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The Train Thread 2
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Bernie Vine Send message Joined: 26 May 99 Posts: 9954 Credit: 103,452,613 RAC: 328 |
Not a good day for Amtrak Rather than a stock picutre of 822 here is 5 (03) leaving Chicago. It is currently nearly 8 hours late, also 3 California Zephyr 3 (03) is 4 hours late. I am sure the problem is that most people are used to seeing long slow freights and are unaware just how quickly an Amtrak train may arrive at the crossing. Also I have seen at least five instances at Chesterton last week where a freight train approached the crossing at walking pace and continued at that pace until almost all 80 or so wagons were across, one actually came to a stop. Whist I know it is stupid to drive around the gate it will continue as people hate being held up. It may get worse as the rumour I have heard is that due to the massive downturn in freight, yards closing many layoffs, at least one company is putting locos in the middle and end of a train and adding 30-50 wagons, thereby running 2 trains for every 3, and saving on one train crew. It will of course mean to the road user that trains take even longer to clear the crossings. |
Gary Charpentier Send message Joined: 25 Dec 00 Posts: 30608 Credit: 53,134,872 RAC: 32 |
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Gary Charpentier Send message Joined: 25 Dec 00 Posts: 30608 Credit: 53,134,872 RAC: 32 |
Today freight http://abc7.com/news/train-fatally-strikes-person-near-downtown-pomona-station/1276947/ POMONA, Calif. (KABC) -- |
Bill Walker Send message Joined: 4 Sep 99 Posts: 3868 Credit: 2,697,267 RAC: 0 |
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/windsor/via-train-car-collide-near-london-ont-killing-2-1.3520018 This is about an hour from my house, and I've driven the crossing a few times. Flashing lights and buckboards, but no barrier. The land is dead flat, with good visibility of trains from both directions. Initial reports are that lights were working, train was doing about 60 mph. Kind of amazed this could happen at this location. The road was probably slippery, from snow the previous night, remains to be seen if this was a factor. |
Bernie Vine Send message Joined: 26 May 99 Posts: 9954 Credit: 103,452,613 RAC: 328 |
Well according to Operation Lifesaver There were 2059 collisions between a road vehicle and a train in 2015, 244 deaths and 967 injuries in the US. So that is nearly 6 collisions a day. The number is falling from a high in 1981 of 9461 collisions, 25 a day more than on an hour. Obviously it is mostly the fatal ones that get reported. |
rob smith Send message Joined: 7 Mar 03 Posts: 22158 Credit: 416,307,556 RAC: 380 |
That's a scary number.... Compared to Europe as a whole (Total similar track mileage, but far higher number of trains and aggregate train mileage) where the number is about 620 per year (last data is about 6 years old, but the trend has been a progressive reduction in accident rate, or just under two per day. Bob Smith Member of Seti PIPPS (Pluto is a Planet Protest Society) Somewhere in the (un)known Universe? |
Bill Walker Send message Joined: 4 Sep 99 Posts: 3868 Credit: 2,697,267 RAC: 0 |
I think the issue in North America is the large number of uncontrolled crossings, mostly rural with very light vehicle traffic. This accident was on a Class 1 line, with 25+ trains a day, a lot of Class 2 lines see one or two trains a week. According to Wikipedia (I know) Canada and the US total about 267,000 miles of track. Germany, France, Italy, UK and Spain total 130,000 miles. |
rob smith Send message Joined: 7 Mar 03 Posts: 22158 Credit: 416,307,556 RAC: 380 |
Bill, you have used a small subset of Europe - the whole European rail network is about 350,000 route-km, compared with the ~250,00 route-km of the USA. Europe as a whole has a vast number of un-gated crossing, and a great many low usage lines. The crossing accident figure is for the USA, not USA plus Canada. It is worth noting that the stats for Canada are far more favourable than those for the USA, and some European countries fare very badly, despite having very little railway track. Bob Smith Member of Seti PIPPS (Pluto is a Planet Protest Society) Somewhere in the (un)known Universe? |
W-K 666 Send message Joined: 18 May 99 Posts: 19012 Credit: 40,757,560 RAC: 67 |
