BC train derailment

[oneoff]

Well if that train was parked so that engines could get it moving from a dead stop; then why wouldn't someone either not have been in charge of the engines, or asleep, or not keeping the air pressure up etc.

Any one of these steps should have prevented it rolling backwards?

Or did it roll forwards out of control? Don't know any details; just saw one picture and haven't yet read comments on here.

[farming101]

Well if that train was parked so that engines could get it moving from a dead stop; then why wouldn't someone either not have been in charge of the engines, or asleep, or not keeping the air pressure up etc.

Any one of these steps should have prevented it rolling backwards?

Or did it roll forwards out of control? Don't know any details; just saw one picture and haven't yet read comments on here.

Good idea. Likely the cheapest way to prevent an accident like this is to man the train at all times. These fellows stayed with the train. I don't know how they even made it through the first tunnel. They likely wouldn't have considered anything else. Another person interested in self preservation might have bailed as soon as it took off down the grade. A special breed. Even though farmers have been battling railroads as long as there was a railroad I always wave to the guys at a crossing.

[TOM4CWB]

Good idea. Likely the cheapest way to prevent an accident like this is to man the train at all times. These fellows stayed with the train. I don't know how they even made it through the first tunnel. They likely wouldn't have considered anything else. Another person interested in self preservation might have bailed as soon as it took off down the grade. A special breed. Even though farmers have been battling railroads as long as there was a railroad I always wave to the guys at a crossing.

After the oil car disaster in Quebec... it is astounding the DOT does not require changes to the brake system... to prevent these disasters. You would think by now... a reasonable solution should have been put in place [implemented] to stop these type fatal reoccurring disasters.

Silly me...I know the common sense answer!!!

All new train engineers... must have 125 hours of training [pun intended] @ a cost to them of 100$/hr + to be sure all new people driving trains; know how to apply manual hand brakes on rail cars.

There... that fixes the problem!!! No more fatalities... if there are... up the training of new locomotive operators to 250 hours... to make sure they understand how to apply mechanical hand brakes on rail cars.

WOW.... the power of regulations to force people to follow proper driving procedures!!!

Sooo;
perhaps this was at the crew change time...[a known fact] and the crew getting off shift... was not allowed [according to union rules] to apply the manual brakes on the rail cars... because their shift had already expired... and it would have meant possible reprimands [for breaking union rules and overtime work/log time breaches... that was not allowed]... if the crew leaving the train had applied the mechanical brakes... as was also required by law.

Just a thought... in case you wanted to know the rest of the story.

Think of all the fun we will have... when we are required to run log books when seeding and harvesting!!!

NDP union rules... to save farmers from themselves!!!