How unusual is it for a train to coast the entire length of the line in an accident?

[bluejeans]

A train near me coasted from its' terminus to the main intercity station, for 17km:  https://web.archive.org/web/20130613145303/http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/02/03/1044122326344.html

 

I've never heard of this happening over such a distance and thought surely someone could have stopped it before it reached the beginning of the line?

[marknewton]

The ATSB report is here:

 

https://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/investigation_reports/2003/rair/rair2003001/

 

Cheers,

 

Mark.

[VJM]

Without reading the ATSB report, here are my thoughts:

- it's almost entirely downhill grade the length of the Broadmeadows line

- I doubt Metrol would have been able to divert it down the Albion freight line before it got past the points

- off the top of my head, there's no derails, and since both sides of the line are heavily populated, it would have been incredibly risky to do so (and likely to cause massive damage)

- the only spot to possibly derail would be the Kensington siding; again not really a safe place to do so

- A nice big N class loco makes for good stopping power, and much less messy than, say another Comeng (or Hitachi) or the end of Spencer Street Platforms.

 

17 KM isn't that much, compared with the 93KM or so the BHP ore train covered in Western Australia last month.

[miyakoji]

 

The facility in the distance is the former Bethlehem Steel Works.

[nah00]

Looks like NS or CSX is gearing up for the new Tier 5 emissions requirements (aka no diesel).