BC train derailment

[farmaholic]

So brakes are always "off" unless applied by air pressure? Except for manually applied hand brakes.

The mechanical spring pressure of "always on" unless they are released by air pressure doesn't exist on railcar like it does on highway tractors?

[Rareearth]

Jet airliners work in plus 50 degree Celsius to minus 60 degree Celsius at altitudes

There is a good example of technology differences, safety systems, modernization, efficiency, etc ( I guess every thing comes at a cost)

[walterm]

Tragic event. My first question is they know stopping on a grade is dangerous, especially in cold weather, so why stop on them. I understand it was for crew change seems it would be better if they had changed before or after steepest grade on the line.

[Oliver88]

The hand brake is a 2’ dia wheel that is turned by hand and it pulls a chain that is attached to a steel rod which applies the brake shoes.

It sounds like this brake is 100% mechanical.

What is the standard operating procedure for applying these hand brakes on shift change while parked on a down grade?

What safety procedures are in place to ensure proper braking has been completed at shift change?

Something isn’t adding up.

[walterm]

The other question is why a 2hr stop to change crews?

[Guest]

Tragic event. My first question is they know stopping on a grade is dangerous, especially in cold weather, so why stop on them. I understand it was for crew change seems it would be better if they had changed before or after steepest grade on the line.

probably union rules of some kind. they send taxis all the way out here(2.5 hrs) from Saskatoon to pick them up , can't go a minute over their shift . no shit , taxis , can you imagine what that costs ?

[AlbertaFarmer5]

I assume the reason why upgrading rail cars to have maxi style brakes ( spring applied, air released 2 chamber pots), is that you would need to redo the entire fleet at once. Can't have one car in middle of a train with air released brakes, since there would be no supply line to release them. Can't have one car without, which can't transmit the air from the car ahead to release the car behind, so that doesn't work either. Would have to be a way to cage every updated car and still have the air applied brakes function normally until the entire fleet is done.

[Rareearth]

Like a dedicated engine to car train system leased system (maybe) for exclusive industry use, such as potash, or new oil tankers, etc

[Klause]

So... Our trains don't have Westinghouse triple valve brake systems?


If I recall, a drop in pressure slams the brakes on in that system

[tmyrfield]

So... Our trains don't have Westinghouse triple valve brake systems?


If I recall, a drop in pressure slams the brakes on in that system

Producer cars that I have filled were parked with hand brakes applied. to move the car you released the hand brake by either turning the brake wheel(slow) or pulling the lever(fast). to set the brakes again you had to turn the brake wheel the other way to tighten the brake shoes against the steel wheel. It always amazed me that I could get the car rolling
half loaded just by putting your shoulder(not recommended) to the steel wheels when the brakes were off.

[farming101]

So... Our trains don't have Westinghouse triple valve brake systems?


If I recall, a drop in pressure slams the brakes on in that system

True, the brakes slam on as a result of a pressure drop in the supply line, either by operating the control valve or a severed line, but only if the railcar's reservoirs are full.

[sumdumguy]

It seems that people are questioning the reason for parking the unit for 2 hours on a steep grade. There have been several accidents at Field in the past. No one learns from history.