Bad Day on the Eastern Division

Discussion in 'General' started by Brad Slone, Jan 30, 2010.

  1. Brad Slone

    Brad Slone Member Frisco.org Supporter

    In the early morning hours a BNSF westbound went on the ground halfway onto the siding at Dixon. It was caused by a broken rail and set all three units and the first freight car in the dirt. Two contract wrecking crews spent all day setting things back upright. I know there's not much in the way of O&W in the photo's, but it's still pretty cool seeing a sidewider cat on all four corners of a unit walking it a foot off the ground down the tracks!

    Brad
     

    Attached Files:

  2. TAG1014 (Tom Galbraith RIP 7/15/2020)

    TAG1014 (Tom Galbraith RIP 7/15/2020) Passed Away July 15, 2020 Frisco.org Supporter

    They can play all they want with those little toy machines, but what they needed was a Bucyrus or Industrial "BIG HOOK!"

    Tom
     
  3. w3hodoug (Doug Hughes RIP 03/24/2021)

    w3hodoug (Doug Hughes RIP 03/24/2021) 2008 Engineer of the Year Frisco.org Supporter

    Brad, was it behind your dad's store?
     
  4. Sirfoldalot

    Sirfoldalot Frisco.org Supporter Frisco.org Supporter

    Quote: In the early morning hours a BNSF westbound went on the ground ...

    Brad - This just happen?
    What's the date?
    Thanks.....
     
  5. Brad Slone

    Brad Slone Member Frisco.org Supporter

    This took place yesterday, traffic is moving today, although I think they might have a slow order still in place. It pretty much was right behind the feed store, as the high angle photo's where taken from atop the storage silos. It would have made for a little better shot if it was a couple hundred feet further, putting it beyond the tree line. But I don't think it was planned with photography in mind!

    Brad
     
  6. meteor910

    meteor910 2009 Engineer of the Year Staff Member Frisco.org Supporter

    Brad - Any idea what was in all the tank cars?

    Ken
     
  7. Brad Slone

    Brad Slone Member Frisco.org Supporter

    Ken,

    Use to be that would have been the first thing I would have looked at! Access to the site was limited for the cats, so they had to road them along the main from town. Part ways through the curve one of the sidewiders almost slid into one of the tanks. They had to cable a 973 to it in order to get it clear without causing any damage to the car.

    Brad
     

    Attached Files:

  8. gbmott

    gbmott Member

    Note to Tom -- been there, done that: a 250-ton Industrial Brownhoist is a truly awesome (if today's teenagers were to see one in action, they would know what "awesome" REALLY means) piece of machinery, especially in the hands of a crack wrecking crew, but I'll still take four sidewinders any day for efficiency in cleaning up the mess!

    Gordon
     
  9. meteor910

    meteor910 2009 Engineer of the Year Staff Member Frisco.org Supporter

    Brad - Big as those "cans" are, the lading has to be some lighter-than-water organic.

    And, there are a bunch of t/c's in the consist. It was some sort of a bulk move for sure!

    Reminds me of the crude oil and refined petroleum moves during WW2.

    Ken
     
  10. WindsorSpring

    WindsorSpring Member

    Regarding the tank cars in the derailment at Dixon, an eastbound into Lindenwood on the Cuba sub this morning had a very long cut of flammable-placarded tank cars that all looked pretty much alike right behind the power. When I finally got up from the pancakes to get a clear view, I saw the last read UN 1987 (= denatured alcohol or alcohol n.o.s.).
     
  11. meteor910

    meteor910 2009 Engineer of the Year Staff Member Frisco.org Supporter

    George, good observation! If I had to guess, I would say ethanol from Illinois for gasoline use in this westbound that had the problem in Dixon this weekend. The tanks are obviously full of some lighter-than-water organic, and the sheer number of cars suggest an automotive fuel additive shipment. My bet is ethanol, C2H5OH. (Also known as high octane vodka!)

    Good thing nothing breached - could have been quite a fire, or quite a party! :rolleyes:

    Ken
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jan 31, 2010
  12. Sirfoldalot

    Sirfoldalot Frisco.org Supporter Frisco.org Supporter

    Yeah .. It would take a looonnnng ditch to bury all those + a lot of concrete to cover it. :D:D
     
  13. slsfrr (Jerome Lutzenberger RIP 9/1/2018)

    slsfrr (Jerome Lutzenberger RIP 9/1/2018) Engineer Staff Member Frisco.org Supporter

    Gordon, I am with you. As a matter of fact I would take two sidewinders over one hook. It is hard to beat the versatility of sidewinder cats. I guess that is the reason wrecker cranes are a thing of the past, at least for the most part.

    Jerome
     

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