Corn field meet (head on crash) on UP Pratt Subdivision

[bikkuri bahn]

In the Oklahoma Panhandle, ex-SP/CRI&P Golden State Route.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/story/2012-06-24/okla-train-crash/55797910/1?csp=34news

 

Apparently this stretch is CTC controlled, though obviously not equipped with PTC.

[Guest Closed Account 1]

That suxx.  What a loss for commerce.

 

"The westbound train had three locomotives and 80 railcars that were carrying motor vehicles, she said. Two of that train's locomotives and a locomotive from the eastbound train caught fire after the collision, she said."

 

90% of Honda's cars are transported on Auto-Racks. The highest of any auto maker. They didn't say auto-max which is the new car hauler Honda uses exclusively.

 

Rail is the most economical and greenest form of land transport.

 

Until this happens.

[bikkuri bahn]

More details:

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/06/25/3-missing-after-trains-collide-in-rural-oklahoma/

 

Though this is CTC territory (according to posts in U.S.-based forums), apparently the sidings themselves are manually operated, if the train indeed failed to take a siding. However I am not terribly familiar with the various levels of traffic control on US railroads, other than it relies considerably on the vigilance of train crews rather than failsafe electronics, and crews confirming signals with each other. Only one crewmember (a conductor) survived the collision, his testimony will be interesting to hear.

[bikkuri bahn]

According to a post on another forum w/apparently a reliable source, the east end of the siding was aligned for the WB autorack train to take the siding, however, the EB train sped through on the main (ignoring the signal?), and as the switch was a trailing switch, didn't slow or derail that train.  The WB train apparently was slowing down (either on spotting the opposite train or to take the siding), but the EB train was estimated to be going 65mph (!) at point of impact.