Head on CSX train crash Chester PA

cascaderailroad

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Two CSX trains crashed head at 8:25 this morning in a moderate speed collision, near the old Upland incinerator in western Chester city

One was a NB merchandise, who's lead loco climbed over the front anti-climbover, of the opposing trains lead loco, lifting it several feet off its lead truck, the other opposing train which was a SB intermodal had front pilot damage, but neither cab was seriously damaged. Four injuries, but no major catastrophic damage is reported at this time.

News report to follow:

http://www.delcotimes.com/general-n...head-on-in-chester-township-injuries-reported

http://etfdailynews.com/2016/10/28/two-csx-trains-collide-head-on-in-chester-pennsylvania/

http://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/local/2016/10/28/train-crash-chester/92881282/

AR-161029626.jpg&maxh=400&maxw=667


DaHar:o
 
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"[FONT=&quot]Luckily, there were virtually no people on the two trains and thus there were no injuries or casualties."

Where do they find these goofs?[/FONT]
 
I would check back at the dispatching office rather than at the crew, however, we can't pass judgement until the NTSB and the FRA investigate the accident and make a determination.

The question is why and how did the two trains end up on the same track. What about signals, or switches? There could have been a mechanical issue too with the infrastructure which indicated that the switch and signals were operating properly, but did not coincide with the actual operation, or worse, a dispatching error.

I'm glad there were no serious injuries as it's truly amazing how sturdy the front ends and cabs are on locomotives today. If this accident occurred a number of years ago, it would have been quite catastrophic.
 
Going by how the damage was kept to a minimum and the 4402 didn't clear the cab of the 5000, I'm going to guess both trains were moving slowly or 5000's train was stopped, but I'm not a professional. I guess we'll just have to wait for the FRA and NTSB reports.

I've already read "experts" on Facebook saying the 4402's gonna be scrapped, but it doesn't look like there's any real frame damage.

Matt
 
"Luckily, there were virtually no people on the two trains and thus there were no injuries or casualties."

Where do they find these goofs?

I think they may have meant that the trains weren't passenger trains. By saying there were virtually no people on board, their use of "virtually" is used to account for the crews and at the same time acknowledge that there were not passenger trains involved.
 
I think they may have meant that the trains weren't passenger trains. By saying there were virtually no people on board, their use of "virtually" is used to account for the crews and at the same time acknowledge that there were not passenger trains involved.

I'm sure, but the way it's worded makes it sound like the author isn't aware that most trains don't carry passengers.
 
Luckily a slow speed collision of the minor variety but one which your American press are trying to sensationalise in order to make something of nothing. (They do it all the time here in the UK too.)

"CHESTER TOWNSHIP >> One freight train slammed head-on into a second in the township this morning, resulting in several injuries, officials said..." Followed a few paragraphs later by,

"...Early indications were that one freight train rear-ended the other, knuckling into the fuel tank, resulting in a fuel spill..."

Really? A minute ago this bloke said they slammed into each other head on. Now he says one train ran into the back of the other. How about you go and ask someone who knows just exactly what happened before spreading sensationalist bull****? Oh, and several injuries?

"...Early indications were that there were several injuries. Early emergency radio reports indicated four people were hurt..." This bloke can't even make up his own mind in the same paragraph. As there were only TWO people on each train at the time (which he mentioned earlier) where does SEVERAL come into the equation?

It just goes to highlight the saying that you should never believe what you read in the press - especially when they're writing about railways (railroads) which they clearly have absolutely no understanding of whatsoever.

Dave
 
It just goes to highlight the saying that you should never believe what you read in the press - especially when they're writing about railways (railroads) which they clearly have absolutely no understanding of whatsoever.

The way I see it if they botch up reports on subjects I do know about and sensationalize and hype everything up, then surely they must also be doing the same to subjects I am not so knowledgeable in. In other words - I don't trust them in the slightest.
 
Never the less ... it was NOT a slow speed collision ... but it was a pretty violent moderate speed collision ... had they just merely bumped into each other, it would not have climbed over the anti-climb over pilot frame, ending up on top of the other loco frame, jacked up on a 20 degree angle, having it's truck torn off, knuckling the fuel tank, almost to being ripped open.
 
Two CSX trains crashed head at 8:25 this morning in a moderate speed collision, near the old Upland incinerator in western Chester city

One was a NB merchandise, who's lead loco climbed over the front anti-climbover, of the opposing trains lead loco, lifting it several feet off its lead truck, the other opposing train which was a SB intermodal had front pilot damage, but neither cab was seriously damaged. Four injuries, but no major catastrophic damage is reported at this time.

