What follows is not Q and its modern but oh so true.I just read the report
from the Canadian entity that is the equivalent of the U.S. NTSB.
In Feb 2001 a westbound CP train is doing a couple of moves in Red Deer.Al
before heading out of town. Its zero degrees celsius(hey,were in Canada
now).Its a 2 man crew( Condr/eng).The train is on yard one and they have to
set a car to yard 2 about 9 back in the train and p/u 12 cars off of 5.
They are pulling ahead at 3.9 miles an hour and go into emergency. The engr.
tells the Condr who is walking toward the switch that he smells ammonia. The
Eng cuts off the units and heads west. The Condr turns east and heads for the
yard office.
Long story(22 page report) short. There was a wide gauge just where #1 bends
to go into the lead. There were 2 and 1/2 inches of play in the spike holes
at the ties at this point.
The derailed tanks wheels travel 90 ft to the next switch frog at which time
the lateral stresses break the rail on the opposite side which has
preexisting fractures due to bolt hole widening from a loose joint bar
bolt.The rail is 1991 Algoma rolled( for those of you who ever rode the
Algoma Central). The tank rolls over and impacts the ground with its manway
nozzle;this cracks the welds holding the nozzle to the tank.Anhydrous Ammonia
is released. There's a trespasser walking w/in feet of the car. He is
overcome and dies 3 months later. A large part of Red Deers population has to
be evacuated.Several local polic and Candain Mounties who are the first on
the scene are treated for AA exposure.They had no protective devices.
The extensive investigation reveals that the CP track geometry car went over
the main line next to this spot the prior fall.The rail detector car went
over the main in January. But neither went on track one or the lead as it
wasnt required per the standards.The switch and trk had a visual inspection
by the trk foreman in January but he couldnt see the wide gauge because there
wasnt a load on the rail.He couldnt see the worn bolt hole because of a
spacer and nut.
CP now inspects all main line sidings with the trk geometry car and rail
detector.Trk one in this yard is treated as a main line siding.
The car owner and tank industry are exploring even more ways to make tank
cars crash worthy.
Murphys law.
Leo
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