PA - Major freight train derailment - no injuries, Pittsburgh, August 2018

CARIIS

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  • #1
Raw video during actual derailment sequence


VIDEO: Freight Train Derails Near Station Square

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Freight Train Cars Derail Near Station Square, Crash Onto T Tracks
 
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  • #2
  • #3
Trying to get real time update local news on in background - blown away by how long the sports segment is on the outlet.

Rarely see local news with much sports coverage any longer - fine by me!! THis guy was like the ones of yesteryear breathlessly describing someone chasing a little brown football around!
 
  • #4
  • #5
Those tracks are really stacked up on Mt Washington. The NS tracks are basically traveling on a curving, narrow terrace on the side of the mountain. It's a little surprising they haven't had problems there before. In a derailment there, there's no place for the cars to go except down on the next tier.

I'm guessing the freight trains have to go pretty slow traveling along that stretch, which is a good thing in this case. Good thing no one was hurt and the spilled freight seems to be mostly consumer products-mouthwash, produce, etc.
 
  • #6
  • #7
The only good things about this are that no one has been hurt and there are no toxic/hazardous materials in the cars. Oh, and one of the cars was carrying Listerine so I guess it's the most minty fresh train wreck ever.

Tonight, a derailed double container car came down the hill, the doors on the back opened up and all the freight spilled out. That has thrown a wrench into the works, clean-up wise. They'd like to get the train tracks open within 36 hours but even if that happens, they still need to worry about the integrity of the T tracks.

 
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  • #8
What i don't get on this one is the 24/7 removal operation .

In a derailment on a flat surface where it is about righting them and moving working at night under lights seems ok

but on this one i would think sunshine would be their friend moo
 
  • #9
I cant seem to find NTSB pressers which is very very strange -- anyone?
 
  • #10
What i don't get on this one is the 24/7 removal operation .

In a derailment on a flat surface where it is about righting them and moving working at night under lights seems ok

but on this one i would think sunshine would be their friend moo

They really need to get this cleared up asap. This is impacting everyone, especially those in the South Hills, who need to get into the city. So glad I no longer have to go into, around, through or anywhere near downtown.

Train derailment slows commute via Pittsburgh's rails, roads: 5 things to know Tuesday
 
  • #11
  • #12
The only good things about this are that no one has been hurt and there are no toxic/hazardous materials in the cars. Oh, and one of the cars was carrying Listerine so I guess it's the most minty fresh train wreck ever.

Tonight, a derailed double container car came down the hill, the doors on the back opened up and all the freight spilled out. That has thrown a wrench into the works, clean-up wise. They'd like to get the train tracks open within 36 hours but even if that happens, they still need to worry about the integrity of the T tracks.


Oops! What a mess. Hope it wasn't electronics, looks like mixed consumer goods.

I can see how it's nearly impossible for anyone to climb up there and secure the cars or empty them. It's so steep, it would be very dangerous for anyone to get close. Cranes are the only way to start picking that stuff and moving it away. Very delicate operation, giving it's all hanging on the side of the cliff.

Something must have happened to the tracks. None of that freight is very heavy, there were no other trains or cars around to collide with. Could have also been they were going too fast on the curve. There are probably slow orders with a maximum speed for that area.
 
  • #13
Oops! What a mess. Hope it wasn't electronics, looks like mixed consumer goods.

I can see how it's nearly impossible for anyone to climb up there and secure the cars or empty them. It's so steep, it would be very dangerous for anyone to get close. Cranes are the only way to start picking that stuff and moving it away. Very delicate operation, giving it's all hanging on the side of the cliff.

Something must have happened to the tracks. None of that freight is very heavy, there were no other trains or cars around to collide with. Could have also been they were going too fast on the curve. There are probably slow orders with a maximum speed for that area.


On the news (I believe it was WPXI) they said the train was carrying "household goods" destined for big box stores. Nothing hazardous so I'd think that would exclude electronics (e-waste and all that).

