My local short-line had a big problem with a train of loads coming south from the interchange with CSX. No word of what caused the derailment, but I’m sure the heavy rain didn’t help. One of the guys on the local email list, John Bazan, posted these photos of the clean-up effort.
Luckily, that tank which is loaded with ethanol did not tip over and did not leak.
I guess we can label that place “Wood Dump Curve”…
You’re not going to tell us that those wheels sets came off the wreck, now, are ya?
tac
www.ovgrs.org
Terry A de C Foley said:
You're not going to tell us that those wheels sets came off the wreck, now, are ya?tac
www.ovgrs.org
I’ll see if I can grab the newspaper photos from before they started clean-up.
(http://extras.mnginteractive.com/live/media/site101/2010/0330/20100330__tfront31_GALLERY.jpg)
Youtube Link to aftermath video
The Berkshire Eagle said:
Thursday April 1, 2010 LEE - The Housatonic Railroad Co. has cleared the wreckage from this week’s freight train derailment in Lee, but company officials said on Wednesday a " fair amount of clean up" remains, before rail service resumes. Matt Boardman, a railroad supervisor, said the seven cars - including one carrying 22,000 gallons of ethanol - were safely moved onto the rails away from the knee-deep muddy crash scene on Wednesday. While the undamaged tanker remained upright following Monday night’s accident, one rail car was leaning and five were tipped over just west of the Pine Street crossing. The six other cars were carrying lumber and other construction materials. The 41-car train was traveling south to Canaan, Conn. around 8 p.m. Monday when the derailment occurred near the Oak N’ Spruce resort. The clean- up process involved LB Corp. of Lee laying down 2,000 tons of stone along tracks so special heavy machinery brought in from the Buffalo, N. Y., area could safely reach the derail cars. The last one removed and righted was partially submerged in the Housatonic River. “It was upside down and on the river bank,” said Boardman. The rail cars removed, Boardman said repair of the 400 feet of track damaged by the crash will begin this morning and continue into Friday. However, he anticipated rail service in the affected area won’t resume until early next week. He said that the cause of the derailment remains under investigation, but he Advertisement suspects the wet conditions were a “contributing factor.” The derailment continued to draw curious onlookers Wednesday afternoon as the wreckage could be seen by motorists driving on nearby Route 102 and Meadow Street. Housatonic Railroad, a Canaan, Conn.-based company, operates two rail lines totaling on 161 miles - one from Danbury, Conn., to Pittsfield, and another from Derby, Conn., to Beacon, N.Y. To reach Dick Lindsay: rlindsay@berkshireeagle. com, or ( 413) 496- 6233.
Are they blaming you Jon? Tell them you were in York all weekend and have friends that will vouch for ya.
Jon,
Looking at the photos and the video it almost looks like the rail on the river side simply rolled over. If that happend right quickly I could see cars rolling over.
Bob C.
Could be Bob. We’ll probably never hear an official cause as no one was hurt and no hazmat spill - so the NTSB won’t get involved. This track was upgraded to 25MPH several years ago so the ties spikes and joint bars should have been good, but this is old rail so anything can happen. Local speculation is that the heavy rain softened the roadbed causing the rail and ties to work up and down with each passing truck which resulted in spikes coming loose, and then the rail just fell over.
Guess I’m gonna get blamed for this one too.
That would seem only fair
…grinning…
And just…
Damnation…throwing wings in the air…struttin and scratchin.
I do believe it’s time for some duct tape
…grinning…
It was da Roosters fault… Dang boy shouldda worn depends…
These guys just can’t catch a break. The derailment was cleared, all the track back in service and a day later this happened…
(http://lsc.cvsry.com/Post/HRRC_Washout.jpg)
"http://www.iberkshires.com/new/story.php?story_id=34529" said:
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Neighbors along the Houstonic River near Holmes Road prevented a potential disaster on Monday when they flagged down a train before it tried to cross a water-weakened trestle.
Empties are backing up all over the railroad and the interchange is choked with loads.
I guess when it rains it pores.
I just read that there was an 1840’s stone arch here before the wash-out. Shame to loose that history.
David Russell said:
Damnation…throwing wings in the air…struttin and scratchin.
Yeah, I saw the picture.
(http://www.lscdata.com/users/jgolding/Rough%20year%20for%20a%20rooster.jpg)
