Train Vs. Tornado- Train Loses!

Chase55671 · 07-04-2009, 01:44 AM

Someone sent me this video earlier this afternoon.. Pretty neat to watch the whole thing happen.. The tank car sliding down the rail seems pretty unbelievable!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFe0846RgWc

Chase

jdirelan87 · 07-04-2009, 01:56 AM

My question; if the crew had been able to see what was unfolding, would the right call have been to keep the power moving to out run the tank car? Seems like a good amount of the damage could have been avoided that way.

bigbassloyd · 07-04-2009, 02:03 AM

When the air dumps, the locomotives are coming to a stop, regardless of whether they wanted to or not.

Loyd L.

Chase55671 · 07-04-2009, 02:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jdirelan87

My question; if the crew had been able to see what was unfolding, would the right call have been to keep the power moving to out run the tank car? Seems like a good amount of the damage could have been avoided that way.

Good point, although as Loyd mentioned, he dumped the air just prior to the cars derailing. They're just thankful that car was not loaded as that impact with the trailing engine appeared to be very hard, although I suppose the car wouldn't of been bouncing down the track in the first place if it was loaded with anything.

Chase

bigbassloyd · 07-04-2009, 02:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chase55671

Good point, although as Loyd mentioned, he dumped the air just prior to the cars derailing. They're just thankful that car was not loaded as that impact with the trailing engine appeared to be very hard, although I suppose the car wouldn't of been bouncing down the track in the first place if it was loaded with anything.

Chase

It's hard to say, but mother nature may have dumped the air that time. It looks like the train separated a couple seconds before the grain car went over. Either way, there was nothing for the engine crew to do but hang on.

Loyd L.

TheRoadForeman · 07-04-2009, 04:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigbassloyd

It's hard to say, but mother nature may have dumped the air that time. It looks like the train separated a couple seconds before the grain car went over. Either way, there was nothing for the engine crew to do but hang on.

Loyd L.

Exactly, the train crew did not dump the air. Plus, loaded or empty, it still would have bounced all over the place because it was being shoved by the trailing tonnage of the balance of the train. Best the crew could do was bail off the engine brakes and hope their backs didn't get broken by the impact.

wab1189 · 07-04-2009, 05:28 AM

You can hear the air dump just before that grain car went over.

I saw that tank car coming and was like oh this isn't going to be good.

Does anyone know if the crew got hurt?

John Fladung · 07-04-2009, 07:12 AM

Amazing video!

TheRoadForeman · 07-04-2009, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wab1189

You can hear the air dump just before that grain car went over.

I saw that tank car coming and was like oh this isn't going to be good.

Does anyone know if the crew got hurt?

No serious injuries to the crew. However, the bridge was knocked off of center by 18 in.

wab1189 · 07-04-2009, 05:16 PM

Thats good they were not hurt to bad.

This video is making it's rounds on the Yahoo Email groups now. Some one said the tank car was loaded with Ethylene Oxide.

Gear · 07-04-2009, 09:32 PM

Nature PWNAGE!!1

So, I had assumed the lead unit didn't derail as well because of its shear weight.

Joey Bowman · 07-05-2009, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wab1189

Thats good they were not hurt to bad.

This video is making it's rounds on the Yahoo Email groups now. Some one said the tank car was loaded with Ethylene Oxide.

According to the info attached the video it said that one of the cars that struck the train was carrying hazardous material and they had to evacuate a town because of it.

mwtstormchaser · 07-07-2009, 02:33 AM

I was wondering when Union Pacific was going to release this video, I had only heard that it was out there at a storm spotting class I went to. There were no serious injuries and one tank car did leak it some of it contents that weren't of hazardous nature. I happen to live just 15 minutes from where this happened and I storm chase as well....I got video of the tornado as it approached Rt 14.....even though through my excitement I thought I was still on Rt 23....here is a link to the video if anyone is interested.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YSKv4KZlrA

rathman11 · 07-10-2009, 07:34 PM

I caught this video on weather.com! Pretty crazy stuff!