You guys might want to grab your blankies for this one......
By now, if you watch the world news you have seen the massive train derailment over Memorial Day weekend that wiped out a highway overpass in the process. At this rail junction the BNSF, and Union Pacific railroads cross at grade. A UP train with an auto rack drag t-boned a BNSF train pulling gondolas loaded with recycled steel.
The human cost was relatively minor. Two UP crew in the lead UP locomotive, and 5 people in passenger cars that were unlucky enough to be using the overpass when it came down. Of these seven people the worst injury was a broken leg to one of the automobile's passengers. None of the BNSF crew reported injuries.
However, the material cost will be massive. But since this is a tow vehicle forum, I'll forego the train speak, and make this thead relevant to tow vehicles.
When I saw the news after the sun came up I knew this would only get worse despite the fact that there was a minor human toll. The news showed auto racks full of pickup trucks. About 15 years ago, just south of this spot, the UP lost an auto rack with Suburbans in it. The Suburbans were undamaged by the derailment, but the salvage crews did what salvage crews do........They salvaged........
Fast forward to now:
That auto rack on the left IS folded into a U shape.
This auto rack was holding up the overpass:
Anytime an incident like this happens, any, and all derailed cars are to be destroyed with their cargos before leaving the derailment site.
Yes, this is a brand new GMC SierraHD with a Duramax diesel engine that is perfectly scratch, and dent free. This is not a photoshop. That SierraHD was just uncerimoniously jerked from the upper level of that auto rack by the excavator using just the chain. The photo was taken right at the moment the SierraHD cleared the upper level of the auto rack.
Then, after it banged to earth, the excavator crews proceeded to um, well, you see.......... That is it closest to the tracks:
The owner of that SierraHD received about $700.00 for it after the excavators had their way with it. Of course I'm sure GM was reimbursed in whole for the insured value......but what a waste. You could still find some of the window stickers from the trucks laying on the ground today.
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