News report to follow:

http://www.delcotimes.com/general-n...head-on-in-chester-township-injuries-reported

http://etfdailynews.com/2016/10/28/two-csx-trains-collide-head-on-in-chester-pennsylvania/

http://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/local/2016/10/28/train-crash-chester/92881282/

AR-161029626.jpg&maxh=400&maxw=667


DaHar:o


From the looks of the photos on the second link, it seems crews managed to get out of cabs and shut everything down, either before, during or after said collision.
I would not be surprised if some reporters never even went to the site but just took phone calls and asked questions and got images of the wire they are subscribed to.
V obviously a drone image on the first link down the bottom of that page. We are going to see more and more of drone images of accidents and events, methinks.

I agree with John Citron, we are now getting crashworthy locomotives. Sand bins can be replaced. Frames and fuel tanks might be another matter. Can't say the same for passenger DMU-EMU rolling stock - although they have their crumple zones.
 
Why? you can just drop the fuel tank and put another one there. Those are relatively easy to replace. The main concern with equipment is if the two frame beams are compromised. If that happens, there is no way to really fix the locomotive.

I am not familiar with the term 'knuckled'. What knuckles touched the tank? I just don't understand this one.
 
From time to time freight trains crashing over there so how are things on the passenger-wise alternative?

September 29th, 2016: New Jersey Transit commuter train crashes:
http://forums.auran.com/trainz/showthread.php?133829-NJT-Hoboken-Terminal-crash

October 9th, 2016: Long Island Railroad commuter train and Maintenance-of-Way train collide:
http://forums.auran.com/trainz/showthread.php?134021-Long-Island-Railroad-derailment-MOW-Train-collision

Looks like the NTSB has their hands full.
 
I think a reporter coined the phrase "knuckled", as in a fist: "knuckle", where the locomotive truck "punched" the fuel tank, miraculously not causing much of a fuel spill ... perhaps an employee of FRA spokesman spoke to the news reporters and started the knuckle (head) new wurd

When there was a huge fire in a multi company manufacturing complex in Conshocken, Channel 29's "Jenifer" quoted: "Heavy black toxic smoke is billowing out of an "Exhaust" pipe factory" ... "There is no telling what "toxic exhaust" is billowing out" ... AhhhHahhDahurr !
 
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Never the less ... it was NOT a slow speed collision ... but it was a pretty violent moderate speed collision ... had they just merely bumped into each other, it would not have climbed over the anti-climb over pilot frame, ending up on top of the other loco frame, jacked up on a 20 degree angle, having it's truck torn off, knuckling the fuel tank, almost to being ripped open.
My apologies if I have misrepresented the facts. However, it is not always necessary to have speed to create the circumstances you describe. When you take into account the great weight involved in rail traffic (even in passenger trafic you are generally talking in hundreds of tons) it is often inertia from the great tonnage behind that causes one vehicle to climb upon or over another.

On the subject of the strength of loco/unit cabs, it is only in more recent years that this has become something that Train Operating Companies (TOCs) have started to show any concern over. In the UK, many of our loco and unit cabs were little more than fibreglass boxes in the 70's, 80, and 90's. Following some horrendous injuries and a couple of deaths in slow speed collisions (that should have been easily survivable) something of a campaign got underway to strengthen the Driver's (Engineer's) surroundings. I'm so glad to see the solidity of both of the locos involved in this incident under discussion here. It clearly saved the crew from, at best, some horrific injuries or, at worst, death.

Believe me, I can tell you from raw experience, there is nothing worse than having every ounce of brake force available to you applied and then just having to sit there, frozen, as you watch what you believe to be your imminent death approaching you from the opposite direction (and in what feels like slow motion when you look back afterwards.) To find yourself alive and without any serious injury is a tremendous boost for the short space of time you need to evacuate the wreckage but your legs soon turn to jelly the minute the immediate panic is over. I wish both of the traincrews a speedy recovery - although the memories will live with them long past their retirement.

Dave
 
I think a reporter coined the phrase "knuckled", as in a fist: "knuckle", where the locomotive truck "punched" the fuel tank, miraculously not causing much of a fuel spill ... perhaps an employee of FRA spokesman spoke to the news reporters and started the knuckle (head) new wurd
Much more likely that he accidentally type 'nuckled' for 'buckled' and just let the spelling corrector do its thing.
 
This sort of reminds me of that CSX crash in Mineral Springs. Difference is that the Mineral Springs crash was a rear end collision and 2 men perished. :'( Good thing about this wreck is that no one perished. It's been a few years but keep the families of those involved in both accidents in your thoughts.
 
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