Amtrak Train Derails on Highway Bridge in Washington State

that's really sad, it should be interesting to see how such a tragic incident like this happened and how it could have been avoided, my thoughts and prayers to the victims and family.
 
Very tragic, Reading up on it, new high speed line, first public run, it's probably best not to speculate.
 
clam1952 said:
Very tragic, Reading up on it, new high speed line, first public run, it's probably best not to speculate.
Click to expand...

+1. I think the mods need to keep a close eye on this thread. Proto talk is openly visible to internet search engines and speculation or uninformed comment runs the risk of making it into mainstream media.

However RIP to those who lost their lives and hoping those injured make a full recovery.
 
Brand New Siemens SC-44 Charger Included in Derailment

FOX News is currently showing helicopter footage and a brand new Siemens SC-44 Charger is on the other end of the train and it has fallen on the other side of the bridge that all the footage of the derailment. That's something that'll the investigation board will be looking at.
 
How exactly did this happen? Cause just it derailed does not tell us exactly how it did. But only time will tell. This is truly a tragedy and I feel bad for the families and friends of the fallen.
 
Maybe overspeed or bad track maintenance but yeah don't speculate and wait for the investigation and the conclusions and my thoughts and prayers for the familly. This is sadly very recurrent this time in the States :(
 
  • The train consisted of an SC-44 "Charger" (lead), 12 Talgo coaches and a P42 (rear)
  • This was the inaugural run of Cascades service over the new Point Defiance Bypass route between Seattle and Tacoma.
  • There have been multiple fatalities reported.
 
Very sad to see for a first run over a new track - the run designed to save time.
I read there was no "positive train control" ... can someone explain this for our understanding?

Ta.
 
As per the Union Pacific Railroad's website:

Positive Train Control (PTC) is an advanced system designed to automatically stop a train before certain accidents occur. In particular, PTC is designed to prevent:

  • Train-to-train collisions
  • Derailments caused by excessive train speed
  • Train movements through misaligned track switches
  • Unauthorized train entry into work zones.
PTC will not prevent vehicle-train accidents at grade crossings, or those due to track and equipment failures.

When fully deployed, the nationwide PTC system must be able to accurately determine a train's location, direction and speed via the following process:

  • An onboard computer system receives and analyzes track data from wayside locations and base-station radios along the planned route.
  • This provides the locomotive engineer with advance warning of movement authority limits, speed limits and track conditions ahead, giving the engineer time to react and bring the train to a safe speed or controlled stop.
  • If corrective action is not detected within the warning period, PTC automatically applies the train brakes and brings it to a controlled stop without the engineer's assistance.
Click to expand...

All mainlines with regularly-scheduled passenger service are required to have PTC systems installed by December 31, 2018.
This is an extension of the original December 31, 2015 deadline set by Congressional mandate back in 2008.
 
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...they "rebuilt" the area to "allow" up to 79 MHP, but the train was going 81 MPH. Automatic airbrakes goofed it up.
 
Blutorse4792 said:
As per the Union Pacific Railroad's website:



All mainlines with regularly-scheduled passenger service are required to have PTC systems installed by December 31, 2018.
This is an extension of the original December 31, 2015 deadline set by Congressional mandate back in 2008.
Click to expand...

From monitoring BNSF Seattle Terminal radio traffic [www.railroadradio.net] off and on for several months, it seems there are continuing issues with PTC; typically several times a day trains are unable to log in to the system for one reason or another. When that happens, the crew may be instructed to proceed under the written rules and attempt to log in again when near another node. There is also an on-duty IT specialist who addresses these issues as they arise, sometimes successfully.

:B~(
 
In my opinion, I think it was faulty track. Also, what else could possibly cause a train to derail like that!? A tree, yes, but wouldn't they have inspected the line before the inaugural train made its first run? I read an article on it and it said that this trackage is part of a regional rail service. Well, there is only 1 company that can own that then and that is Septa because Septa is basically the only company that provides regional rail service anymore. Passenger service just does not bring a profit anymore and that is why it is gone. That is also why Amtrak was started because all private railways pulled their passenger services. After the 60s a lot of trackage was ripped up and we basically have a BASIC rail network that goes to main cities and towns and there very few passenger regional rail services. If that is Septa's trackage, I am not surprised a train derailed on it because Septa is not a great transportation company. They are still using buses from the 80s and 90s! Their trains are probably from the same era too!
 
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It will probably be 2 years before the NTSB will reveal the exact cause.

I never would board a train with only 2 axles, with shared wheelsets between cars, looking like Radio Flyer wagons
 
One report says that the train went too fast over a 30 MPH curve, another says that the train hit something in the tracks. I guess we won't know until the investigation is over.

My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families.

Matt
 
Got the road number of two locomotives:

Lead: WDTX(Amtrak) SC-44 1402
12182017_nbderailCP_120757.jpg

(Source: The Seattle Times)

Rear: Amtrak P42DC 181
r

(Source: Reuters)

This is recently AMTK 1402 being taken from Amtrak VIP Train.
 
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