck are removed and the crossing repaired.

 

[stx]

A passenger just posted elsewhere that passengers have been bussed to a school, and those injured will be taken to Columbia MO hospitals.

 

[slasher-fun]

What about the engineers up front?

Looks like they were in the only part of the train that didn't go to rest on its side, so they should be doing pretty ok.

 

[zetharion]

Maybe a bit insensitive at the moment? But the cars that toppled, will they just get a crane and put them back on the tracks to see if they still roll?

 

[jis]

Maybe a bit insensitive at the moment? But the cars that toppled, will they just get a crane and put them back on the tracks to see if they still roll?

Wait a day and you'll know for sure. Why pointlessly speculate?

 

[zetharion]

Well I assumed some on here might know off the top of their head how it was done in the past.

 

[BalmyZephyr]

No, it doesn’t.

Derailment is literally correct. That is what happened. The train is not on the rails. It derailed. It in no way, other than your own attempt at interpretation, implies cause.

Derailment (alone) is literally incomplete and out of context, like one of my two posts said. Maybe you didn't read that one. The train didn't randomly derail (most likely) nor did it derail because of excessive speed on a curve like the Philadelphia derailment. So what I said was, people who only see "Derailment" might get the impression that trains randomly derail or engineers drive too fast, and trains are a dangerous way to travel. All you're gonna hear for weeks now are news reports saying "passengers killed/injured in derailment in Missouri" and the like. My only point is that if this truck (driver) caused the accident, another description would be better.

 

[Fenway]

https://www.kmbc.com/nowcast

 

[jis]

MODERATOR'S NOTE: Let us please stop arguing about the meaning of "Derailment" and focus on this event.

Thank you for your understanding, cooperation, and participation.

 

[joelkfla]

CNN website now says more than 50 injuries and multiple fatalities.

 

[zetharion]

That truck only has its engine and frame left in tact, the rest of it is gone. press conference at 6 EST.