UK Railway Data Table A selection of the available data on UK railways, updated as far as possible to Feb 2011. Item Statistic Comments Route kms 2010 15,777 Route kms 1961 28,100 Track Miles 21,000 Stations 2,516 Platform faces 5,736 Trains 4,000 Services run 20,000/weekday This is 16% increase from 1995 to 2009 Operating Staff 5,500 Signal Boxes 1,100 Level (at grade) Crossings 7,000 Level (at grade) Crossing Deaths 13 (2009) This is low by world standards Turnouts 19,000 Signals 17,000 Tunnels 674 Overbridges 15,000 Undeerbridges 20,000 Viaducts 2,000 Cuttings 3,000 Embankments 3,000 Electrified areas 40% of total Electrically operated traffic 60% of total 25kV AC electrified track 7,578 single track kms AC feeder stations 73 DC electrified track 4,285 single track kms DC sub-stations 430 Network rail property ownership 4th largest in UK Listed buildings owned Cost £50 million/year Persons visiting stations 1.75 million/year 65% of all rail trips start or finish in London Passenger journeys per day 2.75 million In the last 10 years passenger kilometres have risen 36% Passenger journeys in 2010 1.32 billion Passenger kilometres were 33.3 billion Railcards Sold 1.9 million 82% of journeys are made on discounted tickets Freight carried 400,000 tonnes/day Energy usage 1 car uses 50% of the energy of a whole High Speed Train Average age of Rolling Stock 2009 15 years Cost of new rolling stock, ordered since 1996 £4.5 billion 4,700 new vehicles at almost £1 million each Fuel range of UK HST 1,400 miles Sources: Network Rail, ATOC, SRA |
Bernie Vine Send message Joined: 26 May 99 Posts: 9954 Credit: 103,452,613 RAC: 328 |
I haven't been posting many pic of late as I detected boredom for "American grey" :-) However today I will post a few, and no they are neither American or grey. Firstly 60163 "Tornado" made one of its regular appearances at my local station today pulling the "Belmond British Pullman" Moving faster than normal I only got one good pic!! However whilst I was standing on platform 2 I was finally able to get a close up look at another new trainset. The 387/2, 210 to be precise very, well red!! And an express!! The new Gatwick Express units are finally staring to appear At the other end 387 215, still in "showroom condition" wonder how long that will last!! They are replacing the 28 year old 442's Which despite being 28 years old have only been on the Gatwick Express service since 2008. These were never built to be an express airport service and hopefully the 387, will be better, having more and larger doors. The 442's do have a claim to fame though: "The class holds the world speed record for a third-rail train with 174 km/h (108 mph), attained on 11 April 1988." Not many people know that !! Another interesting thing is that the 442's had the word "Gatwick" removed as some of the trains go on to Brighton and it was causing confusion!! As to the fate of the 442's it is undecided at the moment. |
Dr Who Fan Send message Joined: 8 Jan 01 Posts: 3191 Credit: 715,342 RAC: 4 |
Thank you Bernie for the colorful photos of trains from across the pond. |
Gary Charpentier Send message Joined: 25 Dec 00 Posts: 30608 Credit: 53,134,872 RAC: 32 |
http://www.progressiverailroading.com/amtrak/news/Amtrak-responds-to-FRA-safety-directive-following-deadly-accident--47877 Amtrak responds to FRA safety directive following deadly accident http://www.foxnews.com/us/2016/04/03/amtrak-train-derails-after-striking-backhoe-on-tracks-south-philadelphia.html?intcmp=hpbt1 |
David S Send message Joined: 4 Oct 99 Posts: 18352 Credit: 27,761,924 RAC: 12 |
Yes, it's American, and yes, it's gray (actually Platinum Mist). 668 will arrive Chicago on 6 tomorrow. http://discuss.amtraktrains.com/index.php?/topic/55208-acs-64-heads-up/?p=657550 I do not expect to see it, unless it ends up being just the perfect amount late into Naperville. I'll be working until 4 and then going to the dr. at 430, so it would have to be going by just as I walk out the door at about 407. David Sitting on my butt while others boldly go, Waiting for a message from a small furry creature from Alpha Centauri. |
Bernie Vine Send message Joined: 26 May 99 Posts: 9954 Credit: 103,452,613 RAC: 328 |