What we have had this year, all over the Pgh area, is a record number of landslides. Landslides and flooding. Even though there wasn't a landslide at the site of the derailment, imo it's a real possibility that the land under the tracks could have been just unstable enough to compromise the tracks. It will be real interesting to see what the damage is once the area is cleared.

I'm also wondering what's going on with other trains that should have been using those tracks and what big box distribution center never got their trainload of product.
 
  • #14
Oops! What a mess. Hope it wasn't electronics, looks like mixed consumer goods.

I can see how it's nearly impossible for anyone to climb up there and secure the cars or empty them. It's so steep, it would be very dangerous for anyone to get close. Cranes are the only way to start picking that stuff and moving it away. Very delicate operation, giving it's all hanging on the side of the cliff.

Something must have happened to the tracks. None of that freight is very heavy, there were no other trains or cars around to collide with. Could have also been they were going too fast on the curve. There are probably slow orders with a maximum speed for that area.

the live video post one -- it was going really slow !

an axle??
 
  • #15
On the news (I believe it was WPXI) they said the train was carrying "household goods" destined for big box stores. Nothing hazardous so I'd think that would exclude electronics (e-waste and all that).

What we have had this year, all over the Pgh area, is a record number of landslides. Landslides and flooding. Even though there wasn't a landslide at the site of the derailment, imo it's a real possibility that the land under the tracks could have been just unstable enough to compromise the tracks. It will be real interesting to see what the damage is once the area is cleared.

I'm also wondering what's going on with other trains that should have been using those tracks and what big box distribution center never got their trainload of product.

i hope listerine lovers have a backup bottle -- that stuff is disgusting = mineral spirits is cheaper and i would think tastes a dash more refreshing!!
 
  • #16
On the news (I believe it was WPXI) they said the train was carrying "household goods" destined for big box stores. Nothing hazardous so I'd think that would exclude electronics (e-waste and all that).

What we have had this year, all over the Pgh area, is a record number of landslides. Landslides and flooding. Even though there wasn't a landslide at the site of the derailment, imo it's a real possibility that the land under the tracks could have been just unstable enough to compromise the tracks. It will be real interesting to see what the damage is once the area is cleared.

I'm also wondering what's going on with other trains that should have been using those tracks and what big box distribution center never got their trainload of product.

Sounds like a "hidden" washout could have been the cause, if there have been other recent landslides in the area. I forgot that Pgh has been getting a lot of rain lately. The soil under the tracks may have become so saturated that any train moving across could cause the rail to bend or shift. It can look solid one minute, then wash out the next.

Here's some video of a washout. Warning, some bad language. Many railroaders are notorious for cursing, haha.


Looks like they plan to have the tracks open sometime today. The accident is backing up trains across the NS system, as well as local commuter traffic.

Mess remains at South Side train derailment site

Are you Pittsburghers still getting rain there? If so, it could still make cleanup, etc. tricky. That whole mountainside there is probably still unstable.

Update: One track is open

One railroad track reopens after Station Square derailment
 
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  • #17
Sounds like a "hidden" washout could have been the cause, if there have been other recent landslides in the area. I forgot that Pgh has been getting a lot of rain lately. The soil under the tracks may have become so saturated that any train moving across could cause the rail to bend or shift. It can look solid one minute, then wash out the next.

Here's some video of a washout. Warning, some bad language. Many railroaders are notorious for cursing, haha.




Looks like they plan to have the tracks open sometime today. The accident is backing up trains across the NS system, as well as local commuter traffic.

Mess remains at South Side train derailment site

Are you Pittsburghers still getting rain there? If so, it could still make cleanup, etc. tricky. That whole mountainside there is probably still unstable.

Update: One track is open

One railroad track reopens after Station Square derailment

that was insane! from link!!

A large shear machine was expected to arrive Wednesday night to dispose of the damaged cars and turn metal into scrap in a parking lot near Station Square, Glass said.
 

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