Yes, it's American, and yes, it's gray (actually Platinum Mist). 668 will arrive Chicago on 6 tomorrow. Indeed, as I now "spot" for an Amtrak daily whereabouts list I get to hear a bit more and knew about 668 almost as soon as it left :-) Despite it being grey and Amtrak, I will still hopefully post a pic. Currently running 20 minute late at Holdrege NE. It is interesting as I now get a daily e-mail listing all the "spotted" Amtrak services and what is pulling them and any problems i.e. Amtrak 4 (8) was 4.30 late into CUS as 169 died between LaJunta and Lamar,s/o at Lamar and 65 brought it in alone. |
Bernie Vine Send message Joined: 26 May 99 Posts: 9954 Credit: 103,452,613 RAC: 328 |
As promised (or threatened :-) ) here on a bright sunny April afternoon ACS 64 668 makes it's début in the windy city!! Unusually I was able to catch it at Galesburg 2 hrs 45 earlier. Also you may remember when the Southwest Chief derailed on the 14th March, well it appear there was damage to the track caused by a runaway truck Amtrak, BNSF suing Cimarron feed company, alleging ‘gross negligence’ One has to wonder when removing the truck how no one noticed the damage to the track an what that might mean. |
Richard Haselgrove Send message Joined: 4 Jul 99 Posts: 14649 Credit: 200,643,578 RAC: 874 |
Quick - administer the antidote before Chris hyperventilates too much! I was invited to ride on a special train on the Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway ("La'al Ratty") at the weekend. We gathered at the seaside with the guest of honour preparing to board the Pullman car, of course. This line is built to the same dimension as the Romney, Hythe & Dynchurch Railway that has featured here before - indeed, they lend each other locomotives for special events - but instead of running along the coastal plains, Ratty heads for the hills. 40 minutes later... Stella was a good friend of my mother's, and her son is a driver on the railway - to explain why I got the ride. 90 is a good age, but the next service train up the line was hauled by River Irt - an engine first built in 1894 (though much remodelled since then). They build to last in these parts! I'll spare you the three hours of speeches, food, and music, but a good time was had by all. And they laid on a spectacular sunset for the ride back. |
David S Send message Joined: 4 Oct 99 Posts: 18352 Credit: 27,761,924 RAC: 12 |
Quick - administer the antidote before Chris hyperventilates too much! Nice, Richard. What is the track gauge? Bernie, I don't suppose you caught the BNSF business train going by Galesburg this morning? David Sitting on my butt while others boldly go, Waiting for a message from a small furry creature from Alpha Centauri. |
Richard Haselgrove Send message Joined: 4 Jul 99 Posts: 14649 Credit: 200,643,578 RAC: 874 |
Nice, Richard. What is the track gauge? The track you see is 15 inch (381 mm) gauge, and has been since 1915. The line was originally built in the 19th. century to a more robust 3-foot gauge, to transport iron ore to the coast for onward shipment. That means the track is roughly one-quarter scale, but the locos - so far as they are modelled on mainline locos, which isn't far - are closer to one-third scale: the line has gradients up to 1 in 40 (2.5%), and 'true scale' locos aren't powerful enough. Many more details in https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ravenglass_and_Eskdale_Railway |
David S Send message Joined: 4 Oct 99 Posts: 18352 Credit: 27,761,924 RAC: 12 |
Bernie, I don't suppose you caught the BNSF business train going by Galesburg this morning? My mistake, it's leaving tomorrow morning after the Metra rush. Figure it to be at Galesburg around 11 or a bit after. David Sitting on my butt while others boldly go, Waiting for a message from a small furry creature from Alpha Centauri. |
Bernie Vine Send message Joined: 26 May 99 Posts: 9954 Credit: 103,452,613 RAC: 328 |
Bernie, I don't suppose you caught the BNSF business train going by Galesburg this morning? Well no the GBB camera have been unreliable of late and they were working on them today However, I did just happen to see it passing the Chicago camera on Thursday https://youtu.be/B6g6JiJIvE8 And just by chance again yesterday when it returned. https://youtu.be/FIahodbCovs The cars were from 6611 back: Snoqualmie Pass, Stampede Pass (hep), Raton Pass, Marias Pass, Stevens Pass, John Reed and William B Strong. I thought video was better as trying to cut and paste them all would have taken too long. I was going to look them all up but it is a bit late here. |
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